CO - Seorin Kim, 44, and 2.5 month-old daughter found dead, professor husband Nicholas Myklebust arrested on suspicion of murder, Denver, 29 July 2024

[Lore Listener]

Update: Seorin's parents are suing NM for wrongful death, for Seorin only at this time.

https://www.9news.com/article/news/crime/wrongful-death-lawsuit-seorin-kim-murder-husband-charged/73-eeaa47d6-0432-454d-b5d1-3ef5574ec5e1

 

[Tricia]

Dear Websleuths Members and Guests,
Remember the days when an obnoxious advertisement seemed to cover every single blank area? Let's not go back to those days. Help keep Websleuths ad-free by subscribing to DNA Solves.
Find out how you can become a subscriber to DNA Solves.com by CLICKING HERE.
If you want to make a single donation go to www.dnasolves.com and pick a case you would like to donate to.
Do not comment on this thread. CLICK HERE to ask questions and to learn more.
Thank you very much.
Tricia Griffith

 

[borndem]

Do you think LE might re-investigate the death of the son in 2021?

Hoping LE, et al will do so. IMO.
That baby boy was a human being and he deserves justice.

 

[vls12345]

This case had gone way too quiet, imo. I am glad to see some recent articles.

First Responders Saw Husband Frantically Trying to Save Wife — But Then Police Noticed Bloody Knuckles and Scratches

Nicholas Myklebust, who at the time was an English professor at Regis University, told police that he believed his wife, Seorin Kim, fell from a ladder. Investigators grew suspicious of his story after seeing his injuries.

people.com

The civil suit also alleges that Myklebust attempted to clean blood from the crime scene with Luminol, and that police found bloody gloves in the dryer.

The judge in the case heard pre-trial arguments last week and Myklebust is expected to be formally arraigned in May.

 

[vls12345]

I am trying to look up any kind of status on this case.

NM is still in jail. The record shows his case number & an upcoming court date of July 31:

However, when I look in the case number listed in his jail record, the court website lists it as Domestic Violence (instead of Murder) & says the case is Closed. Why would there be this discrepancy?

Info found here:

Inmate Search | City and County of Denver

denvergov.org

https://public.denvercountycourt.org/Case/CaseHistory?caseNumber=24CR04461%20

 

[Hopeful-Analysis5450]

I suspect that his defense will eventually be that his wife injured the baby (both babies) and so he flipped. But he already stated she may have fallen off a step ladder and he attempted to alter the scene, so any defense he may claim now will be questionable.

And at the preliminary hearing, it was revealed that he also washed, dried, and replaced the bedsheets Regis University professor’s wife beaten to death in “sustained, vicious attack,” DA says

 

[Hopeful-Analysis5450]

It was also covered by Korean news outlets Colorado professor suspected in deaths of his Korean wife and daughter

Welp. Another Colorado murder has gone international, sigh. No real new info in this article, though.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...woke-baby-daughter-not-breathing.html[/QUOTE]

 

[Hopeful-Analysis5450]

This case had gone way too quiet, imo. I am glad to see some recent articles.

First Responders Saw Husband Frantically Trying to Save Wife — But Then Police Noticed Bloody Knuckles and Scratches

Nicholas Myklebust, who at the time was an English professor at Regis University, told police that he believed his wife, Seorin Kim, fell from a ladder. Investigators grew suspicious of his story after seeing his injuries.

people.com

I think this happens more often with Asian women, especially those with distinctively Asian names, which I think makes the horror of the crime feel more foreign and less tangible. Moreover, their families are much less likely to talk to the press or make social media posts, which is hugely helpful in humanizing the victim. For instance, Chandra Levy was constantly in the national news cycle whereas Joyce Chiang was largely overlooked save for her brother’s massive efforts on behalf of his sister Killing of Joyce Chiang - Wikipedia

A more recent example that comes to mind is Xuanyi Yu, who was (allegedly) beaten to death by her husband. There was massive initial news frenzy and some renewed interest when the “murder” house was listed and sold, but coverage has been even more muted than for Seorin, even as the husband who (allegedly) unalived Xuanyi is set to have his preliminary hearing tomorrow morning https://www.sfgate.com/realestate/a...ere-google-engineer-murdered-his-19731362.php

 

[Hopeful-Analysis5450]

rsbm.

I think you misread the article. It's the defense attorney who requested that the baby's body be held, and the prosecution who opposed it.

Myklebust has not been charged with his daughter’s killing, but might be, said his public defender, Rebecca Butler-Dines. Because of that potential, she asked that Lesley’s body be held until all the testing was completed so that the defense team could review the prosecution’s findings and then potentially pursue its own testing, she said in court Friday.
...
Prosecutor Anthony Santos, who called the defense request an “unprecedented situation,” said it was not appropriate for the medical examiner’s office to hold Lesley’s body “indefinitely” while the defense team mulled its options.


Interesting that Myklebust has a public defender. He was an associate professor, so presumably made decent money. I would have thought he would be have sufficient funds to retain private counsel. Makes one wonder if money issues played a part.

English professors don’t make a lot of money. Despite its local prestige, Regis is not a national research institution, and so even tenured professors in the humanities easily make less than or around 70K. His wife definitely out earned him

 

[Hopeful-Analysis5450]

I am trying to look up any kind of status on this case.

NM is still in jail. The record shows his case number & an upcoming court date of July 31:
View attachment 587203

However, when I look in the case number listed in his jail record, the court website lists it as Domestic Violence (instead of Murder) & says the case is Closed. Why would there be this discrepancy?
View attachment 587205




Info found here:

Inmate Search | City and County of Denver

denvergov.org

https://public.denvercountycourt.org/Case/CaseHistory?caseNumber=24CR04461%20

I was side-eyeing this post yesterday and had to be seated to do a deeper dig. The "Domestic Violence" label (I think) is to put this murder charge under a different category than, say, murder for hire or in the course of robbery. If you click on the "Charges" tab, the charge is listed as "INV HOLD-FIRST DEGREE MURDER".

I suspect the "CLOSED" case status here (on the Home - DCC PublicPortal site) simply refers to the fact that this case has been pushed along from Denver County Court Room 2300 (where the 1st advisement was held on 7/30/2024) to the Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse / Denver District Court Room 5B (where all subsequent hearings, including the upcoming arraignment on 7/31/2025, were/will be held).

Screenshot of "Case Schedule" tab from Home - DCC PublicPortal ---

 

[Hopeful-Analysis5450]

A birth injury would have been detected fairly quickly. And fractures just don't happen during birth as the sutures overlap and mold. If you've ever seen an extremely cone-headed baby - it demonstrates the point well.

I was trying to recall public sources regarding Bear's cranial fracture. I was pretty sure I saw a more definitive and official statement, but this article (link below) indicates that NM dropped Bear: "Myklebust told police that he and his wife were still depressed from that child's death which, he said, was an accident from when he fell down some stairs."

Former Regis professor formally charged in wife's murder

Nicholas Myklebust, a Regis University English Literature professor, has been charged with one count of first degree murder and one count of tampering with evidence in the death of his wife, Seorin Kim. Kim was brutally beaten to death, and the couple's baby also died under mysterious...

denvergazette.com

 

[iamshadow21]

I was trying to recall public sources regarding Bear's cranial fracture. I was pretty sure I saw a more definitive and official statement, but this article (link below) indicates that NM dropped Bear: "Myklebust told police that he and his wife were still depressed from that child's death which, he said, was an accident from when he fell down some stairs."

Former Regis professor formally charged in wife's murder

Nicholas Myklebust, a Regis University English Literature professor, has been charged with one count of first degree murder and one count of tampering with evidence in the death of his wife, Seorin Kim. Kim was brutally beaten to death, and the couple's baby also died under mysterious...

denvergazette.com

How does a newborn fall down stairs without help? This isn't a child who's crawling or walking. This is a baby who can't even roll over.

MOO

 

[Woolly]

How does a newborn fall down stairs without help? This isn't a child who's crawling or walking. This is a baby who can't even roll over.

MOO

I think the “he” in that statement was Nicholas.

"Myklebust told police that he and his wife were still depressed from that child's death which, he said, was an accident from when he fell down some stairs." (BBM)

So many “accidents”…

 

[Lore Listener]

I am a domestic violence advocate in Denver and I cannot tell you how proud I am that you guys are not letting this go! This is why I'm part of this community. THANK YOU. Justice for Seorin and her babies!

 

[Eli9]

He has a court date currently set for October 9 @ 8:30. I haven't seen any new reporting other than that.