James Kim

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This article is about a CNET Networks, Inc. employee. For the Korean guitar player, see Kim Se Hwang.
James Kim

James Kim (August 9, 1971–c. December 4, 2006) was an American television personality and technology analyst most widely known for his work in front of the camera for the former TechTV international cable television network, reviewing products for shows including The Screen Savers, Call for Help, and Fresh Gear. He most recently worked as Senior Editor of MP3 and Digital Audio for CNET, writing over 400 product reviews. He also co-hosted a weekly podcast for CNET's gadget blog, Crave, with Veronica Belmont. The unique events surrounding his disappearance and death propelled him into the media spotlight in December 2006.

Early life and background

Raised in Portland, Oregon.[citation needed], Kim graduated from Ballard High School in Louisville, Kentucky[1] in 1989 and from Oberlin College in Ohio in 1993.[2] Son of Spencer H. Kim[3], a wealthy aerospace company executive and internationalist, [4] Kim professed an interest in techno and acoustic music, big cities, nature, and space.[5]

Kim and his wife Kati owned two retail stores in San Francisco: Doe (a boutique clothing store) and the Church Street Apothecary.[6]

Snowbound with family

File:James-kim-techtv.jpg
Kim on TechTV

Kim, his wife Kati, and two young daughters, Penelope and Sabine were traveling home from Portland, Oregon to San Francisco, California on November 25, 2006. While traveling on Bear Camp Road between Grants Pass and Gold Beach in southwest Oregon, they took a wrong turn onto a minor logging road. The logging road is normally blocked by a locked metal gate during that time of year. However, as an internal investigation by the Bureau of Land Management revealed, the agency failed to block the road [1]. The Kims drove about 22 miles on the logging road, and on Sunday November 26th at about 2am stopped due to snow and bad weather. The Kims survived for several days in their car, keeping it warm by running the engine. When their 2005 Saab 9-2X station wagon ran out of gas, they began burning dried wood, magazines and car tires to stay warm.

After James and Kati failed to show up at work on November 28th, they were reported missing by coworkers on November 30, 2006. After it was found that they used their credit card at a Denny's restaurant in the area, the search and rescue teams initially looked for the family along the many coastal highways from Southern Oregon's Curry County to Roseburg, Oregon in Douglas County. The Kims' friends, many in the technology and entertainment industries, also raised public awareness of the disappearance and requested help finding the family.

On the morning of December 2, James set out to look for help, wearing tennis shoes, a jacket, and light clothing. He believed the nearest town (Galice) was located four miles away after studying a map with his wife [7]. In reality, as the crow flies distance to Galice was 13 miles and the shortest road path from their car to Galice was 30 miles [8]. He promised to turn back at 1 p.m. if he failed to find anyone, but never returned.[9].

Kati Kim and her two children were found alive by John Rachor, a helicopter pilot who volunteered for the rescue. Rachor reports that he was led to the scene after seeing human footprints in the snow, which almost certainly belonged to James Kim. Rachor then radioed the Kim family position to others and soon, private helicopters hired by the Kim family landed to rescue the family. Kati was waving an umbrella to which she had attached reflective tape, in order to attract the attention of the helicopter. The three were airlifted out of the area and transferred by AMR ambulance [10] to Three Rivers Community Hospital in Grants Pass. They were only successfully located because a signal transmitted from the family's cell phone had been picked up by a cellular tower.[11] The signal was emitted when the Kim family's cell phone received a text message.[12] Authorities credit an employee of Oregon cell provider Edge Wireless with creating computer models to triangulate the phone location.[13]

Death

File:Jameskim-peoplemag.jpg
Kim on the cover of People magazine's December 18, 2006 issue

Soon after the rescue of Kati Kim and her children, search and rescue teams followed James Kim's footprints back along the road for roughly 10.5 miles after which those prints left the road and led into the heavily wooded Big Windy Creek drainage area. The trackers who were searching for James Kim soon found an extra pair of pants Kim was carrying when he left his car in search of help. Some authorities initially speculated that Kim may have been shedding his clothes in response to hypothermia and frostbite, which often leave their victims feeling overheated. [12]

Throughout Monday and Tuesday, as efforts to find Kim intensified, officials continued to act under the assumption that James Kim was alive, and initially interpreted the clothing items they found as trail markers left behind to indicate his location. At a press conference, Oregon search and rescue officials said that on Tuesday they had found a location in the Big Windy Creek drainage where two gray long-sleeve shirts, a red short-sleeve t-shirt, one wool sock, a girl's blue skirt, and pieces of an Oregon state map had been placed. The items were later positively identified by the Kim family as items James took with him when he was last seen. About the items, Oregon officials stated, "These were placed with our belief that little signs are being left by James for anyone that may be trying to find him so that they can continue into the area that he's continuing to move in." [14]

On Wednesday, December 6, within hours of Oregon officials announcing their intentions to drop care packages along with a letter from Kim's father,[15] James Kim's body was found in Big Windy Creek.[16][17] Lying on his back in one to two feet of water, he was fully clothed and had been carrying a backpack which contained his ID among other miscellaneous items.[18] Autopsy results released the next day revealed that Kim had died due to exposure to hypothermia and that his body had suffered no incapacitating physical injuries. Though no definite time of death could be established, the Deputy State Medical Examiner who performed the autopsy guessed that Kim had died roughly two days after leaving the vehicle.[19][20][21]

File:James-kim-path02.jpg
James Kim's walking path

He traveled a total of approximately 16 miles looking for help, 10.5 miles on the main road and the other 5.5 miles in the treacherous Big Windy Creek canyon.[22] [2] He was ultimately found roughly four miles from his vehicle as the crow flies, and about one mile from Black Bar Lodge, but the last 1/2 mile of Big Windy Creek (leading to the Rogue River) was impassable even for a search and rescue team. [citation needed] The boating outpost, which was vacant at the time, was stocked with food items, and was checked by searchers.[23][24]

Following news of his death, CNET released an online tribute to Kim.[25] CNET also released a tribute e-mail to those with CNET memberships.

Map and route controversy

The Kim incident produced rumors that the Kims had used online mapping to find their route.[26] However, later reports derived from police interviews with Kati Kim indicate that the Kims did not consult their laptop computers, but used a paper road map.[27] According to the Oregon State Police, the map they used was issued by the state of Oregon.[28]

During the hunt for the Kims, a number of computer users tested programs such as Google Maps and MapQuest to map the shortest route between the two towns. The programs reportedly listed Bear Camp Road, where the Kims got stuck, as the most efficient shortcut. The online mapping programs have apparently changed. As of December 7, 2006, maps indicate the drive along Interstate 5 and Oregon State Route 42 to U.S. Highway 101 as the preferred route between Roseburg and Gold Beach. Google Maps does recommend Bear Camp Road, however, as the route between Grants Pass and Gold Beach.

Bear Camp Road is rarely used even by local residents due to its difficult terrain and often inclement weather.[29] Furthermore, there are three yellow road signs that state: "Bear Camp Rd. May be blocked by snowdrifts"[30](see image on right).


However, the road on which the Kims got stuck was an offshoot of Bear Creek Rd. that was supposed to be locked by the Bureau of Land Management during the winter. BLM spokeswoman Patty Burel said, "It's supposed to be locked so people don't make that mistake."


Intense media coverage of death

Template:Wikinews2

James Kim took the national media spotlight in the days before and after his death. The Kim family's ordeal was a lead story on most major television and online news networks for days, even amidst breaking news of the Iraq Study Group's recommendations on America's war in Iraq. MSNBC.com reported one million page views on the story, making it the top story in the hours after Kim's body was found. CNN.com reported twice as many page views that afternoon as the Iraq story. [31] Within a week James Kim and family appeared on the cover of People magazine.

See also

  • Bear Camp Road -- A road that figured prominently in the ordeal.
  • Dewitt Finley -- A man who died after he was stranded in the same area due to a winter storm in 1995.

References

  1. ^ "Missing father graduated from high school in Louisville". Associated Press. December 6, 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-11.
  2. ^ Janie Har and Larry Bingham (December 7, 2006). "James Kim's love for family, friends left lasting impression with many". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2006-12-11.
  3. ^ Julia Prodis Sulek (December 7, 2006). "Deputy says Kim may have been dead only hours when found". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved 2006-12-07.
  4. ^ "Mr. Spencer H. Kim". Pacific Council on International Policy. Retrieved 2006-12-07.
  5. ^ "James Kim's CNet Personal Profile". CNet. Retrieved 2006-12-11.
  6. ^ Michelle Meyers and Leslie Katz (December 2, 2006). "Air, ground search for missing CNET editor continues". CNet. Retrieved 2006-12-05.
  7. ^ Peter Fimrite, Marisa Lagos (December 7, 2006). "Kims thought they were only 4 miles from help". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2006-12-07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=42.623097~-123.70966&style=r&lvl=12&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000
  9. ^ David R. Anderson (December 4, 2006). "Update: Mom, daughters found; dad still missing". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2006-12-05. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ "Video: Rescuers find Kim family members; search continues for editor". CNet Networks. Retrieved 2006-12-04.
  11. ^ "Searchers keep up the hunt for CNET editor in rugged terrain". CNET Networks. Retrieved 2006-12-06.
  12. ^ a b "Distraught rescue crews come up short". MSNBC.com. Retrieved 2006-12-06.
  13. ^ "Missing Father Kim Found Dead In Oregon". CBS. Retrieved 2006-12-07.
  14. ^ "Video: Searchers: We will find James Kim". CNET Networks. Retrieved 2006-12-06.
  15. ^ "Video: Searchers: We will find James Kim". CNET Networks. Retrieved 2006-12-06.
  16. ^ Alex Johnson, Alan Boyle (2006-12-06). "Distraught rescue crews come up just short". MSNBC.
  17. ^ "Body of Missing San Francisco Dad Found in Oregon". Fox News. 2006-12-06.
  18. ^ "James Kim died of hypothermia, autopsy reveals". CNET Networks. Retrieved 2006-12-08.
  19. ^ Jeff Barnard (2006-12-07). "Autopsy: Missing man died of hypothermia". Associated Press. Retrieved 2006-12-07.
  20. ^ "James Kim died of hypothermia, autopsy reveals". CNET Networks. Retrieved 2006-12-08.
  21. ^ "Road Kims took was unlocked by vandal, officials say". CNN. Retrieved 2006-12-08.
  22. ^ "Dad trekked much farther than first thought". MSNBC. Retrieved 2006-12-09.
  23. ^ "James Kim died of hypothermia, autopsy reveals". CNET Networks. Retrieved 2006-12-08.
  24. ^ "Road Kims took was unlocked by vandal, officials say". CNN. Retrieved 2006-12-08.
  25. ^ "In Memoriam: James Kim, 1971-2006 video". CNET Networks. Retrieved 2006-12-06.
  26. ^ Leslie Fulbright (December 08, 2006). "Maps: Internet travel directions need to be checked carefully". The San Francisco Chronicle. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |access date= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  27. ^ Jeff Barnard (December 6, 2006). "Missing San Francisco man found dead". Associated Press. Retrieved 2006-12-07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  28. ^ "Update: Information Discussed During December 6th 10:00 a.m. Media Briefing on Search for James Kim". Oregon State Police. December 6, 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-07. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) 6) Clarification: Wilsonville Chamber of Commerce – information provided earlier of a tip that a person at the chamber of commerce building provided a map and recommended travel routes has been determined to not be credible. Interviews with Kati Kim revealed they chose this route after looking at a State of Oregon map.
  29. ^ Jaxon van Derbeken and Marisa Lagos (December 6, 2006). "Missing dad leaving clothing and map markers". The San Francisco Chronicle. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |access date= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  30. ^ Drew Griffin (December 11, 2006). "Warning signs marked Kim family's journey". CNN. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |access date= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  31. ^ "SFGate.com: A Family's Tragedy Gripping Story: It was tracked by millions". San Fransisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2006-12-07.

External links

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