Police release details about Im death
MU police released a photograph Tuesday of the knife was used in the January stabbing death of 72-year-old researcher Jeong Im.
Published Oct. 7, 2005
MU police released a photograph Tuesday of the knife used in the January killing of 72-year-old MU researcher Jeong Im.
The knife, an "Old Hickory" model that police said probably was made between 1959 and 1984, has an 8-inch blade and a 5-inch wooden handle with the "Old Hickory" trademark.
Im died from stab wounds between 10:30 and 10:45 a.m. on Jan. 7 near his car on the third level of the Maryland Avenue Parking Garage. Shortly after noon, the suspect returned to set fire to the vehicle, police said. Im's body was found in the trunk of his Honda Accord. Boone County Medical Examiner Valerie Rao said that autopsy findings showed Im died of multiple stab wounds to the chest and did not die from the fire.
MU police Capt. Brian Weimer refused to disclose further information about where the knife was found.
"It's important that if you get a suspect to confess, only the suspect and police know (about the knife)," Weimer said. "It validates the suspect's confession statement."
The "Old Hickory" brand knives first were produced in 1889 and now are mainly sold online.
Police are not sure if one or more people were involved with Im's death. Investigators also are looking for the owner or driver of a faded red, 1980s model Ford F-150 pickup truck with a light gray or tan camper shell with tinted windows. The truck has a faded black driver's side door, a damaged front bumper and a rear driver's side quarter panel.
Police also released an updated description of a "person of interest" in Im's stabbing death.
The person of interest is described as a 6-foot to 6-foot-2 slender white male with medium length wavy or curly brown hair. Police said the person of interest might have worn a painter's or drywall mask.
"What's important is that the person may or may not have been wearing the mask at the time," Weimer said.
Weimer also said the suspect might have been carrying a gas can.
A reward for information leading to the arrest of a suspect in Im's death has been raised to $25,000.
Police ask that anyone with information contact the MU Police Department at 882-7203 or Crime Stoppers at 875-TIPS.