Yoon Duk Kim, a 39-year-old Korean woman, tragically passed away on May 7, 2018, in Rockwall, Texas. She was an assistant professor of construction engineering at Texas A&M University-Commerce and was highly regarded for her expertise and contributions to the field. Kim was originally from Seoul, South Korea, and had earned her Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Georgia Tech.
The circumstances surrounding her death were particularly harrowing.
Kim's husband, Hyun Seop Lee, a 42-year-old engineering professor at Grambling State University, was found dead alongside her in their home. Investigators believe that Lee shot Kim before setting their house on fire and then taking his own life. The couple's five-year-old daughter was found unharmed in a car parked in the driveway, having been left there either for her protection or by herself.
Police discovered a suicide note on Lee's Facebook account, in which he expressed grievances about Kim being "disrespectful" and making major life decisions without consulting him. The note was written in Korean and detailed Lee's frustrations with their relationship. The Rockwall Police Department concluded that the deaths were a result of a murder-suicide, with Lee killing Kim before ending his own life.
The tragic incident left Kim's daughter an orphan, and she was taken into the custody of Child Protective Services due to the absence of other relatives in the United States. The community at Texas A&M University-Commerce mourned the loss of Kim, remembering her as a warm, intelligent, and charismatic individual who was deeply loved by her students and colleagues.
This case did not lead to any arrests or ongoing litigation, as it was determined to be a murder-suicide. The investigation concluded with the understanding that Lee's actions were driven by personal grievances and a breakdown in their relationship.
