CNET's James Kim and family missing -- have you seen them? US NW DUers

[xultar]

We've received word that a respected member of our tech community, James Kim (whom many of you may know as CNET's senior editor of digital audio), and his family have gone missing. As we understand it, last weekend James, his wife Kati (above right), and his very young girls Penelope (left) and Sabine (baby), drove from their home in the SF Bay Area to Seattle. They were expected back some time Sunday, but were last seen by a hotel clerk at 5:45 PM on Saturday in or between Gold Beach or Portland, Oregon. We sincerely do hope they are all safe, and our hearts go out to the Kim family.

We'll have more information as we get it. If you have any information as to the Kim family's whereabouts, please contact the SFPD at 415-558-5508 during normal business hours, and 415-553-1071 after hours.

Update: Crave reports that James and his family are driving a 2005 silver Saab station wagon with license plate "DOESF." The official missing person report can be found here.



http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/30/cnets-james-kim-and-family-missing-have-you-seen-them/6#comments

[NMDemDist2]

1. i can only help but giving this a K&N

best wishes for finding the family

[hedgehog]

2. kick

[acmejack]

3. Kick for James

If I prayed I would be doing so now.

[flamingyouth]

4. Oh that's terrible

The weather here has been awful. This is the first I've heard of this. :(

[xultar]

5. I'm really bummed. I pray they are o.k. Driving on PCH in an ice storm

is dangerous.

[flamingyouth]

6. Very!

Here's an article about the family from the San Jose Mercury-News:

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/16138785.htm

[Sequoia]

73. Uh oh...the PCH!

Is that the road they were reported to be on? I've driven along the coast highway in Oregon during the day but it was raining and it was very scary. Poor people.

[Radio_Lady]

87. For others: It's the Pacific Coast Highway.

I'm in Oregon and didn't know what you were talking about!

[Syncronaut Seven]

7. Probability of foul play:Low. Possibility of missing a slippery curve: High.

The thing to look for is skid marks off the shoulder.

We lost a couple college students that way, this week.

Doesn't sound like they would have strayed off the beaten path, Saabs aren't known for their ground clearance.

Many roads that go between I-5 and 101, most are narrow and become impassable in bad weather. I believe sections of 101 are closed due to missing pieces.

Location of last cell transmission might help narrow search area. Damn.

On Edit:
How would their onboard navagation have directed them? If it was across 595/nf33 there in some rugged country. Missed turn Along that hwy will splash them in the Rogue River. The only comfort being, It would have been very quick.

595 Might seem the most direct route between I-5 and Gold Beach.

[OneBlueSky]

8. normally I'd agree . . . but in an age when microbiologists die mysterious deaths . . .

and liberal politicians regularly crash in small planes, my foul play radar goes off whenever I read something like this . . .

hope I'm wrong and that they're found safe and sound with a flat tire or something . . .

[Syncronaut Seven]

10. Occams razor is your friend.

Rarely fails me.

[xultar]

9. When did those ice storms hit up that way? Do you know? I thought it

was Monday. I'm graspin @ straws. I'm such a fan of James's reviews.

[Syncronaut Seven]

12. If they went thru the Siskiyou NF It would already have been slippery

My intuition says look here.

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&searchtab=home&formtype=address&popflag=0&latitude=&longitude=&name=&phone=&level=&cat=&address=&city=agness&state=or&zipcode=

[lumberjack_jeff]

84. This is amazing.

You should work for search and rescue.

[lumberjack_jeff]

13. It snowed here sunday night

I'm 70 mi nnw of Portland.

[karlrschneider]

45. Wait...don't Saabs have that driver-selectable suspension that will

raise it way up? Could they have been tempted to do a little off-road exploring? Just thinking of possibilities...

[lumberjack_jeff]

11. Can you please clear up an ambiuguity?

"but were last seen by a hotel clerk at 5:45 PM on Saturday in or between Gold Beach or Portland, Oregon."

Were they in Gold Beach or were they in Portland or were they somewhere between Gold Beach and Portland?

Were they driving north through Astoria up 101 then east to Seattle or were they going north on I5?

[flamingyouth]

14. Looks like from the Mercury News article they were headed from Portland

to Gold Beach and never showed up there.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. From the linked article:

The family made two phone calls to a Gold Beach hotel last Saturday, the second call at 5:45 p.m., said San Francisco Police Detective Angela Martin. The family reportedly asked the hotel clerk to leave a key outside since they would be arriving late that night.

That phone call was the last reported contact with the family. The Gold Beach hotel did leave keys out for the Kim family, but the keys were still there the next morning, KGW-TV in Portland reported.

[lumberjack_jeff]

23. Since they had lunch in Portland at 3:00...

The timing suggests that they were near Cottage Grove at 5:30. Mapquest indicates that hwy 38 is the quickest route. People travelling at night with kids usually don't take the scenic route.

Restaurants between Cottage Grove and Reedsport might be good people to talk to. If they stopped for dinner, it'd narrow the search.

http://www.mapquest.com/directions/main.adp?mo=ma&2si=gaz&1gi=0&un=m&go=1&2gi=0&1c=Portland&1g=z6lYH5Rqyrb%252fjucFJ1x1gQ%253d%253d&1l=k2sS3J2G%252bsZYg6USDPw70w%253d%253d&2c=Gold+Beach&1da=-1.000000&1rc=A5XAX&cl=EN&1n=Multnomah+County&2g=qwfkyNdk72kN%252ftFtPttelw%253d%253d&qq=1ADqpk24ofAk8UldnXFsauuZpDOBsVRB5jKRo2a5PqtsZoNSTK4sKqjP4iM460oKc7TpwETEe7CxMxle6u4XeITf0T2THHtdq3g3bm21T%252bNHJhDxiq8mlQ%253d%253d&1s=OR&2l=kU%252fJOyHcx%252bCANJkjDNw43w%253d%253d&ct=NA&1v=CITY&2n=Curry+County&1y=US&1si=gaz&2s=OR&2da=-1.000000&2rc=A5XAX&2v=CITY&did=1164995147&2y=US&rsres=1&do=nw&r=f&aos=1

[alittlelark]

15. I heard this on KFOG this morning

They didn't get reported missing until Tues, when they missed appts. I had no idea about the CNET connection when I heard the story.

Hoping for the best.

[OregonBlue]

17. Our mountain roads are so trecherous during the winter but there are

only a few they would have taken. Not likely they would have gotten off on a small forest service road if they were driving from Portland to Gold Beach. This sounds bad.

[druidity33]

18. please keep us updated... k&r, nt

[xultar]

20. I will try. I'm all over this like bees to honey.

[in_cog_ni_to]

19. Oh dear. I hope they're OK.

It doesn't sound good though. The family would have called someone by now.:( I've used CNET many, many times.

I hope they're alright.

[shadowknows69]

21. I love CNET.

Positive energies to a happy resoultion to this.

[Beam Me Up]

22. Damn. This is very upsetting.

I hope they are ok. :scared:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

24. Lots of places to run off the road and not be seen.

In fact, just last year somebody pulled an antique car out of a roadside lake that had belonged to a couple missing for eighty years or so.

Drove that same route myself last year, it was dark, windy, and very rainy. Not a pleasant experience.

[truedelphi]

25. What about Fog as a factor?

My heart goes out to this family and to everyone who knew them

[lumberjack_jeff]

26. kick n/t

[xultar]

27. ************ UPDATE ***************

Update 2: According to Crave, officials investigating the case have narrowed their search to a stretch of Oregon's Highway 38, which is on the route that the family would most likely have taken to get to the Gold Beach motel where they had reservations.

[Mnemosyne]

28. Thanks Xultar. Keep us informed if possible please. kick n/t

[xultar]

29. ************** UPDATE **************

Oregon officials have also set up a hotline if you have any information: 1-800-452-7888.

According to the SF Gate, an aerial search is now fully underway; the National Guard, the California Highway Patrol, the Coast Guard, the Oregon State Police and Douglas County Sheriff's Department are focusing their search on Gold Beach and Bear Camp Road in Douglas County.

[mzmolly]

30. Kicking and recommending

and saying a wee prayer.

[Lex]

32. Well darn. I hope these folks

can be located.

[lumberjack_jeff]

33. Kicking and a thanks for the update. n/t

[Suich]

31. Thanks for the updates, xultar.

:kick:

[eridani]

34. 9PM PST Whassup with this?

Lowland areas are clear of ice and snow in Seattle, but roads get dangerous with elevation.

[everythingsxen]

35. All I can do is kick...

[rosesaylavee]

36. Kick and a prayer. n/t

[everythingsxen]

37. Kick

Any update?

[warrior1]

38. kick

http://news.com.com/Road+search+under+way+for+missing+CNET+editor/2100-1028_3-6140118.html?tag=cnetfd.mt

update Following confirmed sightings last Saturday night of missing CNET editor James Kim and his family at a Denny's restaurant in Roseburg, Ore., search efforts are shifting north to Douglas County, Oregon police said Saturday morning.

[Garbo 2004]

39. Update: family last seen Saturday in Roseburg where they stopped for dinner.

From CNET article:

update Following confirmed sightings last Saturday night of missing CNET editor James Kim and his family at a Denny's restaurant in Roseburg, Ore., search efforts are shifting north to Douglas County, Oregon police said Saturday morning...

...Officials from Douglas County, where Roseburg is located, could not be immediately reached for comment, but are expected to release a statement later today. Dinsmore said the family's stop at Denny's had been corroborated by employees and a credit card receipt.
http://news.com.com/Search+for+missing+CNET+editor+shifting+north/2100-1028_3-6140118.html

[malaise]

40. Saw this on MSNBC this morning

None of their credit cards has been used. This is weird.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

68. It was also on the Today Show this morning. This is so sad. nt

[windbreeze]

41. I certainly hope they are ok....

we had some very bad weather shortly after that...
windbreeze

[xultar]

42. ************** UPDATE **************

Update 5: Still no real news, but the Registar-Guard of Eugene, Oregon published an AP piece stating that authorities have determined the Kims have not used their cellphones or credit cards since the 25th -- last Saturday.

[SoCalDem]

43. That does not bode well for them.. How utterly sad.. n/t

[seabeyond]

44. sad sad sad... thanks for the updates

[flamingyouth]

46. This story says they made it as far as a Denny's in Roseburg

http://www.komotv.com/news/4801091.html

Sad :(

On edit - I see this was already posted above, sorry.

[Lex]

47. This is such a sad story.

I've been following it for the last couple of days by checking in on the this thread.

Thanks for posting the updates and links and latest info everyone.

[flamingyouth]

49. It's terrible.

It's been mentioned all over the news here in Seattle. :(

[WinkyDink]

48. Gone missing, in this day and age of GPS? Not a good sign.

[warrior1]

50. Kick

http://news.com.com/Search+for+missing+CNET+editor+shifting+north/2100-1028_3-6140265.html

Nothing really new, just a kick...

[Mnemosyne]

51. kicking for new info. Any word yet? n/t

[xultar]

52. ************** UPDATE **************

Update 6: Sightings and a credit card receipt have apparently last placed the Kim family at a Denny's in Roseburn, Oregon, north of current search efforts. The search is continuing further north into Oregon, and away from Hightway 42 and onto Highway 38. For fliers, info, and other ways to get involved, please also see jamesandkati.com.

[praeclarus]

53. i don't get why they are looking on Hwy 38...

... That would be quite a long, round about way
to go to Gold Beach from SF Bay Area.

Seems like Hwy 42 would be the likely way to go.

There is a Dennys just off of I5 at Roseburg and
that is only 5 miles north of the Hwy42.

To me it would seem more likely to go 10 miles out
of your way to go eat before heading down Hwy 42
than to go all the way to Hwy 38.

Anyway.... here's hoping they are found and OK.

edit: found this link for Coos Bay newspaper item.
They were headed south from Portland on their way home.
So again, why would the search be on Hwy 38.

http://www.theworldlink.com/articles/2006/12/02/ap-state-or/d8lp4mj81.txt

[Tinksrival]

54. Such a lovely family

They sound like a very smart resourceful couple. They also own a clothing store in SF called Doe.
So sad it has been too long without a trace . Their families must be in agony.
Here are some pics to go with those positive vibes.

[GreenPartyVoter]

70. This isn't going to have a happy ending, is it? *crying*

[warrior1]

55. could this have been foul play?

Seems like they would have found their vehicle by now. Or is this area very rugged and the weather a big factor?

[xultar]

56. I think bad weather and dangerous roads.

[warrior1]

57. thanks

I'm hoping for a safe return.

[warrior1]

58. From the message board

at CNET,

Terrain info
Reader post by: snharden
Posted on: December 3, 2006, 7:19 AM PST
Story: Road search under way for missing CNET editor

I'm gonna throw my two coins into the pond here about what could have happened and it's a very real possibility whether anyone chooses to believe it or not. The forest in most of Oregon is very dense and very thick especially where the Kim family was traveling. Also I've yet to see anyone mention the fact that most of the forest are evergreen variety trees. They also have big wide sweeping branches that go down very low to the ground. A lot lower than most trees branches do.
I lived in Grants Pass in the early 90's to 1998 and did alot of traveling around the country out there. One night on my way home from work it had been snowing up in the mountains for about a hour, nothing major but just enough to make travel slow and dangerous. I was traveling around a wide sweeping turn and the guy in front of me slid off the road and came to a stop just about 6 feet into the trees after taking out a wire cable type guard rail that was installed on the turn.

As I watched his truck enter thru the trees the branchs from the trees just swung back into place as he entered and there would have been no way you would have noticed anything a miss. Aside from the slide marks in the light snow nothing looked out of place except for a piece of missing cable and even that was hard to spot. And the slide marks were all but gone after about 5 minutes. Remember this guy was only 6 feet into the trees, it was dark, his lights were on and you could just barely make out a faint red glow from his tail lights. Thats how dense it is. A few more feet in and you would have seen nothing at all. You could drive by that spot a thousand times and never know that car was there. Same thing going over a cliff into a ravine even if it was only 10 feet deep. A car would be virtually invisible. By the way the guy was fine just a little shaken up is all.


http://news.com.com/5208-1028-0.html?forumID=1&threadID=23233&messageID=206941&start=-1


someone's theory

http://news.com.com/5208-1028-0.html?forumID=1&threadID=23233&messageID=206891&start=0

too long to copy and paste

[JanMichael]

59. kick

nt

[dchill]

60. kick

[Tinksrival]

61. Friends and family searching in teams

I hope they get results before sun down.

http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_120306_news_family_search.4d255395.html

Jason Zemlicka, a friend of the Kim family, flew from New York City to San Francisco Saturday night, then drove to Oregon to meet up with friends already out looking for the Kims.

Zemlicka said there are about 20 people in teams of two or three checking all the possible routes James and Kati Kim could have taken on their way to Gold Beach.

Zemlicka said the teams were focusing on coastal routes out of Eugene, Grants Pass and Roseburg; stopping along the way to hand out fliers and talk with anyone who may have seen the Kim family.

[Tinksrival]

62. Another nightfall

Haven't found any more info than this:

http://www.king5.com/topstories/stories/NW_120306ORNfamilysearchSW.4d6d10da.html

snip>>>>
Searchers have been combing Oregon highways and surrounding areas to look for signs of the family. Searchers have also used snow machines, poking into byways along Oregon's Coast Range.

Helicopters, including one commissioned by the Kims' family, have also been used in the search.

Anyone with information about the Kim family is asked to call the Oregon State Police tip line at 800-452-7888.

[Tinksrival]

63. A websight for and with additional info has been set up

http://www.jamesandkati.com/

snip>>>>

You can send links or news updates to [e-mail]

If you would like to forward on words of hope and encouragement to the Kim and Fleming families please send a note to [e-mail] and we will gather them up to pass on. We also have an online guestbook where you can share with us.

Please keep the Kim Family in your hopes and prayers as we await their safe return.

News and media outlets we request that you allow the extended family of Kati and James to focus on the search and rescue operation that is ongoing. Please contact Sarah Cain at 415-378-0775, who has offered to act as a media contact for the families.

[Tinksrival]

64. I wish I had good news but here is the latest on the search.........

http://news.com.com/Air,+ground+search+for+missing+CNET+editor+continues/2100-1028_3-6140265.html

Air, ground search for missing CNET editor continues

snip>>>>

The search for missing CNET senior editor James Kim continued Sunday, with search-and-rescue teams from the ground and air checking secondary rural routes in southwest Oregon, Oregon police said.

Helicopter support was to be discontinued at darkness Sunday, but ground search crews were prepared to continue searching into the evening, according to a police statement.

snip>>>>

Approximately 40 state and federal personnel were searching remote area roads on Sunday, state police reported. Some of those roads are difficult to travel, described by authorities as narrow and curvy with steep bordering embankments. Sno-Cats are assisting with the search in sections covered with up to 6 inches of frozen snow.

Private resources secured by family members, including helicopters, have been assisting in the hunt, and friends and family have traveled to Oregon to join the search. Loved ones have also set up a Web site where the public can receive updates on the Kims and share their thoughts.

Following confirmed sightings last Saturday night of Kim and his family at a Denny's restaurant in Roseburg, Ore., search efforts shifted north to Douglas County, Oregon police said Saturday morning.

Search efforts had been busy in Curry County, where Gold Beach, the family's reported destination for last Saturday evening, is located. But after a multi-agency search involving snowmobiles, a Sno-Cat and helicopters including a UH-60 Blackhawk, there's still no sign of the Kims' 2005 silver Saab 9-2X station wagon with California personalized plates of "DOESF."

snip>>>>

The National Guard, California Highway Patrol, Oregon State Police and Coast Guard are all participating in the search. In addition to patrolling highways running from Interstate 5 to the Oregon coast and along Highway 101, Oregon State Police troopers say they are checking hotels and resorts on the south coast.

Douglas County sheriffs have already done an extensive search of area roads, including Highway 42 from the Winston area to Myrtle Point in neighboring Coos County, according to the statement. Further search options are being explored.
According to Oregon State Police, about 100 tips had come in to a Pacific Northwest call center in Salem, Ore., as of Sunday afternoon. The number for the line is 1-800-452-7888.

[superconnected]

65. Unfortunately, having driven that route myself - and in the snow

I suspect they went off a cliff. IT's easy to do on I5 Southern Oregon.

[warrior1]

66. update of sorts

http://www.kdrv.com/content/contentID/15164

NEAR MERLIN, Ore. -- The Kim family has been missing for eight days now, with little information on where they could be.

New information on the missing family is leading the search back to the Bear Camp area in Josephine County.

A cell phone tower received a signal from one of the family's cell phones last saturday near Glendale, but officials say the signal is only an indicator the family could have been within 26 miles of Glendale late Saturday night.

Josephine County says they requested man-power from Jackson County Search and Rescue to help search the snow covered area.

snip

[donheld]

67. So sad

:cry:

[Blue_Roses]

69. What a beautiful family...

I hope they are found safe and sound. This is really sad:cry:

[jeanarrett]

71. Kicking.

Hope they are found today!

[Sequoia]

72. I heard about this on Friday.

Don't think they are safe at all. So sad. Driving in that condition. This search needs to have high priority.

[Lex]

74. kick

Any updates, West Coasters?

[file83]

75. Something doesn't make sense about the latest cell phone 'pings'...

(before you read this, let me remind you that my conclusions are just SPECULATION. I certainly hope that this is NOT the case, but I honestly think this is the strongest possiblity, according to the latest information.)

...according to this: http://www.oregonlive.com/newslogs/oregonian/index.ssf?/mtlogs/olive_oregonian_news/archives/2006_12.html#211411

Searchers this morning are focused on an area west of Glendale and north of the Rogue River after determining that the family’s cell phone had triggered a ping on a cell tower near Glendale.

The cell tower on Wolf Peak recorded two pings about 1:30 a.m. on Nov. 26, the morning after James amd Kati Kim and their two young children were last seen in Roseburg, according to Josephine County Undersheriff Brian Anderson.

The Kims' cell phone went through an area covered by the cell tower and received a text or voice message. The tower recorded two pings; each was one second in length separated by four seconds, Anderson said. The area covered by the cell tower extends west from Glendale about 26 miles.

This means that no other cell tower registered "pings" around this time. I'm assuming this means that either their phone had been turned off for a while, but then turned back on, and immediately got turned off, OR that once they got into trouble, they turned their phone back on, but it was so remote (mountainous area) that the cell only registered by sheer luck.

So back to the problem. This means that they were in that remote area near WEST of I-5 to the point that no other towers would have picked up their signal, only the Wolf Peak tower.

This places them DEEP in the mountains.

Question: WHY under normal circumstances would a guy who was so tech savvy have chosen a curvy, dangerous, remote road on such a dark and stormy night!?

It doesn't make sense under "normal" circumstances. I believe this points to "foul play".

Keep in mind, as horrible a thought as this is: That remote area west of Grants Pass Oregon has more than its fair share of rednecks and racists. James and Kati were a interracial couple. You do the math.

They may have taken a wrong turn (why James wasn't using a GPS is beyond me). During that wrong turn on these remote roads they probably had car trouble (flat tire). The "foul play" would (completely hypothetical, just for example) be some racists driving around that holiday night, drunk on alcohol, and stopped to see what was going on. The rest is anyone's guess.

My thinking is that the reason the car hasn't been found is because it has been hidden.

It's entirely possible that they crashed and the car came to rest behind some bushes, but I highly doubt that the father (let alone the mother!) would have allowed themeselves to put the baby and young daughter into such a risky situation as trying to drive that road on purpose other than a mistake.

Their caution would have been elevated under such hazardous conditions. No washouts of a road have been found.

Not many other options are left that make any sense to me.

Like I said, I hope to God this is not the case.

[JanMichael]

76. sounds as if they have been found alive

nt

[Nickster]

77. Yup, looks like everyone but him for now. n/t

[DemReadingDU]

79. here is a link

http://news.com.com/Wife%2C+daughters+of+missing+CNET+editor+found+alive/2100-1028_3-6140118.html?tag=nefd.top

[Bunny]

78. What?

They've been found alive?

[JanMichael]

80. The wife and kids have been found alive and are being taken to a

hospital...

James Kim walked out on snowshoes, and they are searching for him still-

[file83]

81. Well thank god his kids didn't die because of their father's poor decision

to drive that remote road. He should have taken the 42 or the 38 to get to Gold Beach. Where did he get the idea that taking that road (at night none-the-less!) was a good idea?

He had a 7 month old baby in the car.

I realize that I should wait for further details before passing judgement on this James guy, but from what I've seen, it's looking like he fucked up big time.

That ranks up there with one of the stupidest things I've heard in a while. I can't believe that he would put his family in danger by taking that road during this time of year! To top it off, he was on SNOW SHOES when he left the vehicle?! WTF was that guy thinking? As soon as it started snowing he should have turned that car around and headed back to Grants Pass.

I hope for his children's sake that he is still alive, but I doubt it, because there is no way he could have survived without shelter for 8 nights in those mountains. He should have stayed with the car. You ALWAYS stay with the shelter (then again, you shouldn't put yourself into that kind of situation in the first place).

Sorry for the rant, but stupidity like this when kids are endangered just pisses me off. It's one thing if it's you putting yourself at risk, but kids? Wow.

[Lex]

82. I've always heard

to stay with the car too.

Is it so remote that their cell phones wouldn't work at all where they were?

[file83]

83. Look where they were - middle of a mountain range...

http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=42.629550+N,+123.858649+W&ie=UTF8&om=1&z=11&ll=42.631433,-123.85849&spn=0.275323,0.772476&t=h&iwloc=addr

That road is a dinky forest road that is NOT patrolled nor plowed if it gets snowed on. May I add that is over 4600 feet in elevation.

[Duer 157099]

85. Where did you get those coordinates, just curious?

He was found just to the NE of there, a few miles away, and about half a mile from the river.

I'm trying to figure out what path he was taking and why (on foot)

[Radio_Lady]

86. It's a very remote area. Cell phones work poorly in the Coast Range in Oregon,

and even through the passes. The same is true in the Cascades. Verizon.net is our carrier. We are not impressed with their service -- once, we got all our messages from a coast visit -- AFTER SEVERAL DAYS, on our way home into the Willamette Valley. Check out a topographical map of Oregon and you'll see all the different elevations.

Maybe there should be some kind of emergency cell tower equipment out there. They finally did bring in a tower and it was used to coordinate 30 or more rescuers by cell phone this past week.

Best discussion of this man and his wife and children - the whole story -- is on www.zdnet.com tonight. Here is a better link.

Also on www.cnet.com Kim's former employer.

RIP James Kim