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Fatal Queens Fire A Possible Murder-Suicide


By

Jen Chung

Published Feb 26, 2009

Modified Feb 26, 2009


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By

Jen Chung

Published Feb 26, 2009

Modified Feb 26, 2009


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The fire that claimed two lives in a Bayside apartment building yesterday may have been set on purpose. The victims were a couple, Sun-he Kim, 45, and her husband, Yong-ho Kim, 51 and authorities are investigating whether it was a murder-suicide. Accelerant was reportedly found in the bedroom; the Daily News reports, "Investigators believe Sun He Kim was already dead when the fire started, but it was not immediately known how she was killed... It was not immediately clear if [Yong-ho Kimg] had planned to die or was overcome by choking smoke while trying to escape, the sources said." The couple was apparently in debt—their 20-year-old daughter's boyfriend told the Post that debt collectors were hounding them. The boyfriend added she received two calls from her father, "The last call was at 5 a.m. He left a voice mail saying, 'I love you, I love you, I love you.'"

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debt

fire

murder-suicide

queens


Jen Chung

Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


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