UPDATE: IHIT investigating link between victim’s husband and missing Surrey woman

Hee Sook Youn, 59, found dead in washroom of Burnaby business.

  • Oct. 6, 2016 6:00 a.m.
Police are looking for Youngku Youn.

Police are looking for Youngku Youn.

The RCMP Integrated Homicide Investigation Team is looking for a 60-year-old Pitt Meadows man after his ex-wife was found dead Wednesday, Oct. 5 in the washroom of her Burnaby business.

Now they believe he may be traveling with a missing Surrey woman, whose vehicle was found in Golden Ears Provincial Park on Saturday.

Police and paramedics were called to a business in the 4500-block of North Road just after 11 a.m. on Oct. 5 for a female in medical distress.

Hee Sook Youn, 59, was located in the washroom of the business. Although the investigation is in the early stages and an autopsy will be required to confirm the cause of death, evidence suggests that she was the victim of a targeted homicide, according to IHIT.

Police are now gathering evidence to locate a suspect, believed to be the Hee Sook’s ex-husband, Youngku Youn, a 60-year-old Pitt Meadows resident.

He is 5’7” tall, 143 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.

Police said on Tuesday afternoon that Youn may be travelling with Kyonghee Kim, a 54-year-old Surrey woman who was reported missing on Friday. Her 2012 Hyundai Sonata was seen travelling Northbound on Golden Ears Bridge, and then Saturday was found in the park.

The park entrance was blocked while police investigated on Saturday.

Just before 11 a.m. on Oct 5, IHIT said Kim was contacted by Youngku Youn, and her vehicle was spotted travelling over the Golden Ears Bridge just before noon.

At approximately 12:30 p.m. that day, Ridge Meadows RCMP received information about a male in their jurisdiction who was suicidal.

This male was identified by the caller as Youngku Youn.

At this stage, Youn was a person of interest in the murder of his ex-wife.

Ridge Meadows RCMP conducted a search in their area and located Youn’s PT Cruiser on the corner of Harris Road and Fraser Way.

In attempting to track down Youn, police located Kim’s vehicle in Golden Ears park on Saturday, Oct 8th.

The investigation has since determined that the vehicle had been in the area of Golden Ears park since the evening of Oct 5.

An extensive foot, vehicle and ATV search of the Golden Ears park was completed by IHIT, Surrey, Ridge Meadows and UFVRD RCMP, ERT/Tactical Troop and the Police Dog Service.

Despite an exhaustive search, Youn and Kim were not located.

Kim’s car has been seized.

“There is much speculation occurring within the various LMD communities about the whereabouts of Mr. Youn and some have speculated that he has taken his own life.  While there is no evidence to suggest this has occurred, we are concerned for his safety and are making all attempts to locate him,” according to IHIT Staff Sgt. Jennifer Pound.

Police continue to concentrate on locating both individuals.

“We believe that Ms. Kim is in the company of Mr. Youn and she could be in danger.”

Their whereabouts are unknown at this time and IHIT is asking anyone who knows of them to call 911 immediately.

 

 

Maple Ridge News