A 79-year-old Kurtistown man has been indicted in connection with the 2024 death of his wife on Hawaiʻi Island, setting up a closely watched murder trial now scheduled for August 2026.
Jong Man Kim was arrested Tuesday on an indictment warrant and made an initial appearance in Hilo Circuit Court, where a judge kept his bail at $1.5 million and ordered him to surrender his passport. A jury trial is currently set for Aug. 10, 2026, and Kim remains presumed innocent while the case moves through the courts.
Indictment and Court Orders
According to Big Island Now, a Kona grand jury returned an indictment charging Kim with second-degree murder, and his arrest was carried out with help from the U.S. Marshals. The outlet reports Kim appeared in Hilo Circuit Court on Wednesday afternoon, where the judge maintained the $1.5 million bail and confirmed the order that his passport be turned over. Prosecutors have set the case for a jury trial on Aug. 10, 2026.
How the Investigation Began
In a Hawai‘i Police Department media release, police said Puna Patrol officers were called to a Mountain View home on June 20, 2024, after a man reported finding his wife unresponsive. The woman, identified as 71-year-old Yong Cha Kim, was later pronounced dead at Hilo Benioff Medical Center.
A forensic examination determined that her cause of death was strangulation, and detectives noted that items in the house appeared disturbed. The Area I Criminal Investigation Section, led by Detective Amy Omaya, took over the felony case and asked anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.
Legal Road Ahead
The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jefferson Malate, according to Big Island Now. Under Hawaii law, a conviction for second-degree murder typically carries a sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole, as outlined in state statutes and summarized by Justia.
Kim is expected to return to court for additional pretrial proceedings before the August trial date. He remains presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court.
How to Help
Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact Detective Amy Omaya at (808) 961-2381 or via email at [email protected]. Anonymous tips can be made to Crime Stoppers at 808-961-8300, according to the Hawai‘i Police Department media release.
