Vicky Kim, 65, has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the death of her husband, who was found with traumatic injuries at their luxury condominium in Palm Desert, California, on September 4. The Palm Desert Sheriff's Office responded to an "unknown trouble call" at the residence on Gateway Drive shortly before 10 a.m. Deputies arriving at the scene discovered a man deceased from injuries consistent with a physical assault.
Detectives from the Riverside Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit identified Kim as the suspect. She was taken into custody without incident at the scene and later booked into the John Benoit Detention Center. The victim's identity has not yet been released. Court documents indicate Kim is accused of using a flagpole in the commission of the crime, though further details were not provided.
Kim, who resided at The Enclave, a condo complex described as "highly desirable" and featuring amenities such as a putting green and resort-style pools, had prior encounters with law enforcement related to domestic violence involving her husband. Records from the Hawaii Police Department show an arrest in July 2007 for a bomb threat at Kona International Airport at Keahole, for which she was charged with first-degree terroristic threatening.
Molly Smith, a spokesperson for the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, stated that her office had previously filed felony charges and obtained criminal protective orders against Kim for domestic abuse allegations from her husband, adding that the office intended to "aggressively prosecute her for her crimes against her husband." It remains unclear why Kim was not in custody prior to this incident.
The Riverside County Sheriff's Office is seeking information from anyone who may have witnessed or heard the domestic incident that preceded the husband's death. Investigators Chua and Mitroff are handling the case.