RSSIn Memoriam: CNET's James Kim
By Scott M. Fulton, III | Published December 6, 2006, 4:12 PM
Oregon authorities, who had been searching for lost CNET editor James Kim, said Wednesday afternoon that they have discovered Kim's body in the wilderness in an area known as Big Windy Creek. The news came as a shock since just two days earlier Kim's wife Kati and his two children were found in good condition near their car. He was found at about 12 noon local time (3pm ET).
The Oregon State Police this afternoon released the following statement: "Josephine County Undersheriff Brian Anderson confirmed Wednesday afternoon that the body of James Kim was found by searchers deceased at approximately 12 noon. His body was found within the area of focus in the Big Windy Creek drainage."
In breaking the news to reporters in person, Anderson wept.
Earlier today, rescue teams had been dropping survival packages in the vicinity of an area where bits and pieces of Kim's clothing had been spotted. Apparently he had wandered into a drainage that leads to the Rogue River, where there were steep cliffs.
The Kim family Web site, which may have aided earlier in the rescue of Kati Kim and her two young daughters, is now accepting donations in James' memory for his surviving family. CNET has posted further details.
All of us at BetaNews grieve for the loss of our colleague and fellow journalist in the technology press. The competitive spirit among us does not run so deep that we fail to recognize we are brothers and sisters at heart. I did not have the good fortune to know James Kim personally, though I know and work with many who did, whose spirits were brightened by his joy, optimism, and his curiosity and interest in the obscure, as evidenced by the wonderful things you'd find at his and Kati's apothecary shop.
For everyone who knew James, for his colleagues at CNET, for his family and friends, and for all who will feel the impact of his loss, I weep also, and pray that a greater rescue has found his soul. My hopes and thoughts are for his daughters, Sabine and Penelope, who I hope will know their father even in his absence, a man of honor who would give his life for them.
I did some traveling in the Arctic in the winter, and what they drummed into us was, you can go three weeks without food, three days without water, and three hours without shelter. Without proper clothing, James was really playing a long shot. Much better that he spend effort making his car visible from the air, stay warm, and hope for rescue.
I wonder if the tech community can come up with a way to quickly locate stranded automobiles, something that would put out a satellite ping every hour for weeks, installed in every new car, with retrofit bundles selling cheaply.The whole nightmare could have turned into one night stranded with a tow truck showing up in the morning with coffee and blankets.
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|This is truly tragic. I used to watch James on the Screensavers and sometimes Call for Help as well. My heart and prayers go out to the family. He was much too young to die.
James, I hope you find peace in your "tech" heaven.
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|There are so many unanswered questions to me about this story. I hope details continue to come out. Of the many, one thing I don't understand is this - reports are they were stuck on a remote road trying to do a u-turn. Why did James not just follow the road back out by foot? Even if it was a serious haul, at least it's something to follow. It's a sad, sad story, I just want to know more. Shouldn't have ended this way.
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|New details are even more...tragic, if you can use that word. Apparently, he was found only a mile from where he started but he actually walked a full 8 to 10 miles, going in a semi-circle. Almost everything he did was wrong, unfortunately. He followed the road, then a river, but took a wrong turn and went back towards his van almost. This is certainly not how it should have ended...
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|A bittersweet ending to an amazing, if tragic, story. Rest in peace, James. Know that the rest of your family got home safe.
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|Rest well James.
As for the Cell phone reception issue one thing that I haven't heard mentioned is that that is a rather mountianus area. I grew up in the coastal mountian range of Oregon and know that area fairly well. I participated in several search and rescue missions in that same area. The terrain is misserable for radio communication and at the high frequencies that cells use if you can't see the top of the hill with the tower on it you aren't going to get a signal out.
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|If Edge Wireless was able to triangulate the position of the phone to help find the family it means the phone had to be turned on and in a servicable area with at least 2-3 towers. Two towers would at least give 2D information. If you couldnt place a call, text messages will usually go through. To me it seems a lot of questions still go unanswered.
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|Of course this is tragic for his family and friends, but I have to ask this: was leaving the vehicle really the best thing to do? Don't the experts recommend staying with your vehicle in these circumstances?
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|"The competitive spirit among us does not run so deep that we fail to recognize we are brothers and sisters at heart."
Too bad he'll never know that.
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|Don't breed.
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|It's true, isn't it? The point being you all treat eachother like crap but if one of you works for cnet and dies doing something stupid, all of a sudden we're all friends. You aren't fooling anybody so quit pretending you care.
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|First thing they teach in wilderness survival: when you are lost in unknown territory, STAY WHERE YOU ARE.
Sorry he's dead. Lesson to be learned here however. They wife and kids stayed, they are alive.
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|RIP, James.
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|he didnt have a cell phone or a damn gps device? i just dont get it????
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|Yeah they did have a cell phone, Edge Wireless was able to triangulated their position that's how the wife and kids were found.
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|I'm sorry to say this but being a nerdy technologist, and a person educated about the perils of wandering into unknown wilderness, are indeed two very different skills. RIP my fellow nerdy.
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|It's really sad that things turned out this way. I know we were all hoping James would be found and reunited with his family. All the best to his wife and children during this difficult time.
Rest in peace James, your family is safe.
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|So sad. I'm really surprised they weren't found considering they were burning tires to stay warm. Just seems like they would make the perfect smoke signal. Just a really sad ending to all this.
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|I'm extreamly shocked by this... I was hoping he would be alright, just like everone else... I remember him from TechTv on Call for Help and Screensavers. I always liked him. He gave his life to save his family... Makes you realize how short and precious life is. What makes this situation extreamly worse is that his children (mainly the baby) will never get to know him... Truely a sad day for everybody, especially the Kim family.
Much respect and love your way guys!
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|http://news.com.com/2009-12-6141617.html
He did what he had to do; his family and all will honor him for it.
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|What a terrible tragedy. I have very fond memories of James from TechTV. My deepest condolences to his family.
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|He went out in the snow. Idiot.
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|Do us all a favor and jump off a bridge, ****tard
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|You weren't there. You don't know the circumstances.
They waited 1 week without any help; stranded in the cold. Probably running low on food and supplies (baby diapers, etc.).
And you expect the father to sit there and do nothing?
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|Don't feed the trolls! They thrive for attention!
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|A brave man clearly dedicated to his family. Unfortunate to see the outcome on this one, and one can only hope they can find a way to heal. A young life extinguished is always unfortunate. My condolences and prayers go out to the entire Kim family, CNET staff, and his friends, of which I'm sure he had many.
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|Although we are competitors, its times like this when the media as a whole comes together to support one of our own. The loss is tragic, and I'd like to personally extend my prayers to the Kim family, his friends, and our colleagues at CNET.
Having recently lost a member of my family myself, I know how tough this can be on a family. But time does heal, although the loss is never replaced.
Godspeed, James.
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|Very well said, Ed.
My condolences on your loss as well.
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|Condolences
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|I am so saddened to hear about the tragic news. My prayers go out to the Kim family.
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|There is no greater show of love and sacrifice than offering one's life for another. You will be in our hearts forever...
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|I forgot to state the obvious: James Kim was a selfless hero who loved his family to the end; literally. :(((
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|I am so saddened by the loss of this wonderful, courageous man, husband and dad. My thoughts and prayers have been with the family since they went missing and I so hoped for a different ending. Words cannot express how sad I am for Kati and the girls and for the world's loss of James. Bad things happen to good people could not be truer. I am so sorry for everyone involved.
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|I agree with you totally... and I feel very sad for the families. My thoughts and prayers are with them. Anyone would like to help the family can place donation at: http://jamesandkati.com
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|It's terrible that it ends this way when I had high hopes, especially since his family was found.
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|James Kim has merged with the infinite.
Nice statement, Scott.
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|Mr. Kim is a fine example of what a true man and a real hero is. My sincerest condolences to his family and close friends. May he rest in peace.
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|James was my friend and colleague- and one of my very favorite people. A great number of us have been crying all afternoon. Not only the tech world, but the world in general has lost a kind soul.
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|Wow someone actually died Wednesday?
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|We wish to express our condolences to the Kim family for their loss. A true brave man.
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|He did what any other man would do for his wife and kids. Very brave man and I'm sure his family was proud for his efforts and sacrifice.
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|This was not the outcome everyone was hoping for. But James Kim put the lives of his wife and two daughters before his own. And that says it all about the man he was. My thoughts and prayers goes out to the Kim family and all who knew him.
He will be missed.
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|ughh....such heartbreaking stuff...makes it heard to read even when you want to keep up.
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|My condolences to the Kim family. This is so not the outcome I and everyone was hoping for.
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|Sigh.
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|Respect and condolences to the Kim family.
The man was a hero in my book.
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|I wish to express my condolenses to the Kim family for their loss.
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|Everyone's praying for you Mrs. Kim, for you and your girls. Your husband was a very brave man Im sure your proud!
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