Search Intensifies for Missing Family of Three in Northern Arizona Following Winter Storm and Multi-Vehicle Crash
A desperate search is underway in northern Arizona for a family of three women who vanished last week after a severe winter storm and a massive pileup on Interstate 40. The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation into the disappearance of Jiyeon Lee, 33, Taehee Kim, 59, and Junghee Kim, 54. The women were last seen on March 13th while on vacation, traveling from the Grand Canyon area towards Las Vegas.
The circumstances surrounding their disappearance are particularly concerning, compounded by the harsh weather conditions and the chaotic aftermath of a major traffic accident that occurred on the same day they went missing. Law enforcement officials acknowledge the unusual nature of the situation. "We have visitors from all over the world that come here, but yeah it is a little unusual to have three go missing at the same time," Jon Paxton of the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office told local news outlet AZFamily.
Investigators are working diligently to piece together the family’s movements and determine what might have led to their disappearance. The only concrete clue currently available is the GPS data from their rental vehicle, a white 2024 BMW with California license plates. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the GPS last registered the car’s location on Interstate 40 westbound at 3:27 p.m. on March 13th.
Adding to the complexity of the search is the fact that a devastating 22-vehicle crash occurred on I-40 on the same day. While authorities are aware of the pileup, they have yet to establish whether the missing women’s rental car was involved in the incident. The Sheriff’s Office has raised the possibility that the severe weather conditions and the ensuing traffic chaos could have caused the GPS system to reroute the family onto unfamiliar and potentially dangerous roads.
“It was our concern that because of the weather conditions on that day and that major accident, their GPS may have rerouted them. And if you’ve ever traveled up in northern Arizona, when you get rerouted, sometimes GPS will reroute you out into a forest service road without knowing that weather conditions are harsh,” the Sheriff’s Office explained to Fox 10 News. Northern Arizona’s landscape is characterized by vast stretches of remote wilderness, including dense forests and rugged terrain, where adverse weather conditions can quickly make travel treacherous.
The deadly crash on I-40 occurred in Williams, a town south of Grand Canyon National Park. The Arizona Department of Public Safety reported that the collision, involving several tractor-trailers and thirteen passenger vehicles, resulted in two fatalities and ignited a fire that raged for over 20 hours. The severity of the crash and the extensive emergency response efforts further complicate the investigation into the missing family.
Authorities have confirmed that they are unsure whether the rental vehicle and the missing women were caught up in the deadly accident. The lack of any contact or activity since their disappearance is deeply worrying. “Since the 13th, there has been no phone pings that we’ve seen, no phone calls, no credit card use and that GPS, there’s never been another point on that GPS on that vehicle so that does make it difficult,” Paxton told AZFamily, highlighting the lack of any digital footprint.
Despite the lack of leads, investigators are leaving no stone unturned in their search for the missing women. Law enforcement personnel have been actively searching the area, both on the ground and from the air. K9 units have been deployed to assist in the search efforts, and helicopters have been utilized to conduct aerial sweeps of the vast and challenging terrain. Unfortunately, these extensive efforts have not yet yielded any positive results.
Despite the ongoing investigation and the lack of any concrete evidence, the Sheriff’s Office has stated that they do not currently suspect any foul play. “We don’t have any reason to believe there’s any foul play,” Paxton told AZ Family, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the uncertainty.
The disappearance of the three women has also garnered international attention. The Korean Consulate has confirmed that it is actively collaborating with the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office. The consulate has formally requested a thorough and prompt investigation into the matter and has dispatched an officer to Arizona to assist in the search efforts and provide support to the missing women’s families. The consulate’s involvement underscores the seriousness of the situation and the international concern for the well-being of the missing women.
The search for Jiyeon Lee, Taehee Kim, and Junghee Kim remains a top priority for law enforcement in Coconino County. The investigators are meticulously reviewing all available information, following up on every lead, and coordinating their efforts with various agencies and organizations. The hope is that through continued diligence and collaboration, the missing women will be found and reunited with their loved ones. The investigation continues, driven by the urgency to uncover the truth and bring closure to this unsettling mystery.
