Man charged in stabbings, including 1 fatal, at church camp

URBANA, Md. — An apparently homeless Virginia man fatally stabbed a South Korean missionary and seriously wounded his wife at a Maryland church retreat center, authorities said Monday.

Song Su Kim, 30, of Falls Church, Virginia, was charged in Frederick County, Maryland, with first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree attempted murder and two counts of assault.

Deputies responded Sunday night to a 911 call reporting the stabbing at the Anna Prayer Mountain Church Retreat Center, a Christian complex set amid wooded hills near the rural community of Urbana, about 40 miles northwest of Washington, D.C., said Sheriff Chuck Jenkins.

Charging documents identified the victims as Chung Hwan Park, 63, and his wife Ae Suk Ko, 58.

Jenkins told a news conference the victims were missionaries from South Korea. He said the woman had had surgery and was talking to investigators.

“She’s conscious, she’s alert,” the sheriff said, adding that she’s expected to survive.

At a hearing Monday afternoon, Kim was ordered held without bail. He appeared in court in handcuffs and leg irons.

Deputy State’s Attorney Nanci Hamm said after the hearing that a detective told her the victims were volunteer cooks at the center. Kim had called 911 Saturday to complain about the food at the center, according to Jenkins.

Park was stabbed 13 times and Ko, four times, Hamm said.

Hamm said the victims had arrived at the center in early July.

Jenkins said Kim had been living at the center for five days, brought there by Kim’s mother.

Hamm said Kim has an arrest record in Virginia for a 2012 assault on a family member; a 2006 malicious destruction of property charge; and a drunken driving charge in 2005. Court records list a variety of misdemeanor charges against Kim in the past 10 years in northern Virginia, including assault, drunken driving and possession of marijuana. Many of the charges were ultimately dismissed. The court records list “Korea” as Kim’s country of birth. Jenkins said he is a U.S. citizen.

Assistant Public defender Elizabeth Steiner, Kim’s attorney, said in court that the man is homeless and was previously at the Bailey’s Crossroads homeless shelter in northern Virginia.

Steiner declined to comment outside the courtroom.

A receptionist at the Bailey’s Crossroads Community Shelter declined to answer any questions about when Kim had last stayed the homeless shelter.

Charging documents state that Kim told investigators he was tired of being treated badly by “all Koreans,” and wanted to “invade a Korean.”

Kim told investigators Park had treated him badly that day. Kim said he thought about stabbing Park and walked into the kitchen to get a knife, then walked into an adjoining room and stabbed Park several times, according to Jenkins and court documents.

Kim said Park’s wife went to his defense and he stabbed her as well, according to authorities.

Jenkins said two others witnessed the attack.

Jenkins said Kim had called 911 Saturday and told the deputies who responded that “he was really unsatisfied with the food at the facility.”

Spokeswoman Deputy First Class Amanda Hatcher said authorities were in touch with the Korean embassy to make sure family notifications have been made.

Weathered signs directing visitors to the center identify it variously as “Mt. Anna,” “Anna Prayer” and “Anna Prayer Counseling.” Messages left at the center’s telephone number were not returned.

Hamm said Kim called 911 after the stabbings and said he had just stabbed two people. Jenkins said Kim told a 911 dispatcher he was on the road, on foot, “waiting to be arrested.” He was arrested about a mile from the center without incident, Jenkins said.

Investigators had not recovered the knife used in the stabbings by Monday afternoon.

Ireedui Batsaikhan, a Washington businessman, said he has sent his children to summer camps at the center, which he called simply, “the mountain.” He said the center is used by a number of mostly Korean churches.

“It’s a great place to go because it’s nice and calm and quiet,” he said.

The episode was at least the third deadly incident involving homeless visitors to church properties in Maryland since 2012. Two women, including the co-rector of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Ellicott City, were shot to death in 2012 by a food bank client who then fatally shot himself. In 2013, a homeless man started a fire that killed both himself and the pastor of St. Paul’s by the Sea Episcopal Church in Ocean City, when he ran inside the church’s food bank on fire.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett to welcome new CEO

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.