Tempe police announced Tuesday that a search of the home of Mach Kim, 46, uncovered a collection of women’s underwear marked with sticky‑note dates and names. The discovery was made during the investigation of a Halloween‑night sexual assault that occurred on Oct. 31.
Details of the assault
According to newly released court documents, the assault began around 2:30 a.m. near Eighth Street and Dorsey Lane, just south of University Drive. Kim allegedly forced a woman walking home from a party into his vehicle at gunpoint, pointing what the victim described as a black pistol at her and demanding she get in.
Kim reportedly blindfolded the victim with an eye mask, drove her to another location, and then sexually assaulted her while forcing her to hand over her underwear. After the assault, Kim dropped the woman near the intersection of McClintock and University drives. The victim was able to find a passerby who called police.
Police investigation
Investigators used the victim’s phone GPS data to trace the route she was taken, matching it with surveillance camera footage. The timeline led officers to a white Dodge Ram pickup registered to Kim. A driver’s‑license photo matched a sketch the victim helped create.
Detectives later surveilled Kim on Nov. 5 and collected a DNA sample from a discarded Wendy’s cup. The DNA matched material from the victim’s sexual‑assault kit, confirming Kim as the suspect.
Search of vehicle and home
When Kim was arrested in Scottsdale, a search of his pickup revealed a black CO₂ gun shaped like a handgun, a black sleep mask, six pairs of women’s underwear, a pillow and a towel. A subsequent search of his Chandler residence uncovered 13 additional pairs of women’s underwear, an eye mask and sticky notes with dates and names on seven of the pairs.
Kim invoked his right to counsel after being taken to jail and declined to answer further questions without an attorney.
Ongoing investigation
Detectives believe there may be additional victims who have not yet come forward. Police are asking anyone with information to contact the Tempe Police Department at 480‑350‑8311.
Original reporting: azfamily KTVK/KPHO Phoenix (news) — read the source article.
