Kati Kim and children found, James Kim still missing
By Ryan Block 
posted December 4th 2006 6:11PM
posted December 4th 2006 6:11PM
Kati Kim and the Kim children (Sabine and Penelope) were just found alive in Oregon; they apparently flagged down a search and rescue helicopter that was hunting for the missing family. James Kim is still missing, however. From what we understand he left two days ago in search of help. We do not yet know how deep in the Oregon wilderness the Kim family was, the circumstances that brought them there, or the condition of Kati and her children, although she and the children have been airlifted to a local hospital. More news as we get it.For those unfamiliar, CNET editor James Kim and his family have been missing in Oregon for over a week now. All our previous coverage can be found here.
CNET has more information here. A press conference will be held at 5:00PM PST today. CNET TV is rebroadcasting that conference online. We will be liveblogging it here to keep you up to the minute with the latest Kim family updates.
Press conference updates: Apparently James's tracks were found for two miles leading away from their car, and followed along the side of a road, over a ridge and into a ravine. Choppers will continue the search through the night with night vision optics.
Kati and the children are reportedly in "very good shape." Carson helicopters, Randy Jones, and federal agencies had four ships in the air at all times, and were assisted by Edge Wireless's cell-tower hit model which helped locate the Kims' wireless signals. The search will continue with dogs, more choppers, and all possible resources 24x7. James is likely to have made it as far as 20 miles.
The Kims were stuck in the snow off a main road; for the last 8 days the family kept warm at night by running their car. Eventually the Kims burned tires at night when the gas ran out. James left his family at 7:45AM with the intention to return by 1:00PM that day, but obviously has not yet returned. Those concerned are encouraged to check FlashAlert.net for further updates.
Update (12/5): In another press conference this morning, we learned that while searching for James Kim in the Oregon wilderness heat traces were spotted with infrared cameras. Unfortunately those attempting to find James have been unable to get into the area where the heat traces were spotted, and unable to yet verify if this is James (or a woodland animal). Another press conference has been scheduled for 4:15PM PST today; we'll keep you up to the minute.
That's good news!
YES!!!!
What a relief. While I'm still holding out for James to show up somewhere, I am so relieved that the kids and wife are ok.
Please, James, make it to safety.
Nice! Hope he's found ok.
This is amazing news! I've been following this closely and I'm really happy the Kim women are safe and okay. James is a smart man....if his family can survive, he can too!
I'm glad they're okay.
Wow....Ive been following this story. Hopefully they find James in good health.
Very happy to hear that the wife and kids are ok, looking forward to them finding Mr. Kim shortly.
Do we know what happened to leave them lost in Oregon?
OMG, this is such good news.....I just hope James is ok now.
Oh man, that's GREAT news!!! If he is wandering around looking for help, that means there's still hope to find him!!!!
This is such great news, I hope James is found next
Add me to the vigil - wishes and prayers go out to James and his safe return.
I'm really glad they were found. Hopefully they will find James really soon.
KOMO-TV video of inital press conference: http://www.komotv.com/news/4822626.html
Great news! We Oregonians lose enough people, we're good at searching those nooks for them. Now we need to keep the search up for James Kim!
Amazing. Hope pays off. Hope they find James alright.
best news all day!
THANK GOD! Please send good vibes to Jim. JIM PLEASE COME HOME SAFE!!!
Glad to hear they are safe, and now the search and rescue team has a much narrower place to look for james
YAY! I'm happy now, I hope James is okay. How'd they get stranded? Car crash?
JOY
JOY
JOY
JOY
man........good thing that he's gone missing in Oregon instead of N.Dakota.
Thank God they found the Kati and the kids. I hope they find James soon!!!!
Man, I'm so glad they were found.
I hope they find James alive and well!
It sounds like their GPS might of told them to take NF-33, a really bad Forest Service road(I've taken it in summer a few times, in an 4x4 truck, and even then, your not sure you can travel the entire road) that would get you to a little town called Agness. Then, unstead of turning right, towards Gold Beach, they must of turned left towards Glendale and Merlin. Or they could of went down I-5 until they got to Merlin, then started driving down NF-23. Either way, its not something I would drive in a station wagon during winter.
Man. Those that are familiar with the area know that the outlook for James is bleak. Pray for the best but expect the worst. I don't know what he had for clothing and supplies but two days (let alone nights) in that are is going to be tough. He was WAY off of I-5 on a BLM road.
Great news. The weather on the West Coast has been abnormally cold since Thanksgiving. Let's hope James Kim is found soon.
I'm glad the family was found and I hope James is found next. But like Eric said, two days without proper supplies and clothing in November/December Oregon isn't fun.
Oh, thats fine news. James next please.
Thank God. Now let's find James.
Extremely good news. Really glad to hear that they are all right. Now if only they can find James Kim.
Good news, but man oh man, I hope James is okay--I'm glued to the news sites for updates. James, you have to make it out and write an article about how technology failed you--I look forward to that article, it will happen.
http://www.google.com/maps?q=Glendale,+OR+97442&ie=UTF8&z=16&ll=42.576423,-123.748198&spn=0.011424,0.035706&t=h&om=1
This is such great news. It is so much more likely now that they'll find James since they now know where to look. I don't know these people, but I am sitting here with tears of joy streaming down my face. Just great, great news.
That is just wonderful news. I hope they find James very soon.
Awesome x 3. Thanks God.
Man I hope the goodnews keeps coming.
I guess many people don't know this, but the number one thing you do not do is leave your vehicle in bad winter weather. Ever.
It almost guarantees for you to die.
Be realistic. He stayed with the car (and his family) for seven days At that point, any reasonable human being, particularly under the circumstances, would weigh their options and have to make a choice between starving or making a last-ditch attempt to find help. After a week, I don't know that I would be holding out a lot of hope of being found.
Hindsight is 20/20. In retrospect, it's obvious to say, NOW, he should have stayed with the car.
This looks like the area where they were ("Big Windy Creek" near Bear Camp):
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=42.65,+-123.72&ie=UTF8&z=10&ll=42.650122,-123.719788&spn=0.587856,1.459808&t=h&om=1&iwloc=addr
After this much time, I never expected this kind of good news out of this story, so I have high hopes for James. My heart goes out to them.
that's really good news, but not really great news. hope james is ok.
Glad to hear they they found Mrs. Kim and the kids and there doing OK. Hope they find Mr. Kim soon, all the best to his family.
Very glad to see that Kati and the girls are alright. Amazing what they've done to survive. Still praying that James will be found alive. Fingers crossed.
Excellent News! I hope that they find that Mr. Kim has found warmth and safety - I truly hope that he is able to be reunited with his family.
Oh my god this is amazing! Now go find James!
I was actually in Best Buy when I first read this site and I let out a big thank god and everyone just turned at looked at me.
This is awesome news, I really wish I had the means to get out to Oregon, because I'd definitely go and help in the search for him.
Are you normally this stupid, yosh, or did the short yellow bus hit you when they came to take you to school?
Seriously, anyone found alive after eight days is worth celebrating over. Not to mention that now, they know where Mr. Kim started from, and how long ago, which is going to make tracking him down much easier.
At least this is finally hitting the pipeline:
http://www.comcast.net/news/national/index.jsp?cat=DOMESTIC&fn=/2006/12/04/534584.html&cvqh=itn_missingfamily
"Those concerned are encouraged to check FlashAlert.net for further updates."
I think that everyone in the digi community is deeply concerned for the safety of the entire family. Although most of us may not know the family personally, its great to see the support of everyone who truly appreciates the well being of the people who write the trivial gadget stuff we read everyday. Thanks to all the sources that have kept this story and the thoughts of the Kim family close to mind. Hope to hear news of James safe return soon!!!
I'm suprised that they were able to triangulate the family's position based on wireless device signal strength to cellphone towers. I didn't know that search and rescue teams these days were so sophisticated. Way to go.
I hope Mr. Kim is ok, but based on what I see in Survivor Man, Climbing Mt. Everest and Man vs Wild, going for so long without food and proper gear in such a harsh environment seems like it would be tough. I hope they find him soon.