Stabbed Body Was Anaheim Businessman

Police have identified a body found dumped on a freeway in San Diego County as that of a video store owner who was reported missing from his blood-spattered store March 15, a police official said Wednesday.

Anaheim Police Lt. Ted Labahn said Chul Koo Park, 40, had been found stabbed to death a week after he disappeared. But Park’s clothing carried no identification, he had no criminal record and he remained listed as a John Doe by authorities in San Diego County.

Labahn said police believe Park’s body was dropped on Interstate 15 a mile and a half north of Highway 76 near Fallbrook in the early hours of March 16.

Employees at Park’s store, Video Gem, declined comments. Park’s family could not be reached.

A bulletin circulated by San Diego officials caught the attention of Anaheim investigators, who confirmed Tuesday that the body was that of Park, Labahn said. Park called his wife from his store in the 700 block of South Weir Canyon Road, at 11 p.m. on March 15 and told her he was on his way home, police said. The next day, Jyong Mi Park called police and reported her husband missing.

Investigators found a large amount of blood near the rear of the store, an empty safe and a security camera missing.

Park’s black, 1989 Toyota 4-Runner, also blood-stained, was found in Los Angeles on March 17 in the parking lot of a Koreatown spa in the 4500 block of Pico Boulevard.

Labahn said that police are not certain of the motive for the crime.

“Robbery may well be the motive,” Labahn said. “But it would be a very unusual robbery,” taking the body from the scene.

“Why drive around with the worst piece of evidence in the world?” he asked.

Investigators are not certain that the Toyota was used to transport the body.

Anyone who may have seen someone dumping the body or who has other information is asked to contact Detective Mike Foster (714) 245-1973.