After almost a decade of searching, authorities finally nab California man who was wanted for two murders. His hiding spot was 8,000 miles away

A suspected killer is finally back in the United States after spending nearly a decade on the run. He was ultimately tracked down more than 8,000 miles away in Laos. Myung Jin Kim, 31, was brought back to Los Angeles on June 9, 2026, to face murder charges in different jurisdictions for two separate killings that occurred in California.

According to the NY Post, this marks the first time a wanted fugitive has been returned to the United States from Laos. Kim was taken into custody by Laotian authorities in late May 2026 after investigators discovered he was using fraudulent travel documents. Following his arrival at Los Angeles International Airport, he was booked into the Anaheim Police Department jail before being transferred to Santa Clara County custody on June 10, 2026.

Kim will be prosecuted in Santa Clara County first for a 2016 homicide. Investigators allege that Kim orchestrated a targeted, ambush-style murder-for-hire plot in a San Jose residential neighborhood on June 27, 2016. After those proceedings conclude, Kim will be transported to Orange County to stand trial for the 2018 murder of his friend, 26-year-old Christopher Kim.

Capturing Kim is part of a larger push by California law enforcement

FOX 11 reported that in 2016, the murder-for-hire plot allegedly went sideways when the hired hitmen, who were lying in wait, opened fire on a vehicle and killed the wrong person. Following an investigation that identified several suspects, authorities concluded that Kim had orchestrated the attack, leading to charges of murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit murder.

The alleged murder of his friend reportedly happened on September 5, 2018, while Myung Jin Kim was out on bail for separate weapon and drug charges, including being a felon in possession of a firearm and metal-piercing ammunition. Prosecutors claim that Kim shot his friend six times in a Westminster CVS parking lot following an argument over money. With a witness, the victim’s girlfriend, an arrest warrant was issued for Kim on November 20, 2018.

NBC Los Angeles reported that the successful arrest of Kim was the result of a massive international operation involving nearly a dozen law enforcement agencies, including police from Vietnam, Singapore, and Thailand. Per FOX, Kim’s apprehension is part of a larger push for international captures by local authorities.  

Kim is the seventh international fugitive located abroad and returned by the FBI and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office in just the last six months. Law enforcement leaders were reportedly quick to highlight the significance of this capture. FOX 11 wrote that Patrick Grandy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, stated, “Mr. Kim’s cowardly acts of violence finally caught up with him, despite being halfway across the globe.” 

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer also issued a warning:

“Justice knows no borders and we will go to the literal ends of the earth in the pursuit of justice. It may not be today. It may not be tomorrow. But the long arm of the law of Orange County is coming for you and there is not a country on earth that is capable of shielding you from our unwavering pursuit of justice. We believe in consequences for your actions, and you will be held accountable for every crime you commit and for every victim you harm.”

San Jose Police Chief Paul Joseph remarked, per FOX, “No matter how much time passes or how far someone runs, accountability can still find them. Our homicide detectives never gave up on this case, and their persistence, combined with extraordinary support from our law enforcement partners, brought this suspect back to San José to face justice.” 

Westminster Police Chief Darin Lenyi added, “If you come to our city and commit murder or any other serious crime, we will track you down and arrest you. No matter how long it takes us or where you flee to, we are coming for you.” 

Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen echoed these sentiments, stating, “Once again, an all-star team of agencies worked closely together to make sure a multiple murder suspect faces justice. Cooperation closes cases.”