EAST STROUDSBURG, PA — More than a decade after he left home for an afternoon walk and never returned, the disappearance of Hee Chol Kim remains an unsolved mystery that continues to haunt his family and the Mountain Top Estates community where neighbors once rallied to search for him.

Kim, now 73 years old if still alive, was 61 when he vanished on February 25, 2013, from his home in the 100 block of Carol Road in East Stroudsburg. Despite extensive searches involving state police, volunteer search teams from multiple states, and hunting dogs, no trace of Kim has ever been found.

Anyone with information about Hee Chol Kim’s disappearance is urged to contact:

Pennsylvania State Police
570-839-7701

Case Details:

• Name: Hee Chol Kim
• Missing Since: February 25, 2013
• Missing From: 100 block of Carol Road, East Stroudsburg, PA
• Age When Missing: 61 years old
• Current Age: 73 years old (if alive)
• Description: Asian male, 5’6″, 150 lbs, black/graying hair, brown eyes
• Last Seen Wearing: Beige hooded insulated jacket, navy wind pants, black sneakers
• Medical: Diabetic, history of disorientation, limited English proficiency
• NamUs Case: MP19700
• Classification: Endangered Missing

A Routine Walk Turns Into Mystery

Kim left his home sometime between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. that winter afternoon wearing a beige hooded insulated jacket, navy blue wind pants, and black sneakers. He told his wife he was going for a walk—a routine activity for Kim, who enjoyed spending quiet time outdoors and was known to sit in the woods near his neighborhood.

His wife, who like Kim spoke limited English, expected him to return home shortly. When he didn’t, she reached out to neighbors for help finding her husband.

Medical Concerns Heightened Urgency

Kim’s disappearance was particularly alarming because he was diabetic and may have needed medication. He also had a documented history of becoming disoriented and wandering away, though he had always been located quickly in previous incidents.

The combination of his medical condition, limited English proficiency, and history of disorientation prompted an immediate and aggressive response from law enforcement and the community.

Community Mobilizes Massive Search

In the days following Kim’s disappearance, the Mountain Top Estates Development near Bushkill became the staging ground for one of the most extensive community-led search efforts Monroe County had seen.

Adeline Bianco, president of the Mountain Top Estates Development, organized neighborhood volunteers after Kim’s wife pleaded, “Please find my husband.”

“When someone says help me find someone, you just can’t say no,” Bianco said at the time.

About a dozen neighbors initially joined the search effort, coordinating from Bianco’s home before fanning out on foot through the wooded areas surrounding the development. Jeff Paul brought his hunting dog “Buck,” using pieces of Kim’s clothing to help establish a scent trail.

Buck picked up Kim’s scent near his home but then lost it, leaving searchers without a clear direction to follow. Teams ventured into the woods based on information that Kim enjoyed sitting among the trees during his quiet time.

Pennsylvania State Police conducted aggressive searches Monday and Tuesday following Kim’s disappearance. By Friday, the volunteer search had expanded to include the Monroe County Search and Rescue Team along with specialized crews from New Jersey and New York.

Despite the coordinated efforts of law enforcement, search dogs, and dozens of volunteers combing through the woods and surrounding areas, no evidence of Kim was discovered.

Case Remains Open

The case is classified as “Endangered Missing” in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), where Kim’s profile remains active as Case #MP19700.

Pennsylvania State Police continue to investigate Kim’s disappearance, though few details have emerged in the years since he vanished. The lack of any physical evidence—no clothing, no signs of a struggle, no indication of where Kim may have gone—has left investigators with limited leads to pursue.

An Enduring Mystery

Kim’s case represents one of several long-term missing person cases in Monroe County, each leaving families without answers and communities haunted by unanswered questions.

For Kim’s wife and the neighbors who searched desperately for him in 2013, the passage of nearly 12 years has brought no closure. The question of what happened to Hee Chol Kim during his afternoon walk remains unanswered.

Even after more than a decade, investigators still hope someone may have information that could help resolve this case and bring answers to Kim’s family.