Santa Ana Man Charged in 2011 Killing of 80-Year-Old Il Jae Kim in Anaheim After Crime Lab Reexamination
Mike Nunez, 34, of Santa Ana, is charged with murder with a deadly-weapon enhancement in the December 2011 killing of Il Jae Kim, 80, who was found dead in his apartment at 225 S. Western Ave. in Anaheim. Anaheim police reopened the case in March 2026 with the Orange County Crime Lab and arrested Nunez on Oct. 6, 2026; he is held on $1 million bail with arraignment set for Oct. 29. The charge is an allegation.
Defendant Mike Nunez, 34, of Santa Ana; victim Il Jae Kim, 80; Anaheim Police Department and Orange County Crime Lab as the investigating agencies.
Murder charge with a deadly-weapon enhancement filed against Mike Nunez, 34, of Santa Ana, in the cold-case killing of Il Jae Kim, 80, whose body was found in his Anaheim apartment in December 2011.
Crime scene: 225 S. Western Ave., Anaheim. Arrest location: Santa Ana. Custody: Orange County Jail.
Victim found Dec. 15, 2011; case reopened March 2026; Nunez arrested and charged Oct. 6, 2026; arraignment set Oct. 29, 2026.
Orange County Crime Lab reexamination of evidence from the 2011 case produced findings that, according to Anaheim police, identified Nunez as the suspect; specific evidence has not been publicly disclosed.
Mike Nunez, 34, of Santa Ana, is in Orange County Jail charged with murder with a personal-use-of-a-deadly-weapon enhancement in connection with the killing of Il Jae Kim, 80, in Anaheim in December 2011. Nunez was arrested Oct. 6, 2026 and is held on $1 million bail; arraignment is set for Oct. 29, 2026. The charge is an allegation; no conviction has been entered.
No new court filings or investigative disclosures have been reported since the arrest.
Il Jae Kim was found dead in his apartment at 225 S. Western Ave. in Anaheim on Dec. 15, 2011, following a welfare check. The case went unsolved for nearly 15 years.
Anaheim police reopened the investigation in March 2026 in partnership with the Orange County Crime Lab, according to the OC Register. Sgt. Eric Anderson stated that the specific evidence that led investigators to the suspect is not being publicly released, indicating the evidentiary basis rests on crime-lab reexamination rather than a new witness tip or confession.
The Oct. 29 arraignment is the next scheduled court event. At that proceeding, Nunez is expected to enter a formal plea. Court records and any bail or plea developments will update the case status.
- Dec 15, 12:00(almost 15 years ago)
Il Jae Kim, 80, is found dead in his apartment at 225 S. Western Ave. in Anaheim after a welfare check.
- Mar 15, 12:00(7 months ago)
Anaheim police reopen the case with the Orange County Crime Lab (March 2026).
- Oct 6, 12:00(13 days ago)
Mike Nunez, 34, of Santa Ana, is arrested in Santa Ana; he is charged with murder and held on $1 million bail.