PHOENIX – Two teens from Louisiana are facing murder charges after the body of Arizona State University Professor Jun Seok Chae was found at a Surprise landfill.
On July 17, 2020, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) deputies discovered the body of Professor Chae. The discovery was the result of an investigation into the disappearance of Chae on March 25, 2020.
Chae was reported missing to the ASU Police Department after he did not return home from work. On March 30, MCSO detectives were contacted by the by Shreveport, Louisiana Police Department.
Shreveport Police Officers responded to a suspicious vehicle call, contacting 18-year-old Javian Ezell, 18-year-old Gabrielle Austin, and a third individual. Officers determined the vehicle belonged to Professor Chae and obtained statements from the individuals which led them to believe Chae may have been the victim of a homicide. On further investigation, it was determined that Chae had been killed near Carefree Highway and 7th Street, within the jurisdiction of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. MCSO Patrol and Homicide Unit personnel responded to the scene and conducted an investigation during which several items of evidence were identified.
MCSO Detectives determined Chae’s body was placed in a dumpster by the suspects and was ultimately deposited in the Northwest Regional Landfill. MCSO conducted a landfill search from May 11, 2020 to July 17, 2020. On Friday, July 17, 2020, human remains were located along with related evidence. The Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner positively identified the human remains as Professor Chae.
Ezell and Austin were recently extradited to Arizona and are currently in MCSO custody. They were booked into MCSO jail with a bond of $1,000,000.00 each for the following charges: 1st degree murder, armed robbery and theft of Means of Transportation.
- Man hours
- 48 days of searching
- Average 15 people per day
- Average time is 10 hours per day
- About 7,200 man hours during the search
- Agencies involved
- Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office
- Arizona State University Police (ASU)
- Army National Guard (Hazmat team 91st)
- Surprise Police Department
- Buckeye Police Department
- Phoenix Police Department
- Rummel Construction
- Waste Management
- Material moved
- About 1,400 dump truck loads full. Hole is about 232 feet long by 100 feet wide and 14 feet deep.
- Cost not including man hours
- Equipment rental from Rummel $240,900.00
- Food $12,000.00
- Portable toilets/wash stations and trash bins $3,000.00
- Equipment purchased for operation
- Hard hats $1,800.00
- Rakes $400.00
- Shovels $400.00
- KN95 masks $5,000.00
- Coveralls $5,400.00
- Eye protection $1,000.00
- Boot covers $1,400.00
- Disposable gloves $2,300.00
- Leather gloves $600.00
- Reflective safety vests $1,000.00
- Boots $9,500.00
- Water buffalos $300.00
- Generator batteries $300.00
- Fuel/maintenance generators and on site equipment $19,200.00
- Total estimated cost not including man hours $304,500.00