Third suspect sought in arson-murder of NASA engineer and his family

Associated Press
06/30/2008

LOS ANGELES - Authorities were seeking a third man after taking two into custody in connection with the murders of a NASA engineer and three others whose burned bodies were found in Quartz Hill house fire.

Jae Hwan Shim, 39, and Steve Kwon, 37, were found Saturday night in Douglas, Arizona, near the California border.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Oscar Butao said Sunday that 34 year-old Si Young Yoon of Lancaster still was being sought.

All three men were named persons of interest in Monday's deaths of 60-year-old NASA engineer Joseph Ciganek, and three of his wife's relatives, a woman and two children.

All four were killed before the fire, according to the coroner's office.

Ciganek and a boy had been "beaten and slashed," Assistant Coroner Chief Ed Winter said. The woman and girl both suffered multiple stab wounds, he said.

Their bodies were badly burned and it may take several days to confirm their identities through dental records, coroner's Lt. John Kades said.

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