In a shocking incident, a prominent Georgia dentist, James Choi, 52, is suspected of killing his wife, Myoung, 52, and their 15-year-old daughter, Grace, before taking his own life. The family was found dead in their $1.7 million home in the upscale St. Ives Country Club community in Johns Creek, a suburb of Atlanta. The grim discovery was made during a welfare check on Sunday afternoon.
The Johns Creek Police Department, led by Chief Mark J. Mitchell, is investigating the case. Mitchell expressed his condolences to the affected family and neighbors, acknowledging the profound impact of the tragedy on the entire community. The police have not yet disclosed the causes of death or any additional details about the suspected murder-suicide, citing the need to maintain the integrity of the ongoing investigation and respect for the grieving family members.
James Choi, originally from South Korea, was a graduate of the University of Tennessee, Memphis. He was a practicing dentist at Highland Dental in Suwanee, Georgia. According to the dental office’s website, Choi’s primary aim was to make his patients smile, treating them as he would his own family. Outside of his professional life, Choi was known to enjoy golf and spending quality time with his wife and daughter.
The couple’s daughter, Grace, was a sophomore at Mount Pisgah Christian School in Johns Creek. The school community is mourning the loss of a “treasured and beloved” student. Grace was also an accomplished violinist who had performed at Carnegie Hall in Manhattan with the True North Symphony just a few months before her untimely death. The school’s Fine Arts Department expressed their heartbreak over the loss on social media, remembering Grace as a loved and integral part of their community.
The Choi family’s residence, a six-bedroom home in the gated St. Ives Country Club community, was built in 1996 and last sold for $860,000 in 2016. The community offers a private 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, a resort-style pool with a waterslide, and two restaurants. A video captured by local media showed flowers and a package left at the front door of the Choi’s home, a poignant reminder of the tragic incident that has left the community in shock.