Fulton jury acquits Buckhead high-rise security guard in 2024 stabbing death of 90-year-old resident
Verdict ends murder prosecution tied to Marian Road Highrise killing
A Fulton County jury has found Janet Williams not guilty on all charges in the fatal stabbing of 90-year-old Chun-ki Kim inside the Marian Road Highrise, a senior housing property in Buckhead. The verdict, returned Friday after a brief deliberation, ended a case that had centered on surveillance video, limited forensic findings and questions about the strength of the investigation.
Kim, a retired shoe repairman, was discovered with dozens of stab wounds in his fifth-floor apartment in late September 2024. Prosecutors alleged Williams, then 65 and employed as a security guard at the building, killed him during a short window in the afternoon before his body was found the next morning by his caregiver.
How the case was built
The state’s case relied heavily on building surveillance footage and the timeline it suggested. Investigators said video showed Kim last entering an elevator around midday on Sept. 24, 2024. Several hours later, Williams was recorded taking an elevator to the fifth floor, returning minutes afterward without items she previously wore and with clothing that appeared damaged and stained. Investigators also highlighted that she made additional trips back to the same floor within a short period.
In court, prosecutors argued that the video, combined with other circumstantial details, placed Williams at the center of the homicide window. The state also pointed to a red bag seen with Williams on camera and presented testing indicating the presence of blood on the item; DNA analysis detected more than one contributor but did not conclusively identify a second person beyond Williams.
Defense focus: forensic gaps and investigation questions
The defense challenged whether the evidence met the burden of proof required for conviction. Trial testimony underscored that multiple items collected for testing produced negative or inconclusive blood results and that DNA results offered only limited clarity. The defense also emphasized the absence of clear physical evidence tying Williams to the interior of Kim’s apartment and raised concerns about investigative steps taken in the early stages of the case.
The jury’s decision reflects the legal standard in criminal court: guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, and gaps in forensic certainty can be decisive.
Charges and setting
Williams faced multiple counts, including murder-related charges, aggravated assault and allegations tied to targeting an elderly victim. The killing unsettled residents of the Marian Road Highrise, a 240-unit property that provides housing for seniors and people with disabilities.
What happens next
The acquittal closes the prosecution against Williams and leaves unresolved questions about who killed Kim and why. Court records and trial testimony indicated that a motive was not established publicly, and the case’s outcome underscores the challenges of securing convictions when a prosecution depends largely on circumstantial timelines and partial forensic results.
Key evidence presented: surveillance timeline, clothing observations and limited DNA findings tied to a bag.
Key issues for the jury: whether the timeline and testing results proved identity beyond a reasonable doubt.
Community impact: heightened concern among residents in senior and disability housing following a violent death in the building.