Woman's death at Old Orchard called a homicide

Woman's death at Old Orchard called a homicide
Originally published Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2003

By Nadia Malik
Daily Herald Staff Writer

Her brother-in-law remembers Jung Yon Jun as a faithful woman who attended church often since moving to this country 25 years ago.
Jun, 53, of Long Grove, was found dead late Sunday of stab wounds and blows to the head in her restaurant in Skokie, the Cook County medical examiner's office confirmed Tuesday.
A security guard discovered her at the The Great Steak & Potato Co., franchise she and her husband recently purchased in Skokie's Westfield Shoppingtown Old Orchard.
Sam Rhee, brother of Jun's husband John, said the family came from Korea about 25 years ago and had since acquired many businesses.
"She was a very faithful person, pretty and charming," Rhee said. "She had good relationship with other people."
Along with the restaurant, the Juns also operate coin laundry services.
Jun worked at the restaurant while her husband handled the laundry businesses, which they started 10 years ago, Rhee said.
The couple has two daughters in their mid-20s, Rhee said, and have a house in the affluent Herons Landing subdivision in Long Grove.
As of Tuesday, the police had not given the family new information on Jun's death, he said.
A security guard found her around 11:40 p.m. Sunday after her husband grew worried that she had not come home from work, Rhee said. The Great Steak & Potato Co. was open until 9 that night.
Additional officers for both Westfield security and the Skokie police have been placed on duty during the holiday season, but Sgt. Paul Kruszynski of the Skokie Police Department said Jun's death should not make shoppers feel wary of going to the mall. He said this is a "truly isolated event."
"This has nothing to do with holiday shopping," he said. "This was all after hours, as far as we can determine."
The police and the North Regional Major Crime Task Force are looking for information the public may have on the slaying.
Anyone with information can call the tip line at (847) 853-7580 or the Skokie Police Department Investigation Section at (847) 982-5900.
The Great Steak & Potato Co. remained closed Tuesday. Mall representatives said they did not know when it would re-open.
Funeral services are pending.