The Murder of Maribel Ramos
For this case, which was recommended, I watched an episode of See No Evil. It’s season 8 episode 2, titled ‘The Rent Check.’
A 36-year-old Army veteran disappears from her apartment.
Background
Maribel Ramos joined the U.S Army, and was deployed twice to Iraq and Afghanistan. She was in the military for 8 years until 2008, when she was honorably discharged. Maribel then returned home to California to finish school. She was just a few months away from earning her degree in criminal justice from Cal State University (some reports say Cal State Fullerton).
Maribel was very close to her family. She was also described as driven, and knew exactly what she wanted to accomplish in life. Her sister, Lucy, said after she came home from the military, Maribel thought that her life would include a husband and starting a family.
Maribel Ramos
The Disappearance
On May 3, 2013, Maribel’s roommate, Kwang Choi ‘KC’ Joy, called 911 around 10:42am.
KC told the dispatcher that his roommate, Maribel, hadn’t come home. He said he had last seen her around 9pm the night before. KC said Maribel’s car was still there, and that he wanted to file a missing persons report.
KC texted Lucy, and told her that Maribel was missing. Lucy knew that Maribel had a lot going on in her life, and wasn’t immediately worried. She began to worry when Maribel didn’t show up for her baseball game that evening.
Lucy and some of Maribel’s cousins went to her apartment. Besides her car being there, the light in her room was also on. Maribel’s cousin called the police, and told them that Maribel was still missing.
The Orange police sent officers out to the scene. They made entrance into the home. Lucy said she walked into Maribel’s room, and saw that her bed wasn’t made, and the pillowcase wasn’t on her pillow. Lucy also told the police that Maribel’s wallet and phone weren’t there.
The homicide unit was called onto the scene.
The Surveillance
KC arrived at the scene. He explained to the police that he had last seen Maribel at 9pm the night before. KC said he left to go out for a drive, but Maribel wasn’t there when he returned an hour later.
The apartment complex had surveillance footage. One of the cameras faced the gate of the complex. KC and Maribel’s cars weren’t seen going in and out.
There was another camera that covered the entrance of the manager’s office. On May 2, around 8:18pm, Maribel could be seen walking up to the door. The rent checks were usually put into a slot, which Maribel can be seen holding when she walks to the door. Maribel was wearing some casual pajamas, and didn’t seem to be scared or nervous.
Lucy turned to social media for help. She posted a photo of Maribel, and asked for anyone to come forward with information, or to share the information about her sister.
The Boyfriend
Maribel’s phone records were obtained. The police were able to see that the last person Maribel had spoken to was a man named Paul Lopez. Maribel and Paul had been casually dating for the last few months.
Paul agreed to come into the station for an interview. Paul admitted to speaking to Maribel on the phone on May 2. Paul said he was at work at the Gas Company from 4pm to midnight.
Paul was asked about his relationship with Maribel. Paul said they had been dating, but it was new. Paul said they were exclusively dating, and he was dating a few other people. The police asked him if he knew if Maribel was dating anyone else. Paul said he didn’t ask.
Paul did mention that the police should look into Maribel’s roommate, KC. Paul said that Maribel was very frustrated with KC because he wouldn’t pay his rent on time. Paul said that Maribel had asked KC to move out, and had actually put him on speaker phone during this conversation.
Paul told the police that he told KC on the phone, that he would force him and his stuff out if he didn’t move out the next day. Paul said before he hung up, he asked Maribel if she wanted him to go over there. Maribel told him no, and that she was just going to go to bed.
The police were able to eventually rule Paul out. He was at work that night, and they also checked his GPS from his work truck.
The Roommate
KC Joy had come to the U.S. from Korea when he was a teenager. He had gone to school in Tennessee, and was some kind of chemist. But, KC had recently lost his job, which is why he never paid his rent on time.
At first, KC and Maribel had been very close. KC had taken Maribel on an Alaskan cruise. They would go out together, and seemed like they were good friends. Lucy said things changed when KC admitted to her that he was in love with Maribel. Lucy said Maribel wasn’t into KC, but the arguments were mostly over him not being able to pay rent.
Maribel and KC Joy
The police learned that a week before she disappeared, Maribel had placed a 911 call. On the call, Maribel can be heard crying. Maribel said she had a roommate that would be leaving by the end of the month. Maribel repeated that she was afraid of KC. Maribel said she had told KC she had a gun, which she didn’t. Maribel said she was an Army veteran, and would use self defense if she needed to.
KC was interviewed at the police station. He was very chatty, and loved to talk. KC told the police that he was sad that his relationship with Maribel was worsening.
The police asked KC about the visit the police had made to their apartment the week before. KC said Maribel had called 911, and when she drank she had different personalities. KC said that Maribel was telling him that she wasn’t attracted to him, and that she had a gun.
KC was also asked about the last day he saw Maribel. KC said they had a fight on May 2, about the rent. KC said he left the house to go for a drive, so he could cool off. He said when he returned home, she wasn't there.
In his interview, KC had a lot scratches on his arms. The scratches were photographed, and he was asked about them. KC said he got them from the bushes in Eisenhauer Park. KC agreed to show the police the bushes, and sure enough there were some bushes that had thorns on them.
The Searches
KC allowed the police, crime scene units and a cadaver dog to search his apartment and rental car. The police did find Maribel’s blood on her pajama top that was found in her closet. But, only Maribel’s blood was found on it.
Maribel’s case was all over the news. KC was interviewed, and spoke about his much he loved Maribel, and wanted her to come home. He also told the media that he allowed the police to search everything, and was cooperating.
The police set up 24 hour surveillance on KC. KC visited the local library because his cell phone and computer were taken by the police. KC had also switched his rental car, which was very odd to the police.
The first time, KC was at the library for 2 hours. He had positioned himself in the back of the library, so that no one behind him could see his computer. The police went to the library, but the search history had been wiped.
The police came up with an idea. They would monitor KC’s computer from a remote location. The library staff was told to give KC a specific computer if he came in. Sure enough, KC took the bait, and went to the library on May 16.
The police recorded the information that they were seeing from KC’s computer. At first, it was just normal stuff. KC was filling out job applications, and looking at Facebook. KC did a search for ‘how long does it take a human body to decay?’
KC also saw on Facebook that Maribel’s family was going to have an awareness walk at Peter’s Canyon that weekend. KC then searched the area, navigated it for 8 miles, and zoomed into a large tree. He then deleted the search history.
Finding Maribel
The police went to Peter’s Canyon, and found the large tree. To get to the tree, the police had to duck under barbed wire, which would explain KC’s scratches.
The police described the smell that was lingering in the air. Underneath some rocks was a body. The police could vaguely make out a tattoo. The dental records did confirm that it was Maribel. Due to the decomposition, Maribel’s cause of death couldn’t be determined. It’s believed that Maribel had been suffocated with a pillow.
KC was questioned at the police station. KC said, “are you implying that Maribel isn’t coming home?” The police told him that he probably already knew the answer to that.
KC said he wanted to leave, so the police allowed him to walk out the door. There were two patrol officers that took KC into custody.
What Really Happened?
In July 2014, KC Joy went on trial.
The prosecution’s theory was that Maribel only saw KC as a friend. KC wanted more, and felt rejected by her. They said on Thursday, May 2, KC and Maribel had an argument about the rent and about KC moving out. After talking to Paul, Maribel went to bed. KC went into her bedroom, and suffocated her as she slept. It’s believed that Maribel would’ve fought back if she had been awake when the struggle started.
KC then put Maribel into his car, drove out to the canyon, and left her there. KC got nervous when he saw the information about the awareness walk, and wondered if Maribel’s loved ones would find her. He had led the police right to where Maribel was.
KC Joy was convicted of second degree murder, and was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.
KC still maintains he’s innocent.
KC in court
Other
Maribel’s family received her degree from CSU.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I think the right man is in jail. KC literally led the police right to Maribel, and thank god. If he hadn’t led them to her, then who knows how long it would’ve taken for them to find Maribel. Maribel’s family were finally able to get answers. KC is an evil man. He claimed to loved Maribel, but he took her life, and lied from the very beginning about what happened. KC probably realized he would have nowhere to go, and that Maribel would no longer be his friend.
Maribel was just starting the next chapter of her life, and it was completely taken away for no reason.
Sources
https://www.newsweek.com/worst-roomate-ever-who-kc-joy-where-he-now-prison-maribel-ramos-1686318
https://thecinemaholic.com/maribel-ramos-murder-where-is-kc-joy-now/
https://meaww.com/worst-roommate-ever-netflix-true-crime-documentary-kwang-chol-kc-joy
https://ktla.com/news/local-news/maribel-ramos-killer-sentenced-to-15-years-to-life-in-prison/
