Officials: Body found in St. Lucie is that of missing former IRC schools candidate

ST. LUCIE COUNTY — A body found Tuesday morning in the Portofino Shores community is that of a 24-year-old man last seen in the general area less than two days earlier, according to the Sheriff's Office.

The body of John Michael Kim was found in a lake before noon in the northern St. Lucie County community, a sheriff's official said. 

Earlier in the day, sheriff’s officials asked for help to find Kim, of the 6200 block of Arlington Way, who last was seen at the gate of the Portofino Shores community where he lives with his aunt, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

A sheriff's official said family members identified Kim. Sheriff's officials are investigating how and why Kim died, and an autopsy is being performed to determine a cause of death.

Friends and relatives searched the woods late Monday night and early Tuesday trying to find Kim, who ran a heated race against Indian River County School Board member Tiffany Justice in August 2016.

Previously: Relatives, friends searching for John Kim in north St. Lucie County

According to the Sheriff’s Office, Kim had been at Filthy’s Fine Cocktails & Beer in Vero Beach on Sunday.

“After some type of argument, a cab was called for him at approximately (12:30 a.m.),” the Sheriff’s Office stated.

The cab driver and an attendant at the guard gate last saw Kim about 1 a.m. “when he got out of the cab and ran into the neighborhood,” the Sheriff’s Office said.

In a video posted to the sheriff’s Facebook page, Sheriff Ken Mascara said the body was found in a lake adjacent to where Kim got out of the cab.

“We’re presuming that it’s him,” Mascara said. “Of course, we don’t know for sure, but everything points to that.”

Later in the afternoon, a sheriff's official said the body was that of Kim.

Mascara said he spoke with Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar. He said Loar’s agency will investigate what occurred at Filthy’s bar, and Mascara’s office will handle what happened in the cab upon arriving in St. Lucie County.

A sheriff’s official said his agency got a missing persons report about 12 hours after Kim last was seen.

“It’s not like him,” said Indian River County School Board member Laura Zorc about 1:15 a.m. Tuesday outside the gate house.

“If he knew everyone was looking for him … he’d call someone and say he was safe.”

Zorc was there with her husband, Tim Zorc, an Indian River County commissioner, and daughter, Breanna, who went to Oslo Middle School with Kim.

More:Body of missing Vero Beach swimmer found

Kim has no known mental conditions, the Sheriff’s Office said. 

The Zorcs, other friends, and Kim’s aunt and uncle said Kim watched football wearing a Tampa Bay Buccaneers jersey Sunday night at the Vero Beach tavern. 

He then took a taxi to Portofino Shores, where he planned to stay with relatives. Kim was dropped off at the gate and accused of not paying the bill.

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Kim’s uncle, Eunsuk, who also lives in Portofino Shores, said he was awakened by a St. Lucie County sheriff’s deputy and taxi driver accusing him of not paying the taxi fare.

Eunsuk Kim said he figured there was a misunderstanding, but paid the driver $15 to resolve the issue. The uncle said his nephew always had cash in his wallet.

Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 772-462-3260.

Staff writer Laurence Reisman contributed to this report