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Search for missing ASU professor leads detectives to Surprise landfill

Detectives say Junseok Chae went missing earlier this year and evidence of a crime was discovered in the Northwest Regional Landfill.

SURPRISE, Ariz — A homicide investigation led investigators to a landfill in Surprise, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.

Detectives say Junseok Chae went missing earlier this year and the ongoing investigation led them to the Northwest Regional Landfill where they found evidence of a crime.

MCSO began the investigation on March 25, 2020. 

They say four days later, detectives assumed the investigation was a homicide. MCSO detectives believe Chae is the victim of this homicide investigation.

Chae is a professor at Arizona State University and is an associate dean at the Fulton School of Engineering and went missing earlier this year. The ongoing investigation led detectives to the Northwest Regional Landfill where they found evidence of a crime.

MCSO officials say new evidence led investigators to the landfill where they found evidence of foul play, but Chae's body has yet to have been located. 

Investigators will not say why they believe Chae's disappearance is a homicide or what they are searching for at the landfill.

The landfill has been closed off during the investigation.

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