A young woman suddenly disappears while driving home from get off work late at night. She was found murdered the next day in what appeared to be a vicious attack. Investigation Discovery’s People Magazine Presents: Crime in the ’90s: 1997: A Deadly Drive reports on how authorities tracked down Kim Medlin’s killer and the evidence that led to his arrest. So, let’s see what happens next, shall we?
How did Kim Medlin die?
Kimberly Jo Millen was born in December 1970 in Michigan. The 26-year-old grew up riding horses and wanted to have her own stable. She is described as a lively and cheerful young woman with a smile on her face. At the time of the incident, Kim was working two jobs, one as a cocktail server at a men’s club. She lives on a farm in Monroe, North Carolina, with her husband, Bridger Medlin.
On March 28, 1997, King returned home from a shift at the club and kept in touch with Bridger by cell phone. But sometime around 4 a.m. on March 29, 1997, a passerby called authorities to report an abandoned vehicle on the side of the highway. It was Kim’s car; most of her belongings were still there, but she and her driver’s license were gone. Police found Kim’s body the next day under some debris at the end of a cul-de-sac in the area. She was beaten and strangled and her neck was broken.
Who Killed Kim Medlin?
When police learned of a missing driver’s license, they considered the possibility that a police officer or someone posing as a police officer might be responsible. The family is sure King would not have stopped the car at this late hour without the police. However, the recordings did not show King’s vehicle being pulled over during that time, according to the show.
Kim’s sweatshirt was then examined and a shoe print was found on the upper back. Imprints are made according to the type of shoes issued by the police. According to the show, police hunted down the seller and learned that he only supplied the shoes to the Monroe Police Department. After taking measurements of the shoe that left that mark, authorities focused on three potential suspects, with Josh Griffin being the only one who didn’t appear to have an alibi.
Not only that, but around 2am on March 29, 1997, Josh was patrolling the area in a police vehicle and reported an accident. According to the show, Josh claimed nothing to do with the murder during his interview and said he returned home around 2:45 a.m. However, in a suspicious move, Josh threw away his work shoes, saying they had been damaged by battery acid. In addition, it was mentioned in the show that his usually messy car was clean when it was impounded by the police.
Where is Josh Griffin today?
Prosecutors allege Josh had a pattern of stalking women and using his police badge to exercise power over them. Investigators also believe he stalked Kim for months before preventing her from returning home. According to prosecutors, Josh attacked Kim after she rejected his advances, causing him to hit the young woman with a flashlight, strangle her and beat her.
Josh, then 24, was convicted of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping in February 1998. He was eventually sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Josh remains incarcerated at the Pamlico Correctional Facility in Bayborough, North Carolina, records show. In 2005, he confessed to the crime.
