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Sheriff: Man Charged In Fatal Stabbing At Maryland Church

URBANA, Md. (WJZ) -- A violent attack at a church in Frederick County. When it's over, a missionary from South Korea is dead and his wife is seriously injured. Now police are trying to determine why.

Amy Yensi with more on the suspect facing charges and the victims.

Officials say the suspect first called 911 to complain about the food at the church retreat. He called back after the stabbing to tell police who he was, and where they could find him.

A serene woodland surrounded by a quiet creek--part of a church retreat--turns into a murder scene.

"It seems very out of place. If you're trying to do a crime like that, why would you come out in the middle of nowhere?" said Shunter King.

It was at the Anna Prayer Counseling and Retreat Center in Urbana where police say 30-year-old Song Su Kim of Falls Church, Virginia killed 62-year-old man and seriously hurt his 57-year-old wife.

Both were stabbed and slashed multiple times, as two other women in the congregation watched in horror.

"A lot of blood. Again, some of the deputies that went into that crime scene were pretty disturbed about what they saw," said Sheriff Chuck Jenkins, Frederick County.

Frederick County officers arrested Kim for the deadly Sunday night attack. He's charged with murder, attempted murder and assault.

Investigators waited for daybreak to rake through the field, searching for the kitchen knife he used as a weapon.

Authorities say after the stabbing, the suspect called 911 and said he was on the road, on foot and "waiting to be arrested."

The suspect had been staying at the center for nearly a week. The victims' identities have not been released.

The South Korean married couple were here on a missionary trip. The woman is recovering from surgery and is talking to detectives with the help of an interpreter.

Residents are left asking why it happened in their quiet community.

"Pretty peaceful, honestly, especially down here. The only thing that's down here is animals, really, except for that church and a few houses," King said.

The two witnesses were not hurt in this incident. It's still not clear what led to the deadly stabbing.

Officials say emergency crews used a combat tourniquet at the scene, and are credited with saving the woman's life.

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