Kelly Soo Park's Shocking Acquittal in the Murder of Juliana Redding
The allure of Hollywood has drawn countless young dreamers to Los Angeles, each hoping to make a name for themselves in the film industry. For most, success is elusive, and their dreams slowly fade. Some, however, find a different fate—one shaped by tragedy. Juliana Redding was one such dreamer, a 21-year-old aspiring actress and model who moved from Arizona to California with hopes of a bright future. Instead, her life was cut short in a shocking murder that left more questions than answers. The twists and turns in her case have left many questioning whether justice was truly served, as her killer may never face the consequences of their actions.
The Life of Juliana Redding
Juliana Redding was born in Tucson, Arizona, where she had a close-knit family and attended Salpointe Catholic High School. Described as a loving daughter and sister, she was particularly close with her parents, Patricia and Greg, and her brother Patrick. After graduating high school, Juliana moved to Los Angeles in 2005, pursuing her modeling and acting dreams. While her ultimate goal was to open a boutique, she was focused on making it in the entertainment world. By 2008, she had settled into a bungalow in Santa Monica, balancing her time between studying at Santa Monica College and working as a hostess in a restaurant.
Juliana’s life seemed ordinary, filled with typical 21-year-old aspirations, but everything changed on March 15, 2008.
The Disappearance
On March 16, 2008, Juliana’s mother, Patricia, became worried when she couldn’t reach her daughter. It was unusual for Juliana not to call or text regularly, and Patricia’s concerns escalated when neighbors reported that they hadn’t seen Juliana all day, despite her car being parked outside. Even more troubling, her dog was inside the bungalow, but there was no sign of Juliana.
Patricia contacted the police, who conducted a welfare check. Upon arrival, officers found nothing immediately suspicious—Juliana’s car was in the driveway, and everything seemed in order. However, when they entered the bungalow, they discovered something chilling. A candle was burning near the entrance, and the strong smell of natural gas filled the air. The stove had been left on, but the burner wasn’t lit, creating a potentially deadly situation. The entire bungalow was essentially a ticking time bomb, set to explode once the gas reached the flame of the candle.
But the most horrifying discovery came when police found Juliana’s body in the back bedroom. She had been strangled to death, and the scene indicated a violent struggle. DNA found under her fingernails suggested she had fought desperately against her attacker.
The Investigation Begins
The crime scene painted a disturbing picture. Whoever had entered Juliana’s bungalow had planned to cover their tracks by causing an explosion, hoping to destroy any evidence of the crime. The gas leak, combined with the lit candle, was meant to ensure that the scene would be obliterated, but thankfully, the explosion never occurred.
Investigators believed that Juliana’s attacker entered her home around 10 PM on the night of March 15. During the struggle, Juliana’s head had been slammed against the floor, and despite her valiant attempts to fight back, she was ultimately strangled to death. Phone records revealed that Juliana had dialed 911 during the attack, but the call had ended before it could connect. Tragically, none of the neighbors who heard strange noises that night, including the sounds of furniture being moved and someone screaming, had taken the situation seriously.
As evidence was collected, including DNA samples from the door, phone, and Juliana’s clothing, detectives turned their attention to Juliana’s personal life, hoping to uncover the identity of her killer.
A Complicated Love Life
One of the first people police looked into was John Gilmore, Juliana’s on-again, off-again boyfriend. According to Juliana’s father, Greg, Gilmore had a history of violent behavior, including an incident where he kicked in her car door and forced his way into her apartment. When questioned, Gilmore admitted that he had been to Juliana’s apartment on the morning of March 16, but had left when no one answered the door. He claimed he saw a candle burning inside but didn’t smell the gas. Gilmore also confessed that he and Juliana had argued the night before the murder after he told her he planned to spend the evening with friends. Despite their argument, they continued texting each other until around 10 PM, after which she stopped responding.
At first, Gilmore seemed like the prime suspect. However, his alibi checked out. Surveillance footage showed him at a convenience store and a fast-food restaurant around the time of the attack, and several witnesses at a house party confirmed his presence between 9:45 and 10:15 PM. Moreover, the DNA found at the crime scene didn’t match his.
In a surprising twist, investigators discovered that much of the DNA found at the scene belonged to a woman, not a man. This revelation completely changed the course of the investigation, and detectives began questioning the women in Juliana’s life. DNA samples were collected from friends and acquaintances, but none matched the evidence from the crime scene.
A New Suspect Emerges
As investigators delved deeper into Juliana’s past, they learned about another man in her life: Dr. Munir Uwaydah, a wealthy and influential physician. Juliana and Munir had met in 2007 while she was working at a restaurant, and Munir quickly became enamored with the young model. He offered her a job as his medical assistant, and soon, their relationship turned romantic. Munir lavished Juliana with expensive gifts and allowed her to live in his luxurious Beverly Hills home. At one point, he even suggested they get married.
But Juliana soon became uncomfortable with Munir’s obsessive behavior and decided to end their relationship, moving to her Santa Monica bungalow. Despite the breakup, Juliana remained in contact with Munir, and her father even continued to work with him on a potential business deal. However, the deal eventually fell through when Greg became suspicious of Munir’s illegal business practices.
Only a week after the deal fell apart, Juliana was dead, and Munir became a person of interest in the investigation. But there was a problem: his DNA wasn’t found at the scene, and he had conveniently left the country before investigators could question him.
The Mysterious Kelly Soo Park
As the investigation into Munir continued, detectives began focusing on a woman named Kelly Soo Park, a real estate broker who had worked closely with Munir. She had received over $1 million in payments from Munir over the course of 18 months, raising suspicions that she might be involved in his illegal dealings.
Police suspected that Park’s DNA might be connected to the crime, so they discreetly collected a sample from one of her discarded cigarette butts. When the results came back, it was a match. Kelly Soo Park’s DNA was found on multiple surfaces in Juliana’s bungalow, including her clothing, the front door, and even Juliana’s throat.
Park was arrested and charged with Juliana’s murder, and while Munir remained out of reach, possibly hiding in Lebanon, investigators were confident that they had finally found Juliana’s killer.
The Trial and a Shocking Verdict
Kelly Soo Park’s trial began in 2013, with prosecutors arguing that Munir had hired her to intimidate Juliana or her father after their business deal fell apart. They suggested that Park had gone to Juliana’s bungalow to scare her, but the situation escalated when Juliana fought back. The prosecution’s theory was supported by the presence of Park’s DNA throughout the crime scene, as well as her intimidating physical presence—she stood nearly six feet tall and had a reputation as an “enforcer” in Munir’s business dealings.
The defense, however, had a different explanation. They argued that Park’s DNA could have been transferred to the crime scene through secondary contact, possibly from items she had touched in Munir’s home, which Juliana had also lived in at one point. They maintained that Park had never met Juliana and had no motive to kill her.
In a stunning conclusion, the jury found Kelly Soo Park not guilty. The verdict shocked Juliana’s family and friends, who were devastated by the outcome. Despite the overwhelming evidence, Park walked free, and Munir—who was never charged or questioned—remained at large.
Aftermath and Unanswered Questions
The acquittal of Kelly Soo Park left Juliana’s family in a state of disbelief. They had hoped for justice, but instead, they were left with more questions than answers. How could so much evidence fail to secure a conviction? Why had Munir never been brought to justice? And most hauntingly, would Juliana’s killer ever be held accountable?
For Patricia and Greg, the pain of losing their daughter was compounded by the injustice of the trial’s outcome. To this day, they continue to mourn Juliana, finding solace in their memories and, in Patricia’s case, through painting as a means of coping.
As for Munir, he is believed to be living in Lebanon, where he remains beyond the reach of U.S. law enforcement. Despite allegations of medical fraud and other criminal activities, he has never faced consequences for his involvement in Juliana’s life—and possibly her death.
The tragic case of Juliana Redding is a stark reminder of the failures of the justice system. Despite clear evidence and years of investigation, her family is still waiting for closure. While her life ended far too soon, the questions surrounding her death linger, leaving a legacy of heartbreak and unresolved justice.
