(L.A.) Evelyn Kim, 23, Ended Her Life

Case Number: 2025-06097

Los Angeles County is reporting the death of a 23-year-old Asian female that occurred in a hospital.

The coroner’s office identified the young woman as Evelyn Kim.

Manner of Death: Suicide

Cause of Death: Benzonatate Toxicity

RIP EVELYN KIM (January 13, 2002 – April 8, 2025)

Formal pronouncement of death was made on Tuesday at 8:09 p.m.

The Department of Medical Examiner publicly disclosed the CoD ruling on July 3, presumably after the results of tox screening had come back from the lab.

Benzonatate is a prescription, non-narcotic cough suppressant used to relieve coughs caused by conditions such as the common cold, bronchitis, pneumonia, or other respiratory illnesses. It is available as an oral capsule.

According to the literature, this is a relatively uncommon medication to use for suicide. The use of benzonatate in suicide attempts is usually opportunistic — it happens because the capsules are present and accessible, not because people specifically seek them out for this purpose.

Out of over 160,000 death records made public by the county’s medical examiner since 1999, this may be the first time benzonatate has ever been mentioned.