An Isolated Boy in a World of Strangers

Seung Hui Cho in the 1998 Stone Middle School yearbook. (James M. Thresher - Twp)

But during lunch breaks, over Korean meals, he would often boast of his daughter. "He was very proud of her. He always talked about her," she said.

About almost anything else, she said, the family remained quiet.

Others in the local Korean community, including pastors of the largest Korean churches, civic leaders and members of the dry cleaners association, examined their records and talked to associates to see whether the Chos had any relationship with their groups. So far, none has been found.

Some classmates at Princeton said they couldn't remember Sun Kyung Cho, the killer's sister, ever talking about her family.

Sun Kyung, who now works as a contractor for the State Department, was part of a 25-member "food co-op," or eating club, during her senior year, where students met for dinner every night and often stayed for hours talking about current events and philosophical issues. Those in the club described her as a driven and focused student.

Francis Pickering, who was in the same eating club, said Sun-Kyung was a "very, very hard worker" who seemed to keep to herself, seldom discussing her family or much about herself.

Another friend said this week that he was surprised to learn that she had a brother, as she rarely, if ever, mentioned her family. In a telephone interview, the friend spoke anonymously because Sun Kyung had passed a message through Princeton's Manna Christian Fellowship asking her friends not to talk to the media. Others added that the family appeared to struggle with the media frenzy and what to say publicly before finally issuing the statement through Raleigh, N.C., lawyer Wade Smith.

Some relatives said the family has kept its distance even from them.

Sung Ryol Cho, an uncle who runs a dry cleaner in Anne Arundel County, said he hasn't talked to the family in years. His wife said she has tried to call them this week but has received no response.

"We don't know where they are," she said. "We hope they are okay."

Staff writers Tom Jackman, Robert O'Harrow and Josh White and special correspondent Joohee Cho in Goyang City, South Korea, contributed to this report.

David Cho and Joohee Cho are not related to the family of Seung Hui Cho.