Jason Michael Coday was born on February 7, 1978, in Vernal, Utah. He grew up in a part of the country that is known for its mountains and outdoor activities. As a child, he lived a life that was mostly typical for many kids in small towns. However, as he grew older, he faced difficulties that would lead him to make choices that affected the rest of his life.

In his teenage years, Jason struggled with staying in one place and often drifted from job to job. He did not seem to find a career that he could dedicate himself to for a long time. Jason once remarked in a police interrogation, “I never really had one [job] to stick with,” which showed his uncertainty about work and his future.

Before his life took a darker turn, Jason worked a number of odd jobs. In the weeks leading up to significant events in his life, he had taken a job at a fish processing plant in Ketchikan, Alaska. He had planned to continue working in similar roles in Juneau. However, his life was marked by legal troubles. About two months before he arrived in Juneau, Jason was accused of a gun crime in Nevada. This incident involved him allegedly harassing a family and possessing illegal substances, including methamphetamine and marijuana. He was also found with a sawed-off shotgun. After this incident, he skipped bail, leading to a warrant for his arrest.

Jason arrived in Juneau on August 2, 2006, by ferry. He quickly became involved in a situation that would alter his life drastically. Additionally, he was registered as a felon in Nevada, which meant he had a criminal history that followed him as he moved. 

On August 4, 2006, Jason Michael Coday shot Simone Yung Kim behind a Fred Meyer store in Juneau, Alaska. Kim was working as a painting contractor at the time. The shooting was sudden and violent. Coday allegedly fired the rifle he had taken earlier that day, shooting Kim in the face. After the initial shot, he continued to pull the trigger multiple times. Following the shots, a nearby resident named Ed Buyarski tried to intervene and stop Coday. Despite Buyarski's efforts, Coday fled into the nearby woods.

After the shooting, police were alerted, and Coday was arrested. He faced serious charges including first-degree murder. His trial began on May 7, 2007, after he was held on a $1 million bail. During the trial, the prosecution presented strong evidence against him, including witness testimonies and DNA evidence linking him to the crime.

Coday's defense argued that he was improperly arrested, but the judge ruled that the evidence collected was legal. The jury deliberated for several days before reaching a verdict. On May 15, 2007, Coday was found guilty of first-degree murder. When the verdict was read, he reacted violently by head-butting his own attorney.

Following the trial, Coday was sentenced to 99 years in prison for the murder of Simone Kim and an additional two years for weapon misconduct. He was found to have altered the murder weapon by sawing it off. Coday's earliest chance for parole would be in 2046. There was also a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Kim's family against both Coday and the owner of the store from which Coday stole the gun.