"Did the Biological Father Also Participate in Abuse?" Stepmother Who Locked 9-Year-Old Stepson in Bag Causing Death Sent to Prosecution

Applied Child Abuse Resulting in Death, Not Murder
Police Plan to Investigate Husband's Possible Abuse of Son

A woman in her 40s who locked her stepson in a travel suitcase for 7 hours, ultimately causing his death, is being transferred from Cheonan Dongnam Police Station in Chungnam to the Cheonan Branch of the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office on the afternoon of the 10th. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lim Juhyung] A woman in her 40s who confined her stepson in a travel bag for over 7 hours, causing his death, has been handed over to the prosecution.

On the 10th, the Chungnam Provincial Police Agency announced that A (43), who was arrested on charges of child abuse resulting in death under the Special Act on the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes, was sent to the Cheonan branch of the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office with a recommendation for indictment.

On the day, A, wearing a black hat and mask, bowed her head and did not respond to reporters' questions such as "Why did you abuse him?", "Do you feel sorry for the child?", and "Did the child's biological father also participate in the abuse?" before getting into a vehicle.

A is accused of confining her stepson B (9), who lived with her, in a travel bag at an apartment in Seobuk-gu, Cheonan, Chungnam, on the 1st, leading to his death.

A, who is in a common-law relationship with B's biological father, kept B confined in the bag for over 7 hours, switching bags at times, and went out for about 3 hours while B was confined.

Later, B lost consciousness due to cardiac arrest and was transferred to a hospital in Cheonan for treatment, but ultimately died at around 6:30 p.m. on the 3rd, two days later.

The police applied the charge of child abuse resulting in death to A, not murder. However, it is reported that if detailed circumstances such as the autopsy results of B come out, murder charges may be applied during the prosecution investigation.

Meanwhile, the police plan to investigate separately whether B's biological father abused B or neglected him despite knowing about A's abuse.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.