3-Year-Old Daughter Unable to Open Water Bottle Left Unattended for 77 Hours... Biological Mother Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison

Victimized Child Found Dead Amid Thirst and Hunger

A mother in her 30s left her 3-year-old daughter alone at home, resulting in the child's death / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] The prosecution has requested a heavy sentence for a woman in her 30s accused of leaving her 3-year-old daughter alone at home for over three days, resulting in the child's death. At the time of the incident, the mother left only snacks such as cookies and jelly at home before going to meet her boyfriend, and it is understood that the child closed her eyes after suffering severe thirst and hunger.

On the 6th, at the sentencing hearing held by the 13th Criminal Division of the Incheon District Court (Presiding Judge Ho Seongho), the prosecution requested the court to sentence A (32), who was indicted on charges including child abuse resulting in death and corpse abandonment, to 25 years in prison.

The prosecution explained the situation at the time of the incident, stating, "There was an unopened 2-liter water bottle at the house where the incident occurred," and "It appears that the victim, who was 38 months old at the time of death, was unable to open the water bottle cap."

They continued, "The thirst, hunger, and loneliness that the victim, only 3 years old, must have experienced while being left alone at home are unimaginable," urging strict punishment for the defendant.

According to the prosecution, A left her daughter B alone at home for 77 hours from July 21st to meet her boyfriend. When she left the house, she only gave B one bag of cookies, jelly, and two children's juices.

While A was meeting her boyfriend, B did not consume any water or food. Ultimately, B is believed to have died after suffering severe dehydration.

Investigations revealed that this was not the first time A left B alone at home. Since mid-June, A had been neglecting her daughter and had gone out leaving her alone a total of 26 times over about two months.

Regarding this, A's defense attorney argued, "There was no intent to kill, so we cannot admit to the charges," and "The defendant had previously left her daughter alone at home for a day or two and found her fine upon return, so she thought there would be no problem (at the time of the victim's death). She did not foresee the death."

Meanwhile, it has been reported that since A was indicted on the 1st of last month, she has not submitted even a single letter of remorse to the court. On the other hand, more than 30 petitions have been submitted requesting severe punishment for A.

After discovering her daughter's death at the time of the incident, A reportedly left the daughter's body at home and hid at her boyfriend's house for two weeks. She returned home on the 7th of last month and reported the case to 119.

During the police investigation, A stated, "I was scared because my daughter died," and "I covered my daughter's body, which was lying face down in the master bedroom, with a blanket before leaving the house."

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