Hungry to the point of eating dog food... A 2-year-old deceased child's stomach contained 'a single piece of carrot'

30-Year Prison Sentence Confirmed for Biological Mother and Stepfather in Their 20s
Played Games at PC Bang Due to 'Parenting Stress'
Claimed "No Intent to Kill" but Dismissed

A woman in her 20s and her stepfather were sentenced to 30 years in prison by the Supreme Court for starving their two-year-old daughter to death and physically abusing and neglecting their 17-month-old son.

On the 19th, the Supreme Court's 3rd Division (Presiding Justice No Jeong-hee) upheld the original sentence of 30 years in prison for biological mother A (22) and stepfather B (29), who were charged with child abuse resulting in death, habitual child abandonment and neglect, child abuse, and injury. The court also maintained the order for 80 hours of child abuse treatment programs and a 10-year ban on employment in child-related institutions.

The couple was tried for neglecting to provide timely food and care to their 31-month-old daughter and 17-month-old son from October 2021 to March of last year. Investigations revealed that they often left the children alone for up to 25 hours, citing "parenting stress" as the reason.

A frequently stayed out overnight starting five months before the daughter’s death, and B often left the children alone at home while playing games at PC bangs. A never prepared meals for the daughter, and B would occasionally feed the children a single meal a day, usually rice soaked in ramen soup broth or sometimes milk. From February of last year, they stopped providing food altogether.

The daughter, suffering from severe malnutrition, collapsed after eating dog food and feces out of hunger. B did not provide aid despite witnessing this and instead took photos and sent them to A. When the daughter rummaged through trash bags due to starvation, B struck her on the head.

Ultimately, the daughter died in February of last year from malnutrition and cerebral hemorrhage. At the time of death, her weight was about 7 kg, only half the average weight (15 kg) of children her age. Investigators found only a small piece of carrot remaining in her stomach.

The couple also habitually neglected their 17-month-old son, causing him to suffer from malnutrition and developmental disorders, and physically abused him. The son, who had not been properly fed during the same period as his sister, weighed only 5 kg when found, indicating a severe nutritional deficiency.

The first trial court stated, “The defendants were fully aware or could have foreseen the possibility or risk that the victim could die if food was not provided, yet they continued to withhold necessary meals and water and left the victim unattended at home, thereby abandoning the child,” sentencing the couple each to 30 years in prison.

However, A appealed, claiming she had no intent to kill and could not have foreseen the death. B also appealed, arguing that since he was not the biological father of the daughter, he was not a “guardian” under the Child Welfare Act and that the sentence was excessive.

The appellate court ruled, “The first trial’s sentencing is within a reasonable range and does not appear excessively harsh or lenient,” dismissing the appeals and upholding the original sentence. The Supreme Court found no significant errors in the lower court’s judgment and dismissed all appeals, finalizing the 30-year prison sentence.

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