[Summary] 9-Year-Old Child Confined for 7 Hours in Stepmother's Suitcase Finally Dies

Stepchild Ultimately Dies, Police Request Autopsy from National Forensic Service
Stepmother Charged with 'Child Abuse Resulting in Death'

The stepmother who confined her stepson in a travel bag, causing him to go into cardiac arrest, is entering the Cheonan branch of Daejeon District Court on the 3rd for a warrant hearing.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] A 9-year-old boy who was trapped in a travel suitcase for 7 hours by his stepmother and fell into an unconscious state has ultimately died. This incident, which occurred in Cheonan, Chungnam, has caused sorrow as it was revealed that the stepmother had previously abused her son. The police plan to apply the charge of 'child abuse resulting in death' to the stepmother.

According to the Chungnam Provincial Police Agency and the hospital on the 4th, A (9) who was receiving treatment at a university hospital in Dongnam-gu, Cheonan, died at 6:30 p.m. on the 3rd due to cardiac arrest and multiple organ failure.

This was three days after the 119 emergency medical team, who responded to the report, transported the child to the hospital.

A was found in a cardiac arrest state inside a travel suitcase measuring 44 cm wide and 60 cm long at his home in Seobuk-gu, Cheonan, at 7:25 p.m. on the 1st. He did not regain consciousness even after being transported to the hospital.

Police investigation revealed that the stepmother B (43) had confined A in the suitcase for over 7 hours, moving the suitcase around. She also went out for about 3 hours leaving A inside the suitcase.

In the police investigation, the stepmother stated, "I put him in the suitcase as a form of discipline because he broke the game console and lied about it."

A had also been treated at a hospital last month for a head injury. At that time, bruises were found on A’s eyes and hands, leading to a child abuse report and monitoring of B by the Child Protection Agency.

B admitted, "It is true that I did it," regarding the child abuse report from a month ago.

B was arrested the day before on charges of violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes (Child Abuse Punishment Act).

The police requested an autopsy of A’s body from the National Forensic Service to determine the exact cause of death and plan to change the charge against stepmother B to 'child abuse resulting in death.'