Forensic Expert Re-examining Jeong-in's Autopsy: "Abuse So Severe She Couldn't Cry... Pain That Could Cause Fainting"

Professor Lee Jung-bin, Chair of Forensic Medicine at Gachon University College of Medicine, who participated in the re-examination of the autopsy of 16-month-old adopted child Jeong-in, who died from abuse, appeared on JTBC Newsroom on the 14th. Photo by JTBC Newsroom

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-eun] The first trial of the adoptive parents of Jeong-in, an adopted child who lost her life due to abuse after 16 months, was held on the 13th. A forensic expert who participated in the re-examination of Jeong-in's autopsy stated, "Jeong-in endured continuous physical abuse to the extent that she could not even cry. It was an unspeakable pain, an unimaginable situation."

On the 14th, Professor Lee Jung-bin, Chair of Forensic Medicine at Gachon University College of Medicine, appeared on 'JTBC Newsroom' and said, "She should have cried, but because crying caused pain, she was continuously physically abused to the point where she could not cry." He added, "First, if you look at the left armpit of (Jeong-in), there are three injury marks. The armpit is a vital spot that cannot be hit casually; the arm must be raised to strike there." He continued, "When the vital nerve bundles in the armpit are hit, it feels like the arm is about to fall off, and one just blacks out."

Professor Lee further explained, "It's the kind of pain that makes you fall over just from a single hit. It's an unspeakable pain. It cannot even be described as the pain of the arm falling off." He added, "I have been hit once, and this is the most intense pain I have ever experienced."

He went on, "If you hit the armpit, the child would just collapse on the spot and roll around in agony." He explained, "If you hit (the child's arm while it is raised), the child would roll around, and this is truly an unimaginable situation."

Regarding the adoptive mother's claim that there was no continuous abuse, Professor Lee said, "(Jeong-in) had seven rib fractures, including healed, healing, and recent ones. It takes at least five months for ribs to heal after breaking. The abuse started shortly after adoption in May." He added, "Whenever the fractures began to heal, new ones occurred repeatedly, making it almost impossible for her to move."

Finally, as evidence for the re-examination suggesting the adoptive mother may have stepped on the child, Professor Lee stated, "When kicked with a foot, the speed is fast and the contact area is small, leaving marks on the abdominal skin. When stepped on, the sole is wide and the speed is slower, so no marks remain." He concluded, "(Jeong-in) had ruptured organs but no marks. How should this be interpreted? It should be seen as having been stepped on."