'Aunt and Uncle Who Tortured Nephew with Water Are Shamans... Fed Dog Feces Claiming to Exorcise Ghosts'

Aunt (left) and uncle (right), who abused and caused the death of their 10-year-old nephew, are leaving the Yongin Eastern Police Station in Gyeonggi Province on the afternoon of February 10 to attend the pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant hearing). / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] It has been confirmed that the aunt and uncle who assaulted their 10-year-old niece and repeatedly forced her into a bathtub, causing her death, are shamans. They believed the niece was possessed by a ghost and committed the crime to exorcise it, and it was revealed that they even subjected the child to cruel acts such as making her lick dog feces.

The Suwon District Prosecutors' Office Women and Children Crime Investigation Division (Chief Prosecutor Kim Wonho) announced on the 7th that they arrested and indicted the deceased girl A’s aunt B (34, shaman) and uncle C (33) on charges of murder and child abuse under the Child Welfare Act on the 5th.

The couple is accused of abusing A by tying her hands and feet with a clothesline and plastic in the bathroom of their home in Gorim-dong, Cheoin-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, around 11:20 a.m. on the 8th of last month, and forcibly putting her head into a bathtub filled with water and then pulling it out, causing her death.

They also tortured A with water on January 24th, and on the day of A’s death, they reportedly violently beat her for about three hours with plastic fly swatters and other objects.

An autopsy revealed that A died from secondary shock caused by multiple subcutaneous hemorrhages and drowning. Secondary shock occurs when blood circulation decreases due to trauma, leading to oxygen deficiency and respiratory distress.

The prosecution has determined that the couple abused A a total of 14 times from late December last year until her death.

On January 20th of this year, the couple also forced A to lick the feces of a dog they were raising, among other cruel acts.

It was confirmed that the couple took multiple photos and videos of the abuse inflicted on A during this period.

During the investigation, the couple stated that the reason for the crime was "because the niece did not listen and could not control her urination and defecation," and they denied the intent to kill.

However, considering that A showed abnormal behavior such as being unable to walk properly the day before and on the day of her death, the prosecution believes the couple was aware that A was in a critical condition.

Moreover, since the videos taken by the couple contain statements like "We must drive out the ghost," it is presumed that they believed A was possessed by a ghost.

The prosecution also stated that they are investigating A’s biological mother D, who knew about the abuse by the couple but took no action.

The prosecution is also reviewing support measures such as psychological treatment for A’s bereaved family.