30-Year-Old Stepmother Arrested for Beating Her Three-Year-Old Stepson to Death

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seon-ae] A woman in her 30s, accused of causing the death of her three-year-old stepson by beating him (child abuse resulting in death), has been arrested.

On the 23rd, Judge Moon Seong-gwan of the Seoul Central District Court, who is in charge of warrants, conducted a pre-arrest interrogation (warrant review) for Lee (33) and issued an arrest warrant, stating, "The criminal charges are substantiated and there is a risk of flight."

Lee is accused of beating her stepson to death on the 20th because he did not obey her.

The biological father reported to 119 at around 2:30 p.m. on the day of the incident, saying, "The child is not breathing," and the victim was taken to the hospital but died six hours later. The police immediately arrested Lee after the child’s death.

The National Forensic Service conveyed a preliminary verbal opinion to the police on the same day that the direct cause of death was presumed to be a rupture of the rectum (large intestine) based on the autopsy results. Additionally, signs of brain hemorrhage and a bruised wound on the forehead were found on the head, dried blood was found in the ears, and burn marks were confirmed on the cheeks. Bruises were also found all over the body, which are presumed to have been caused by continuous and repeated abuse.

It is known that the deceased child had suffered a scalp laceration requiring suturing surgery about five months before the incident. At that time, Lee reportedly told medical staff that "the child fell and got hurt."

At the end of September, it was also revealed that the deceased child was withdrawn from daycare, with the explanation that "the child injured his leg and was diagnosed with a six-week recovery period and needed rest." It was found that the victim actually attended daycare for only one day.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, investigating the case, applied for an arrest warrant for Lee the day before.

The police plan to conduct additional investigations to clarify Lee’s motive and whether she was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident.