Two-Year-Old Left Alone at Home Found Dead...Autopsy Suggests "Possible Death by Starvation"

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] A 2-year-old boy who was left alone at home for three days and died in Incheon is believed to have died from starvation, according to an autopsy result.

On the 3rd, the Incheon Police Agency reported that the National Forensic Service conducted an autopsy on the body of A (2) and gave a preliminary verbal opinion to the police stating, "It is possible that death occurred due to a prolonged lack of food supply."

The National Forensic Service also confirmed, "There are no fatal injuries or unusual wounds such as external force-induced wounds or fractures on the victim's body," and added, "We will conduct a detailed examination regarding the possibility of underlying diseases or chemical/drug involvement to determine the exact cause of death."

The police plan to request an arrest warrant for B (24), the mother of A, on charges of child abuse resulting in death under the Special Act on the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes on the afternoon of the same day.

B is suspected of leaving her son A alone at their home in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, from the 30th of last month to the 2nd, resulting in his death.

When she returned home at 2 a.m. on the 2nd, A was already deceased. About an hour and 30 minutes later, A herself called 119, reporting, "The child is not breathing."

In police questioning, B stated, "Someone I know asked me to help with some work, so I went out to earn money, but the work ended late and I had a drink, so I couldn't return home," and added, "I set the boiler temperature as high as possible before leaving the house."

B is known to have been living without a steady job, doing part-time work since separating from her husband around last summer.

A 2-year-old child was left alone at home and died in a villa in Michuhol-gu, Incheon. The police have urgently arrested the mother, Ms. A (24, female), and plan to request an arrest warrant on charges of child abuse resulting in death.
[Photo by Yonhap News]