'Gangnam Abduction and Murder' Autopsy Suggests Death by Strangulation... Arrest Warrant Requested

The police plan to request arrest warrants for the group suspected of kidnapping and murdering a woman in front of an apartment in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 1st, the Suseo Police Station in Seoul applied for arrest warrants for suspects A (30, unemployed), B (36, liquor store employee), and C (35, law office employee) on charges of robbery-murder and corpse disposal. The warrant hearings are scheduled to be held as early as the 2nd at the Seoul Central District Court.

Suspects A and others are accused of kidnapping a woman in her mid-40s who was returning home around 11:46 p.m. on the 29th of last month in front of an apartment in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, murdering her, and secretly burying the body near Daejeon.

The police also reported that after conducting an autopsy on the victim from 2:20 p.m. to 4 p.m. that day, they received a preliminary verbal opinion stating, "No external trauma sufficient to cause death was observed, and asphyxiation is suspected." The police stated, "We plan to make a final conclusion after further analysis, including toxicology tests."

According to the police, the suspects planned and executed the crime targeting the victim's cryptocurrency (coin) assets. During a press briefing held that day, the police said, "One of the arrested suspects testified that the crime was committed for financial gain," and added, "We are investigating on the premise that the victim was selected as a target in advance, followed for 2 to 3 months, and that the tools for the crime were prepared." The exact amount of coins owned by the victim has not yet been confirmed.

Police investigations revealed that suspects A and B, who directly participated in the crime, were not acquainted with the victim. Although suspect C does not appear to have directly participated in the crime, circumstances were confirmed that C met with A and B after the victim was kidnapped. C is currently exercising the right to remain silent regarding the relationship with the victim.

One of the suspects testified that they participated in the crime on the condition that their debt would be paid off, and the police are also investigating the possibility of a contract killing.