Suspect in "Yongin Family of Five Murder" to Be Referred to Prosecution Next Week

Police to Refer Suspect to Prosecution After Completing Profiler Investigation

A man in his 50s who killed five members of his immediate family, including his parents, wife, and children, is expected to be handed over to the prosecution early next week.

On April 20, Yongin Seobu Police Station in Gyeonggi Province announced that it would refer the suspect, identified as A, to the prosecution under detention as soon as the profiler investigation and other related inquiries are completed. A is facing charges of murder and parricide.

A man in his 50s, identified as A, who was charged with murder and parricide for killing his parents and family members totaling five people, appeared on the 17th for a pre-arrest suspect hearing (warrant review) after being brought out from the detention center at Yongin Dongbu Police Station in Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Yonhap News

Previously, on April 14, A allegedly administered sleeping pills to five family members?his parents in their 80s, his wife in her 50s, and two daughters in their teens and 20s?at their apartment residence in Suji District, Yongin City, causing them to fall asleep before killing them. After committing the crime, A left a note stating his intention to "kill everyone and then kill myself," and fled in the early morning of April 15 to another residence, an officetel in Gwangju Metropolitan City, using his car. However, he was apprehended by police later that morning.

At the time of his arrest, A was reportedly unable to provide a coherent statement. The police transported him to a nearby hospital for treatment, then placed him under emergency arrest and transferred him to Yongin Seobu Police Station.

A stated, "While running a business related to apartment sales, I was sued for 'fraudulent sales' by contractors, which left me with enormous debt and facing civil lawsuits," adding, "I could not let my family inherit my debts."

In fact, a complaint alleging fraud had been filed against A with the Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency. However, police expressed doubts as to whether this was sufficient motive to commit such a crime as killing his parents, wife, and children. On April 18, starting around 9 a.m., police conducted a profiler interview with A for over two hours to analyze his psychological state and tendencies. However, it has not yet been decided whether to conduct a psychopathy (antisocial personality disorder) assessment.

A police official stated, "A follow-up investigation is underway to determine whether the motive A provided for the crime is true or not," adding, "We plan to refer A to the prosecution before April 25, which is the legal deadline for police detention under the Criminal Procedure Act." Police have decided not to disclose A's personal information, citing concerns that revealing the suspect's identity in a case involving family members could cause secondary harm to the victims' surviving relatives.