Gold Necklace Missing from Unattended Death Scene... The Perpetrator Was the Forensic Investigator

Police Urgently Arrest Forensic Investigator on Theft Charges
"Incident Has Major Repercussions... Arrest Warrant to Be Requested"

The perpetrator who stole a 75-gram gold necklace from the body of a deceased person at the scene of an unattended death in Incheon has been identified as a forensic investigator. Initially, the police investigated the possibility of insider involvement, as the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the valuables were unclear. Ultimately, the forensic investigator who had been dispatched to the scene confessed to the crime.

On August 23, Yonhap News reported that the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency's Criminal Investigation Unit urgently arrested and is currently investigating a forensic investigator in his 30s, identified as Mr. A, who is affiliated with the Scientific Investigation Unit of the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency, on suspicion of theft.

Mr. A is suspected of secretly taking a gold necklace (with a market value of approximately 11 million won) from the body of Mr. B, a man in his 50s who was found dead in a villa in Namdong-gu, Incheon, around 2 p.m. on August 20.

After receiving a 119 emergency call reporting that someone "was not breathing," fire authorities were dispatched to the scene and confirmed that Mr. B had already died, then handed the scene over to the police. Subsequently, the police, scientific investigation unit, and forensic investigator jointly began investigating the cause of death. However, it was only later discovered during the investigation that the necklace Mr. B had been wearing had disappeared.

Notably, in a photo of the deceased taken by a detective from the Namdong Police Station-who was the first to arrive at the scene-the gold necklace was visible. However, in subsequent photos taken by the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency's Scientific Investigation Unit, the necklace was missing, raising suspicions of insider involvement. Police officers present at the scene checked each other's belongings, but the gold necklace was not found.

The police then investigated a total of five people who had been at the scene: two detectives, staff from the scientific investigation unit, and the forensic investigator. During the investigation, Mr. A expressed his intention to confess. Based on his statement, police searched his home and seized the hidden gold necklace.

A police official stated, "Although the forensic investigator is not a police officer but an administrative employee, due to the gravity of the incident, we plan to request an arrest warrant," adding, "The Criminal Investigation Unit is continuing the investigation to ensure fairness."

Forensic investigators are health or medical technology officials affiliated with the scientific investigation or criminal affairs divisions of city or provincial police agencies. Most are former nurses or clinical laboratory technologists. At unattended death scenes, they support investigations by conducting external examinations of the deceased to help determine the cause of death and any criminal suspicions.