Police Charge Woman in Her 20s With Murder Over 'Motel Serial Deaths'

A woman in her 20s who allegedly handed drinks laced with drugs to men at lodging facilities in the Gangbuk-gu area of Seoul, causing their deaths, has been referred to the prosecution on murder charges. Police concluded that the suspect continued administering the drugs despite being fully aware of the possibility that the victims could die.

Ms. A, a woman in her 20s who is accused of killing two men at a motel in Suyu-dong, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, appeared at the Seoul Northern District Court on the 12th for a remand hearing. Yonhap News

The Seoul Gangbuk Police Station announced on the 19th that it had referred the woman, identified as A and in her 20s, to the prosecution in custody on charges including murder, aggravated assault, and violations of the Narcotics Control Act.

A is accused of giving drinks containing psychotropic drugs to three men from last month through early this month, resulting in the deaths of two of them and causing serious injury to one.

According to the police, after the first offense, A is believed to have made drinks with a significantly increased dosage of drugs and had the victims drink them. The drug A used was a benzodiazepine-type psychotropic medication, which can cause fatal side effects such as respiratory distress if taken while under the influence of alcohol.

During police questioning, A denied intent, stating, "I only meant to make the men fall asleep and did not know they would die."

However, the police changed the primary charge from bodily injury resulting in death to murder, judging that A was fully aware of the possibility of death, based on her statement that she increased the amount of the drug after the first victim was harmed and on data obtained through forensic analysis of her mobile phone.

The police also conducted profiler interviews to analyze A's methods and psychological state, and plan to forward the analysis results to the prosecution as soon as they are available.

The police stated that they are continuing the investigation without ruling out the possibility of additional victims.