Man arrested for murder of dementia-stricken mother
The Mokpo Coast Guard station in South Jeolla Province / Courtesy of Mokpo Coast Guard
A 48-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murdering his elderly mother, who suffered from dementia, and his brother, Monday.
The suspect, identified only as Mr. A, drove his SUV off a pier with his mother and older brother inside allegedly in an attempt to drown them all. While Mr. A managed to survive, both his mother and brother died.
The Mokpo Coast Guard said it took Mr. A into custody and is currently investigating charges of parricide and abetting suicide.
The tragic incident occurred on June 9 at the Holtong Pier in Muan County, South Jeolla Province. Rescue teams from the Coast Guard and the fire department retrieved the mother and brother from the submerged vehicle in a state of cardiac arrest.
Despite efforts to revive them, both were pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.
Mr. A survived by breaking through the rear window of the vehicle and was rescued by the authorities. Preliminary investigations revealed that Mr. A had been struggling to care for his mother, who suffered from dementia, and decided to take an extreme measure along with his brother.
A representative from the Mokpo Coast Guard said, "Mr. A has confessed to the crime during the investigation."
The authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the exact circumstances leading to the incident and are considering applying for an arrest warrant for Mr. A.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.