By Yi Whan-woo
Police detained a 78-year-old man Tuesday for killing his dementia-stricken wife who allegedly lost control and insulted and attacked him.
Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul said the man, surnamed Lee, strangled his 74-year-old wife to death at home as she repeatedly called him a “scumbag who grew up without parents” while beating him with clothes hangers and a TV remote control.
Lee was orphaned as child and reportedly became enraged by his wife’s abusive behavior, which also revived painful childhood memories, according to police.
Investigators, however, are currently treating the case as manslaughter.
“We think Lee unintentionally killed his wife because she suddenly became extremely aggressive and was out of control,” an officer said.
Detectives added the wife, surnamed Cho, also reportedly accused her husband of having an extramarital affair, while beating him.
The elderly couple lived with their second son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren. But they were alone in their Yeongdeungpo apartment at the time the incident took place, police said.
Lee called his son afterwards and told him to call police by saying “I just killed your mother,” according to investigators.
They added that the 45-year-old said during questioning that his father has been faithful and took care of his wife since she began to show symptoms of dementia.
Lee allegedly tried to commit suicide by jumping out of the apartment window after killing his wife but failed because his son rushed home in time to stop him, police said.
“He kept weeping while we were questioning him, saying he loves her,” according to an officer.