A 59-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a 15-year-old girl at a shared accommodation facility in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. A detention warrant has been requested for the suspect, who has refused to provide a statement during police questioning for the second consecutive day. Authorities are investigating the motive for the crime and the potential involvement of other individuals.
On the morning of November 12, the Seongbuk Police Department applied for a warrant for the suspect, identified as A, and the Northern District Prosecutors' Office submitted the request to the court in the afternoon.
A was apprehended in a state of intoxication early on November 11 at the accommodation facility in Jeongneung-dong, Seongbuk-gu. Following his arrest, he reportedly declined to answer questions during the initial investigation and again during the subsequent questioning.
Police analysis of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage revealed that A purchased a weapon and charcoal briquettes at two household goods stores in Incheon on the afternoon of November 10, the day before the crime.
He arrived at the crime scene at approximately 5:17 p.m. that day and met the victim, identified as B (15), before entering the accommodation together. A left the premises alone around 8:30 p.m., approximately three hours later, and was seen wandering nearby, discarding the weapon and a damaged mobile phone. It has not been confirmed whether the phone belonged to B.
On the same day, police conducted a forensic investigation at the crime scene for about an hour and performed an autopsy on B. They plan to deploy a profiler to investigate the specific motive behind the crime.
Authorities are also focusing on the possibility that A's associates may be involved in the crime. A has reportedly faced financial difficulties, frequently staying in motels and jjimjilbangs, and his common-law partner, identified as C (in her 20s), has been covering his accommodation costs. It is understood that C booked the night at the accommodation at A's request.
Police are examining indications that A, his son D (20), C, and the victim B may have been involved in a scheme to extort money under the guise of 'conditional dating.' There is an ongoing investigation into whether A killed B to conceal C's criminal activities.
Previously, the Nowon Police had been investigating B, D, and C for theft and fraud. B's family has alleged that C psychologically manipulated B into engaging in prostitution and running away from home, even instructing her to steal a luxury watch from her residence.
In July, police applied for a detention warrant for C on charges of instigating theft, but prosecutors did not pursue it at that time. A new warrant application was submitted on November 8, but the Northern District Prosecutors' Office has yet to file it with the court.
B had reportedly been living in a youth shelter since early this year. On the day of the incident, she left the shelter with permission but did not return by curfew, prompting the shelter to report her missing to the police at 12:07 a.m. on November 11.
B was also a victim in a statutory rape case involving A's son D earlier this year, which is currently under investigation by the prosecutors following a complaint from B's parents.
D was sentenced to six months in prison with a two-year probation for a separate theft case last month and remains in custody for another theft incident.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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