▲ The maternal grandmother, charged with child abuse resulting in death for allegedly abusing and killing her 11-year-old grandson while living at a church in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, enters the Cheonan branch of the Daejeon District Court for a pre-trial detention hearing (warrant substantive examination) on the morning of the 11th of last month. (Photo: Yonhap News)
The maternal grandmother accused of binding and abusing an 11-year-old child to death at a church in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, has been indicted while in custody.
The Cheonan branch of the Daejeon Prosecutors' Office announced today (the 9th) that it has indicted the maternal grandmother in her 50s, identified as B, on charges including child abuse resulting in death over the death of her 11-year-old grandson, A.
Grandmother B is charged with binding and neglecting A, leading to his death, after the boy was taken to a hospital on the 5th of last month from a church in Cheonan suffering from a high fever of 41.5 degrees Celsius and a lowered state of consciousness, and died about three hours later.
Previously, prosecutors indicted a church pastor in his 60s, identified as C, on the 1st of this month on the same charges.
Prosecutors determined that the time A was bound to a bed was approximately 48 hours spanning three days, longer than the "roughly 30 hours" estimated by the police.
It was found that they committed these acts of binding to prevent A from leaving the church premises.
Investigations also revealed that, aside from time for meals and using the restroom, A was left bound to the bed with metal chains continuously.
Prosecutors captured circumstances pointing to additional abuse occurring between late July and early August, prior to A's death, and applied an additional child abuse charge against B.
An official from the prosecutors' office stated, "Following the transfer of the case from the police, we uncovered the truth of the crime through searches and seizures of residences, comprehensive psychological analyses, and requests for forensic medical advice. We are also holding child abuse case management meetings to discuss preventive measures and institutional improvements."
Meanwhile, police investigating the case are continuing to investigate other potential suspects, including individuals residing at the crime scene or the church besides the pastor and grandmother who have been indicted, regarding additional offenses and complicity.
Police explained that there are no additional victims besides the deceased child A.
A police official stated, "We are continuing our investigation into additional booked suspects beyond the detained individuals, and we are comprehensively reviewing the potential for legal punishment regarding past circumstances of abuse."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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