"Bound for a Staggering 38 Hours"…Sent Back Despite Escapes and More Escapes

While an 11-year-old child living at a church ultimately died after crying out for help due to suspected abuse, police believe the child was tied to a bed for a staggering 38 hours after escaping the church only to be sent back.

Boy A was discovered with a high fever and a diminished state of consciousness on the 5th and was rushed to a hospital, but ultimately passed away.

The 119 emergency rescue team that responded to the scene at the time recorded that there were bruising marks on Boy A's wrists and ankles that appeared to have been caused by restraint.

It was confirmed that Boy A had escaped the church twice before his death and appealed to the police for help regarding abuse.

Having emerged from the church alone on the 2nd and 3rd, Boy A sought assistance by visiting nearby convenience stores and restaurants.

In particular, it is reported that Boy A entered a convenience store wearing only a sleeveless shirt on the 2nd with bruising under his eye.

With the help of a citizen who discovered him, Boy A was taken to a police station, and a report of suspected child abuse was filed, but he was sent back to the church.

The following day, Boy A escaped the church once again and stated to the police that he had been "beaten," but the police filed an application with the court for a restraining order against Boy A's maternal grandmother and sent Boy A back to the church yet again.

While Boy A was bound to a bed after returning to the church, the court dismissed the application for the restraining order.

And that very night, Boy A ultimately lost his life.

A police official explained, "As the child wandering around was repeated, it appears that the maternal grandmother and the church tried to discipline him through improper methods, leading to an accident."

Ever since he was born, Boy A grew up under the care of his maternal grandmother and a church pastor.

Boy A's biological mother was a minor at the time of his birth, and it is reported that contact was cut off after his birth.

Boy A lived at the church and reportedly dropped out of elementary school after entering due to abnormal behavior and school violence.

It was also during this period that Boy A was diagnosed with an intellectual disability, and around that time, his maternal grandmother was punished for child abuse and had Boy A hospitalized.

The court issued arrest warrants for the church pastor as well as the maternal grandmother.

Reported by Kim Minjeong | Video by Choi Gang-san | Graphics by Lee Jeong-ju | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.