KOR
▲ Chungnam Provincial Police Agency
Police have launched an investigation after an 11-year-old child was found unconscious at a church in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, and ultimately died.
According to the Chungnam Provincial Police Agency on August 8, police are reviewing the application of charges for child abuse resulting in death against three adults who had been living with the deceased child, identified as A, at the church.
Around 8:50 a.m. on August 5, child A showed symptoms of high fever and a reduced level of consciousness at the church and was transported to a hospital by 119 emergency services, but passed away about three hours later.
Fire authorities were dispatched to the scene following a report from the church stating that "the child is sick," and three adults were present with child A at the church at the time.
While an initial verbal opinion from the National Forensic Service following an autopsy requested by the police showed no specific findings such as fractures, police are closely examining the fact that child A showed signs of exhaustion upon transport and that visible wounds were found on parts of their body.
In particular, having secured a witness statement that "the child was tied to a bed," police are intensively questioning the adults who were at the church at the time to determine whether abusive acts took place.
It was reported that the deceased child A had spent their entire life since birth at this church, while family members such as the maternal grandmother visited the church intermittently.
Meanwhile, police confirmed that when emergency services requested accommodation at six general hospitals in the Cheonan area during the rescue, they failed to find available beds and were instead transferred to Sejong City, which is an hour away. Police are also examining the circumstances surrounding the delay in emergency room admission.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.
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