Shocking Substance Found in 3-Year-Old's Blood... Case Closed as "No Abuse"

Seven years ago, a 44-month-old girl died in Seoul.

The child's body was covered in bruises and injuries, and even capsaicin, the compound responsible for spicy flavors, was detected in her blood.

While the National Forensic Service judged it questionable whether the child could have ingested this on her own, the police closed the case without converting it to a formal investigation, concluding there were no criminal suspicions.

On the 7th, the victim's father filed an application for an investigation review with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency regarding the case.

He is asking for a re-examination of whether the police's handling of his daughter's death seven years ago was appropriate.

Girl A died on June 28, 2019.

According to the autopsy results, head trauma played a major role in her death, while a deteriorated general condition, including severe dehydration, also contributed.

The autopsy also detected capsaicin in Girl A's blood, indicating the possibility that she had ingested a significant amount.

While the National Forensic Service stated that the capsaicin could not be directly linked to the cause of death, it noted that it was questionable whether Girl A could have consumed it by herself.

Girl A's older sister reportedly stated at a Sunflower Center that her stepmother made Girl A eat spicy sauces, such as hot sauce, while disciplining her.

Photographs attached to the autopsy report also confirmed bruises and subcutaneous hemorrhages across Girl A's entire body, including her head, torso, both arms, and both legs.

However, the National Forensic Service judged that while it was difficult to pinpoint how the head injury occurred through an autopsy alone, the circumstances—such as the detection of capsaicin, which made it unlikely the child did it to herself—meant the possibility of abuse by another person could not be entirely ruled out.

Despite this, the Seongbuk Police Station concluded the case in April during the pre-indictment inquiry stage, determining there was no criminal suspicion.

In response, the father requested a review of whether the police's decision not to even formally book the case was appropriate, pointing out that emergency room medical staff had also suspected child abuse at the time, and that the circumstances surrounding the bruises all over her body, the head injury, and the ingestion of capsaicin remained unexplained.

He emphasized that an investigation is necessary, explaining that he frequently traveled for work and thus found it difficult to directly verify the signs of abuse.

If the application for the investigation review is accepted, external experts such as lawyers and legal scholars will review whether the police's closure of the case was appropriate and whether supplementary or reinvestigation is necessary.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.