[Anchor]

Yesterday (August 25), the day the autopsy was conducted, the bereaved family was informed by the police investigation team that the autopsy results showed Chang Mi-ran's neck bone was fractured. The police explained to the family that this is a trace commonly left when someone takes their own life, stating that "it has no choice but to be a suicide." However, in a briefing today, the police stated that no fractures were found. The family says that lingering questions remain unanswered.

Reporter Dong Eunyeong has more.

[Reporter]

The family of Chang Mi-ran received the autopsy results yesterday for Chang's body, which was discovered 104 days after she went missing.

The bereaved family told SBS reporting staff that an official from the Jeju Seobu Police Station's investigation team visited them and explained, "It was confirmed that some of the bones in Chang's neck were fractured," adding that "it is highly likely that she took her own life."

[Bereaved Family Member of Chang Mi-ran: They said there is a bone in the neck, like the hyoid or a bone. But they said it was already fractured. They said this is a bone that inevitably breaks when hanging oneself. So they said it has no choice but to be categorized as a suicide.]

The family stated that the police informed them Chang appeared to have hanged herself from a palm tree while in a sitting position.

The family says they still do not understand how a rope could be tied to such thin palm tree trunks.

[Bereaved Family Member of Chang Mi-ran: Actually, a lot of doubts remain. It doesn't make sense as to where she would tie the rope to commit suicide. They said she seemed to have hung it on some of the thinner parts of the palm tree fronds.]

The family repeatedly stated that Chang had no particular reason to take her own life, adding that questions remain regarding the posture and position of Chang's body when she was found.

[Bereaved Family Member of Chang Mi-ran: If you look at the trunk, there are solid, deeply rooted branch-like parts embedded in it. But they tell us she hung herself from there while sitting down. Honestly, it remains questionable until the very end. Is this really right?]

During a briefing today, the police explained, "No unusual external trauma, such as fractures, was found on Chang's body, nor were any signs of resistance or a struggle found."

While leaning toward the possibility of suicide, the police stated that they are keeping all possibilities open and continuing their investigation, including conducting a forensic analysis of her cell phone.

(Video Editing: Kim Yun-sung, Design: Yang Gi-tae)