An 11-year-old child who had been living at a church in Cheonan, South Chungcheong, died after signs of suspected abuse were found, and it was confirmed that reports of suspected abuse of the child continued up until just before the death. Police arrested the church pastor on suspicion of child abuse resulting in death and are investigating the exact circumstances.
The South Chungcheong Provincial Police Agency said on the 10th it arrested Pastor A, in his 60s, from a church in Cheonan on suspicion of causing a death by neglecting a child (child abuse resulting in death). A is suspected of abusing or neglecting B, an 11-year-old boy, while having him live at the church for several years recently.
At about 8:49 p.m. on the 5th, B was taken to a hospital by a 119 ambulance crew dispatched after a report from a church official. At the time, B showed high fever and exhaustion, and died about three hours after the report, after being transferred to Sejong Chungnam National University Hospital.
The hospital found signs on B's body that raised suspicions of abuse and notified police. Based on injuries and other marks on parts of B's body visible to the naked eye, police are investigating whether abuse occurred. It was also reported that police secured a witness statement indicating B had been tied to a bed inside the church.
According to Yonhap News, a total of four reports of suspected abuse of B were filed from 2021 to recently. In particular, twice in early this month, about a week before B died, reports came in alleging suspected abuse.
At the time, police, together with related agencies including the Cheonan City Hall, reportedly discussed options such as handing B over to a protective facility. They booked church officials and issued a restraining order against B's maternal grandmother to separate them.
However, B was not handed over to a protective facility and died in less than a week after the report was filed.
Police are continuing the investigation to determine the exact cause of B's death and whether abuse occurred. The South Chungcheong Provincial Police Agency, which took over the case from the Cheonan Seobuk Police Station, is questioning the detained A, as well as church officials and guardians, on the specific details of the crime and whether there was additional abuse.