Brave Detectives 5 Probes Truth Behind Grooming Crime and Woman's Suffocation

The truth behind a 'grooming crime'—emotionally manipulating and sexually exploiting children or adolescents—and the suffocation death of a woman in her 40s was revealed on the broadcast of 'Brave Detectives 5' on the 1st. This case once again highlighted the hidden dangers within seemingly ordinary relationships.

The incident began when the eldest daughter reported to 119, stating, "Mom isn't breathing." Despite the sleeping pills found at the scene, an autopsy revealed the victim had died of suffocation. Detectives found bloodstains in the same location on the mattress as on the sheets the eldest daughter had washed, along with the victim's DNA. This proved that the eldest daughter, Ms. Choi (alias), had staged the scene to look like an overdose.

The eldest daughter, who was experiencing conflict with her mother over attending expensive private academies for admission to Seoul National University, was taking classes in a special course run by Mr. Jang (alias), the vice-director of one of those academies. After her mother's funeral, Ms. Choi told her father that he needed to sell the house and give 200 million won to the teacher. Seven months after the incident, the academy director disappeared.

The investigation revealed that Mr. Jang had murdered the director with a weapon, and Ms. Choi had assisted him. Mr. Jang claimed he committed the murder because the director suspected him in his mother's death, while Ms. Choi stated she merely followed the teacher's suggestions. Ms. Choi cited her desire to attend Seoul National University as the motive for both her mother's and the director's murders.

During the trial, Ms. Choi's younger sibling and Mr. Jang's followers spread fake news insulting the police and her father. This was revealed to have been at Mr. Jang's direction. Ultimately, both Mr. Jang and Ms. Choi were sentenced to 20 years in prison.