A pre-arrest detention hearing began at 3 p.m. Saturday for a suspect in her 40s, identified only as A, who faces charges of fatally abusing her teenage son, who had a severe developmental disability.
A called emergency services at around 8:27 a.m. Thursday from an apartment in Dujeong-dong, Seobuk-gu, Cheonan, saying her son was not breathing.
Her son, a 15-year-old identified as B, was transported to a hospital in cardiac arrest but was pronounced dead.
Paramedics who responded found marks on B's hands and feet consistent with restraints and requested police assistance. Emergency medicine physicians and other medical staff who examined B also found signs of abuse on his body.
Police who arrived at the hospital arrested A on charges of child abuse resulting in death at around 10 a.m.
A reportedly told paramedics she had tied B's hands and feet to prevent him from acting violently.
Police have requested an autopsy from the National Forensic Service and are investigating other family members for possible abuse.
A decision on whether to formally detain A is expected as early as Saturday night.
Meanwhile, the family had no prior record of child abuse reports and was not included in a comprehensive child abuse survey Cheonan conducted following a child death at a church in August.
According to police, B had been living at home with A and other family members. Investigators are looking into whether those other members were also involved in abuse, though no additional suspects have been charged. According to Cheonan city officials, B had been assessed as having a severe developmental disability but had not been receiving disability benefits or other welfare payments.
sjpark@heraldcorp.com
