A man in his 60s facing financial hardship smothered his wife, also in her 60s, who was enduring severe pain from pancreatic cancer, before surrendering to authorities. Police classify the incident as murder and continue their probe.
Details of the Incident
The woman passed away on September 9 at a motel in Jinan-gun. Investigators suspect her husband, identified as Mr. A, suffocated her with a towel to end her suffering. The couple, basic livelihood aid recipients living childless in a one-room apartment, had decided on a double suicide and checked into the motel that same day.
Around 8 a.m. on September 10, Mr. A called emergency services, reporting that his wife appeared to have stopped breathing. By then, she was already unresponsive, and he noted no pulse.
Suspect’s Confession
During questioning, Mr. A admitted, “She was suffering greatly from pancreatic cancer. I couldn’t bear to see her in pain, so I smothered her with a towel while she slept.”
Background and Motives
Mr. A previously worked as a high-ranking executive at a life insurance firm. Police suspect he altered policyholders’ causes of death to claim compensation, including 5 million won presented as funeral expenses. Authorities plan to verify these details alongside the exact motive for the killing.
