Brave Detectives revealed a persistent investigation story that solved a baffling case.
In the 70th episode of E Channel’s Brave Detectives 4, which aired on the 6th, Detective Inspector Lee Sang Kyu, head of the 3rd Investigation Team at Namyangju Southern Police Station, Inspector Park Kwang Min of the 3rd Investigation Team, Inspectors Kim Nam Kwon and Hong Sung Hyun of the Narcotics Investigation Team, Sergeant Kwon Ga Ha of the Voice Phishing Team, former Commissioner Yoon Oe Chul of the Korea Crime Scene Investigation (KCSI), and Detective Inspector Kim Jin Su appeared to share their investigation records. Following the previous episode, entertainer Um Ji Yoon joined as a guest, showcasing her witty contributions.
KCSI introduced a case that began with a shocking report of human bones found during septic tank cleaning at a townhouse. While cleaning the septic tank, a long bone was caught in the hose, and a total of seven human bones were discovered. Based on the size of the bones, the victim was presumed to be a small-bodied person about 150 cm tall. Since there was a car near the septic tank, accidental death by a fall was unlikely.
Checking missing persons reports from nearby areas over the past 10 years, suspicion fell on the townhouse where the bones were found. During inquiries, the resident male claimed he lived only with his wife and children, but it was later revealed that his 80-something mother, who had run away 5 years prior, also lived there.
The runaway report had been filed not by the mother’s son but by a grandson, and the man’s wife told family members that the mother had run away, claiming neighbors saw a large truck carrying the mother’s belongings away. However, there were no witnesses. Comparing DNA between the mother’s daughter and the discovered bones confirmed a mother-daughter relationship.
Separately investigating the wife and husband revealed that the husband worked out of town and periodically came home, learning from his wife that his mother had run away and returning home. When asked who witnessed the runaway, the wife could not answer and initially claimed the mother-in-law had already died. However, she later changed her statement, saying she pushed her angrily and later discovered she was dead. She refused to disclose how the death occurred.
The wife claimed that when she returned home, the house was filthy with human waste, saying the mother had insulted her, accusing her of having an affair. She argued that during disposal, on a rainy day, she slipped while carrying the mother’s body, accidentally opening the septic tank cover and causing the body to fall inside. However, witness statements indicated that the mother had no dementia records and was not in a condition where she could not control bodily functions.
Since definitive evidence of murder was not secured, the wife was sentenced to 3 years in prison. Watching this, Ahn Jung Hwan expressed anger, saying, “I’m so mad I think the image will stay with me for days.”