Stalking Suspect Arrested Four Days After Murder in Daegu
A 48-year-old man, identified as A, was apprehended on the night of June 14, just four days after allegedly murdering a woman in her 50s, referred to as B, in Daegu. The incident occurred around 3:30 AM on June 10, when A reportedly attacked B with a knife in an apartment while stalking her. Following the crime, A fled in a vehicle he had prepared in advance, driving approximately 130 kilometers to Sejong City. He abandoned the car and switched to a taxi, leaving his phone behind. Security cameras captured A's movements as he visited his father's grave in the mountains, where police later found two bottles of soju.
Despite extensive searches using drones and search dogs, A managed to evade capture for several days. Authorities expanded their search area to include Cheongju after receiving a tip that A had contacted a friend for help, stating he was cold, hungry, and needed money. The two arranged to meet at a container warehouse in Jochiwon, where police successfully arrested A without resistance. He arrived on an unregistered motorcycle.
A has reportedly confessed to the crime, explaining that he had been hiding in the mountains to avoid detection. Experts have criticized the police and judicial response, noting that A had previously threatened B with a knife in April, but a request for his arrest was denied by the court. Although protective measures were implemented for B, they proved ineffective as A continued to stalk her, ultimately leading to her tragic death.
The rise in stalking incidents has been alarming, with reports increasing from 14,509 in 2021 to 31,947 last year. Legal experts are calling for more effective measures to prevent such crimes, including the use of electronic monitoring devices and stricter enforcement of protective orders. Without significant changes, similar tragedies are likely to continue.
