The relentless pursuit of justice by detectives was showcased as they unraveled the truth behind heinous crimes.
On the 74th episode of T-Cast E Channel's 'Brave Detectives 4', which aired on the 6th, Detective Lee Seung-nam from Gangjin Police Station's Investigation Department, former Chief Inspector Yoon Wae-chul from the Scientific Investigation Unit (KCSI), and Detective Kim Jin-soo revealed their investigation logs. Entertainer Um Ji-yoon and actor Lee Sang-yeob joined as guests.
The first case introduced began with a report stating, “My uncle, who lives alone, hasn't been in contact for over two weeks.” The victim was a single man in his 60s who had previously run a motel before closing it down and living alone in the building. Upon forcibly entering the motel, a strong stench was present. A severely decomposed body was found right in front of the main entrance, with facial bones exposed, making visual identification impossible. Fingerprint analysis confirmed the victim as the caller's uncle.
The left cheekbone of the body was shattered, and blood splatters indicated a violent death. A fire extinguisher stained with blood was found in a cardboard box next to the body, and signs of forced entry were evident with a bent doorknob at the back entrance leading to the parking lot. Call records suggested the time of death was between 18 to 25 days prior. Although the motel's CCTV was off, detectives captured footage from nearby cameras showing a man with an umbrella leaving the motel approximately 11 hours after the victim entered.
Tracking the man's movements revealed he visited a nearby pub. Although he folded the umbrella, he concealed his face with a cap and carried a blue plastic bag. Detective Lee Seung-nam immediately recognized the man due to his distinctive way of wearing a baseball cap askew. This was the same individual they had been tracking three weeks earlier for stealing a phone on a bus. The suspect, identified as Mr. Choi (alias) in his 60s, had a past murder conviction. He had previously been sentenced to 10 years for killing a neighbor with a kitchen knife after a dispute and disposing of the body.
Police arrested Mr. Choi at his workplace. He confessed to breaking into the motel through the back door using a crowbar, attacking the victim with a fire extinguisher, and then striking his face with the crowbar. Mr. Choi stated that he told the victim, “You saw my face, so you'll report me. If I go in, I'll never come out, so just die.” After the crime, he stole decorations and an umbrella from the motel and took green onions and onions in a blue plastic bag, which he used to make soup the next day, sparking public outrage. Mr. Choi was sentenced to life imprisonment.
The second case involved a situation where proving the crime was challenging, yet the detectives' investigative net ensnared the perpetrator, revealing the truth. The case began with a report from a younger sister stating, “I haven't been able to contact my sister for three days.” The sister was a housewife in her 40s living with her husband and elementary school-aged child. The house was clean, but there was a fishy smell akin to rotting fish. It was revealed that security company employees had recently been dispatched. The child was unable to open the door, and upon contacting the head of the household, the husband claimed to be at the office, coinciding with the time the sister lost contact.
Checking the apartment's CCTV, detectives found suspicious circumstances. The wife was seen returning home and exiting the elevator, but there was no footage of her leaving the house. Additionally, when the security company responded, the husband was found to be inside the house. Later, he was seen carrying five large and small garbage bags into the elevator and loading them into his car trunk. The younger sister reported that before filing the report, her brother-in-law claimed, “Your sister ran away.” The couple had a 20-year age difference, and it was revealed that the husband was obsessively controlling, even sniffing his wife's clothes after she returned from outings.
The investigation team imposed a travel ban on the husband and obtained a search warrant. Luminol tests revealed reactions in the entrance and bathroom, and bloodstains were found on the door between the bathroom and toilet. There were also signs of damage on the marble floor, but the husband made an implausible claim that his wife regularly cleaned fish in the bathtub. During the search, detectives found a notebook documenting the wife's experiences of threats and assaults by her husband. The husband attempted to flee by turning off his phone and evading detectives but was apprehended at the airport.
Despite denying the crime, the investigation team gathered circumstantial evidence to prove the murder. Residents testified to a fishy smell and continuous running water on the day of the incident. It was confirmed that 5 tons of water were used in the house that night. A second search revealed flesh and finger bones in the plumbing system after the bathtub was removed. Additionally, it was discovered that the husband had purchased a butcher's knife and grinder from a tool store just before the incident.
Forensic analysis detected the wife's DNA on the discovered bones. Despite this, the husband continued to deny the crime. Ahn Jung-hwan expressed disbelief, saying, “How could he do that?” while Kim Sun-young stated, “He's not even human.” The investigation concluded that the husband committed the crime after receiving divorce papers from his wife the day before. He was sentenced to 18 years in prison.
'Brave Detectives 4' concludes its season with this week's broadcast. After a two-week break, Season 5 will premiere on March 27 at 9:50 PM.
Tae Yuna, Ten Asia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr