Unraveling the Truth: The Gripping Cases of Lee Eun-hae and the Mother-Son Murder in 'Brave Detectives 5'

The premiere episode of 'Brave Detectives 5' on tcast E Channel, aired on the 27th, delved into the chilling details of the Lee Eun-hae murder case and the residential area mother-son murder case. The show featured 'veteran' hosts Ahn Jung-hwan and Kwon Il-yong, along with new MCs Kwak Sun-young and Yoon Doo-joon. Joining them were Kim Myeon-jung, head of the detective division at Incheon Michuhol Police Station, former KCSI Commissioner Yoon Wae-chul, Inspector Kim Jin-soo, and former Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's KCSI team leader Kim Hee-sook, who shared their investigative journals.

The first case revisited was that of Detective Kim Myeon-jung, who returned to fulfill his promise to discuss the case once results were available. He revealed the full story of the investigation for the first time.

The case originated in 2022, stemming from a fatal car accident 12 years prior. It was suspected that the driver's girlfriend might have committed a premeditated murder for insurance money. The victim's identity was unclear, and only the suspect's name was known. Despite checking accident records in neighboring areas, the woman was not found on any passenger lists.

Four years after the incident, suspicions arose that the woman was linked to another boyfriend's insurance-related death. The couple was on a trip to Pattaya, Thailand, where the boyfriend drowned while snorkeling. Although the insurance money was paid to the family, both incidents involved the same suspect, Lee Eun-hae, who had previously shocked South Korea by killing her husband during a diving incident.

After the initial investigation, Lee Eun-hae and her accomplice, Jo Hyun-soo, went into hiding. The challenge was proving that suggesting the victim dive constituted a crime. Jo claimed he attempted a rescue, suffering hypothermia, and with no external injuries, the cause of death was confirmed as drowning, complicating the arrest. However, a reinvestigation was launched at the family's request, revealing Lee's claim for an 800 million won insurance payout and previous attempted murder indications, solidifying her motive.

The victim, a corporate researcher, became financially dependent on Lee within a year of their relationship, opening a negative bank account and transferring his entire salary to her. A message to a friend asking for 3,000 won to buy ramen and water highlighted his plight. Despite registering their marriage and adopting a daughter, Lee did not live with the victim and cohabited with another man, not Jo. Ahn Jung-hwan expressed outrage, stating, "This is the worst case we've seen on 'Brave Detectives.'"

Detective Kim analyzed existing investigation materials while tracking down associates and family members. He persuaded Lee's father to cooperate, uncovering various case-related details. The detectives narrowed their focus by analyzing the suspects' preferences, including food, coffee, cigarettes, and cat food. They discovered Jo's involvement with a voice phishing ring and Lee's mention of needing 300 million won for legal fees, leading to a raid on the phishing operation.

Lee's father's suspicious actions continued, such as verifying whether fugu entrails were provided at a market, attempting to counter the attempted murder allegations. Despite staking out the family's condo, Lee was not found, prompting collaboration with international lodging sites to track reservation information.

A close friend of Lee initially refused to cooperate but eventually confessed that Lee threatened suicide, leading him to drop her and Jo at Samsong Station. Detective Kim persuaded Lee's father to encourage their surrender, ultimately leading to a phone call with Lee. She demanded Kim come alone, but he cleverly shared his location with colleagues, resulting in their capture three years after the incident.

During the trial, both suspects maintained their innocence. Lee denied killing for money, while Jo reiterated his hypothermia story. However, Lee received a life sentence, and Jo was sentenced to 30 years. Lee continued to claim her husband's insurance payout post-sentencing, and Jo's accomplices were identified as his acquaintances.

The KCSI team introduced another case with former Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's KCSI team leader Kim Hee-sook, who has 40 years of forensic experience. The case began in 2004 with a woman's call reporting her mother and brother found bleeding at home. The victims had been dead for some time, with multiple stab wounds. Blood evidence indicated the perpetrator washed up at the scene, and footprints and a blood-stained jumper identified the suspect as a man with size 285mm shoes.

The victims were well-liked, making a revenge motive unlikely. Despite checking local ex-convicts, the suspect remained elusive until a tip-off from a drunken man claiming his friend confessed to the crime while attempting theft. Based on this lead, detectives identified and arrested the suspect, who resisted with a weapon but was subdued. The suspect's shoes and weapon bore the victims' blood. Shockingly, the stolen amount was only 43,000 won. The suspect showed no remorse, claiming, "Unwanted things happen in life," prompting Kwak Sun-young's outrage, "Why cry? Why kill?" The suspect received a life sentence.

Reporter Taeyuna, TenAsia youyou@tenasia.co.kr