The trial of a South Korean mother accused of murdering her two children in 2018 began this week in New Zealand. The bodies were discovered in suitcases discovered during a storage unit auction.
Victim Background
The children, aged 6 and 8, were murdered during an incident that took place in 2018. Their bodies were found hidden inside two suitcases in a rented storage unit that their mother had stopped paying for in 2022. The Royal New Zealand Police searched the unit after losing possession following non-payment.
Discovery Process
The grisly discovery was made in June 2022 when the family who won the auction opened the suitcases. The mother, who had since moved to South Korea, was later extradited to New Zealand to face charges.
Circumstances of Death
The circumstances surrounding the children’s’ deaths remain unclear. Forensic experts found traces of sedatives in their systems, but it remains unknown whether this led to their deaths from an overdose or another form of direct cause, such as suffocation or drowning. Investigators believe the mother murdered the children before fleeing to South Korea.