Seoul murders: Serial killer at work?
Published: 09 Jul. 2004, 22:42
In the latest incident, a 31-year-old mother and her 10-year-old daughter were found murdered at their residence in Seongdong district, Seoul, early yesterday morning. The two were stabbed 10 times each, but police found no trace of burglary.
Seoul police have been baffled since the beginning of this year, unable to solve the murders of eight women. The violent deaths have created a climate of fear.
In late April, a 20-year-old female college student was stabbed to death in Guro district; in May, she was followed by a 39 -year-old woman. The latter was walking home in the Yeongdeungpo area after finishing work at a restaurant, when a man carrying a kitchen knife jumped on her and stabbed her four times. Another victim who survived a stabbing told police officers that her attacker said he didn’t need money.
Police said most of the cases involve women alone at late hours, but they could not confirm if a single person committed the murders. They added that the investigation into the cases has made little progress because the killer or killers leave little evidence.
Still, there appear to be common links between the murders. None showed any evidence of attempted sexual assault or theft of valuables; all were executed in a brutal manner. Four out of the eight unsolved cases took place on rainy Thursdays.
The killing spree has led to a panicky rumor mill among females. One piece of advice is to avoid wearing white clothing on Thursdays.
“I heard from a student I tutor that many women college students were being killed in the wee hours, so I try to get home before 10 p.m. these days,” said a 23-year-old university student.
by Bae No-pil
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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