16-year-old murder case solved in South Korea after woman's remains found in cement

ISTANBUL

A cold case that baffled South Korea for 16 years has been solved after the remains of a woman were found encased in cement, local media reported.

Authorities arrested a 58-year-old man on Monday for allegedly murdering his live-in girlfriend in 2008 and concealing her remains in a studio apartment in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, according to the Maeil Business Newspaper.

Police say the suspect placed the woman’s body in a travel bag, moved it to an outdoor balcony, and covered it with bricks and cement. He also allegedly disposed of crucial evidence, including the murder weapon and the victim’s cell phone, by dumping them into the ocean.

The crime remained unnoticed for over a decade until this August when the apartment’s owner hired workers to repair a leak. During the repairs, the human remains were discovered, prompting an immediate police investigation.

Geoje police identified the victim’s former partner as the prime suspect. The man was located and arrested at a residence in Yangsan city, also in South Gyeongsang Province. He reportedly confessed to most of the charges.