Motel Serial Murder Suspect Found to Have Drugged Fourth Victim

A woman in her 20s arrested for a series of motel murders was found to have given a drugged beverage to another man beyond the three previously confirmed victims, police said.

According to Seoul Economic Daily's reporting on the 26th, a man in his 30s identified as Mr. A lost consciousness after drinking a hangover relief drink given to him by the suspect, surnamed Kim, at a karaoke bar in Suyu-dong, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul last month. Mr. A reportedly has difficulty remembering what happened after consuming the beverage.

Police have confirmed additional circumstances suggesting Kim gave Mr. A a drugged beverage that caused him to lose consciousness and are conducting a preliminary investigation.

However, police are taking a cautious stance on determining victim status. A police official said, "It is difficult to confirm details as the investigation is ongoing," adding, "We will work to uncover any additional victims."

Kim is accused of causing the death of a man in his 20s, identified as Mr. B, by giving him a drugged beverage at a motel in Suyu-dong, Gangbuk-gu on the 9th. Police responded to a report from a motel employee who discovered Mr. B the following afternoon and arrested Kim at around 9 p.m. the same day after analyzing CCTV footage.

Police are also investigating whether Kim was responsible for another male death at a different motel in Gangbuk-gu late last month and an assault case from December last year.

Meanwhile, Kim's social media account spread through online communities, causing her Instagram followers to surge 45-fold. As of 3:30 p.m. the previous day, Kim's Instagram followers numbered approximately 11,000, a sharp increase from 240 on the 19th.

Most of the Instagram followers appear to have accessed the account after searching for Kim's personal information on online communities. After police decided not to publicly disclose her identity, these individuals took matters into their own hands. The account has since been switched to private following the controversy over the leaked personal information.

Police say the disclosure will not impede their additional investigation, as they secured Kim's mobile phone and conducted forensic analysis when they arrested her on the 11th.

Based on the forensic results, police are investigating men who had contact with Kim through text messages or social media messaging apps.