#380: High Schooler Dismembers 8 Yr-Old Girl & GIFTS Body Parts To Lover For Role-Play Fantasy
In this episode of Rotten Mango, the gruesome murder of eight-year-old Sarang is examined. The tragic details recount how the young victim followed a 16-year-old girl to her apartment, where she was strangled and dismembered. The killers, two high school students, had an online history of disturbing interests and shared role-play fantasies involving violence and gore.
The investigation reveals the chilling precision with which Sarang was killed and dismembered, along with the efforts of the killers to conceal the crime scene. Despite the severity of the case, the killers received lenient sentences, raising concerns about the influence of wealth and status. The episode explores the psychological factors, lack of remorse, and the aftermath experienced by Sarang's devastated family.
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1-Page Summary
The Murder of Sarang
Sarang's Disappearance and Investigation
In 2017, eight-year-old Sarang followed a 16-year-old girl, Kim, to her apartment, where Kim strangled and dismembered her. Investigators traced Kim's movements on CCTV, finding Sarang's remains and cleaned crime scene.
The Gruesome Crime Details
Police found Sarang's blood-soaked bathroom despite Kim's thorough cleaning. Kim dismembered Sarang with precision, severing her pinky finger and removing organs.
Investigation Challenges
Kim's defense claimed mental illness, but an inmate testified Kim was feigning symptoms. Her wealthy family provided renowned attorneys, implying legal manipulation. Kim and accomplice Park received lenient sentences.
Kim and Park's Online Activity
Kim's Disturbing History
Kim had low empathy and an obsession with violence and gore. Her drawings, search history, and interests showed an unhealthy fascination with murder, cannibalism, and anatomy.
Kim and Park's Toxic Relationship
Kim and Park roleplayed violent scenarios online involving torture and consuming remains. Their fictional roles mirrored reality when Kim gifted Park organs.
Psychological Profiles and Defense
Kim's Lack of Remorse
Kim showed no remorse, blaming Park and feigning mental disorders to avoid responsibility. Psychiatrists doubted her claimed symptoms.
Park's Innocence Claims
Park claimed the organs were props and said Kim manipulated her, despite evidence of involvement.
Wealth and Status Benefits
Both had elite legal teams using family wealth, enabling more lenient sentences than expected for such a crime, generating public outrage.
Family Impact and Public Response
Sarang's Family's Devastation
Sarang's family suffered profound grief, unable to forgive the offenders and requiring psychiatric help.
Public Outcry
The public demanded accountability given the juveniles' involvement and crime severity. Sarang's mother petitioned for policy reform.
Community Fear
The community feared future crimes, doubting rehabilitation and worrying about recidivism upon release.
1-Page Summary
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can enhance your understanding of criminal psychology by starting a journal to record and analyze behaviors and traits associated with low empathy and violent obsessions. Note any patterns you observe in media reports or case studies, and reflect on how these traits could potentially be identified and addressed in early stages to prevent future crimes.
- Develop a habit of critical media consumption by researching the background of high-profile legal cases you come across, focusing on the role of wealth and legal representation in the outcomes. This will help you form a more informed opinion on the justice system and recognize patterns of inequality.
- Support victim advocacy by volunteering your time or resources to local organizations that assist families affected by violent crimes. Engaging with these groups can provide practical help and may contribute to policy reform efforts driven by those who have experienced loss firsthand.
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The details and investigation of Sarang's murder
The brutal murder of an eight-year-old girl, pseudonymously named Sarang, has left South Korea grappling with issues of juvenile crime and mental health in the legal system.
The timeline of Sarang's disappearance and the police investigation
On March 29, 2017, Sarang vanished within her apartment complex. CCTV footage captured her following an adult, who lured her into their apartment to use their phone. This adult was Kim, a 16-year-old girl disguised in her mother's suit and sunglasses, dragging a suitcase. After coaxing Sarang inside, Kim strangled her with a charging cord and then horrifically dismembered her body.
In the ensuing investigation, police meticulously traced Kim's movements. She was seen on CCTV disposing of Sarang's body parts and carrying bags of food waste. After being alerted by Sarang's mother to her daughter's disappearance, investigators searched Kim's apartment—finding it spotless—and eventually discovered Sarang's remains on the rooftop. They also found Sarang's organs in food waste bins, piecing together the full day of Kim's actions, which culminated in her arrest around midnight.
The gruesome nature of the crime scene and Sarang's mutilation
Despite the apartment's pristine condition, luminol revealed that the entire bathroom lit up, indicating an extensive clean-up of blood, especially in the bathtub. Kim had meticulously cleaned each drop of blood and even doused herself in bleach to rid her body of stains.
The dismemberment process was chillingly precise. Forensics teams found Sarang's remains in white bags void of any external blood stains. Kim severed Sarang's pinky finger, removed her organs, and continued her gruesome act with an unsettling level of efficiency, using six knives and leaving a lot of blood—though none that could initially be found.
The full magnitude of the crime became distressing for investigators and the victim's family when Sarang's mother had to cut up a dress to clothe her dismembered daughter for burial.
The challenges o ...
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The details and investigation of Sarang's murder
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can enhance your personal safety by enrolling in a self-defense class to learn how to protect yourself in unexpected situations. Understanding basic self-defense techniques can empower you to react swiftly and effectively if you ever find yourself in danger. For example, you might learn how to break free from various holds or how to incapacitate an attacker long enough to escape and seek help.
- Improve your awareness of mental health by reading up on conditions like schizophrenia and Dissociative Identity Disorder from credible sources. This can help you recognize signs and symptoms in yourself or others and encourage seeking professional help when needed. For instance, you could start by visiting websites of reputable mental health organizations or reading books written by mental health professionals.
- Foster a better understanding of the legal system by participating in communit ...
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Kim and Park's involvement in online role-playing communities and violent fantasies
The case study of Kim and Park highlights their disturbing descent into the blurring of online fantasy and grim reality. Authorities and psychologists analyze the evidence, revealing the extent of their troubling involvement in violent online narratives.
Kim's disturbing history and fascination with dark, violent content
Classmates and teachers describe Kim as aloof, intelligent, and possessing a concerning lack of empathy. Kim's morbid fascination is evident in her hobbies and online activity.
Kim's drawings and online search history reveal an unhealthy obsession with gore, cannibalism, and murder
Psychiatrists were worried about Kim's anti-social tendencies and her strong sense of superiority. Kim would watch gory, cruel movies and suggested that two-thirds of the human population disappearing would be better for humanity. Her online search history contained terms related to murder, showing an interest in methods of body disposal and killing. Kim also had a strong interest in medicine and anatomy and joked about her love for the American TV show "Hannibal."
Kim's drawings, found online, depicted gruesome scenes of violence, cannibalism, and murder. Authorities analyzed drawings featuring explicit gore, decapitation, and cannibalism. Psychologists analyzing these drawings noted signs of anxious and paranoid tendencies in Kim's psychological state, such as conflicted feelings about attention-seeking.
She dropped out of high school at the age of 16, citing nothing more to learn at school. Despite her exceptional intelligence, with an IQ of 140, classmates considered her calculated, using her intelligence in negative ways.
The role-playing relationship between Kim and Park
Kim and Park meet online and engage in role-playing scenarios involving violence, torture, and the consumption of human remains
The partnership between Kim and Park takes a sinister turn as their online interactions become indicative of their real-life actions.
Park and Kim, thoroughly engaged in their violent role-playing scenarios, began as enemies in a fictional universe, with Kim approaching Park in a bar and a toxic relationship ensuing. In the chat rooms, they exchanged messages about hunting and bringing back body parts as gifts, a twisted part of their online personas' characteristics.
However, Kim takes this role-play off-screen, with reality mirroring their dark fantasies. Park alludes to prior discussions about committing a crime and suggests they claim the delivery was cookies if caught on CCTV.
The exchange of Sarang's body parts as a "gift"
Kim murders Sarang and delivers a package containing ...
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Kim and Park's involvement in online role-playing communities and violent fantasies
Additional Materials
Clarifications
- Kim and Park engaged in online role-playing scenarios that involved violence, torture, and the consumption of human remains. They portrayed characters in a fictional universe where they acted out dark and disturbing interactions, discussing hunting, body parts, and committing crimes. This role-playing dynamic extended beyond the online realm, blurring the lines between fantasy and reality, ultimately leading to a tragic and violent outcome.
- Kim's disturbing drawings depicted graphic scenes of violence, cannibalism, and murder, showcasing explicit gore, decapitation, and cannibalistic acts. Her online search history revealed an interest in methods of body disposal and killing, along with a fascination with dark and violent content. Psychologists noted signs of anxious and paranoid tendencies in Kim's psychological state based on her drawings and online activity.
- Kim and Park engaged in online role-playing scenarios involving violence and dark themes. They started as adversaries in a fictional world, with Kim initiating contact in a bar, leading to a toxic relationship. Their interactions escalated from discussing violent acts to a disturbing real-life event where Kim murdered someone and delivered body parts to Park. This blurring of fantasy and reality raised concerns about the impact of online communities on individuals' behaviors and actions.
- Kim murdered Sarang and delivered her organs and a severed finger to Park as a "gift." Park claimed she thought the contents were props, but Kim accused her of being complicit in the murder, suggesting Park was aware of the real nature of the "gift." This act escalated their online role-playing into a disturbing reality, blurring the lines between fantasy and actual violence. The exchange of ...
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The psychological profiles and defense strategies of Kim and Park during their trials
The psychological profiles and defense tactics of Kim and Park during their criminal trials are dissected with insights into their lack of remorse, defense strategies, and the influence of their wealth and status.
Kim's lack of remorse and attempts to shift blame
Throughout the trial, Kim's behavior is described as brazen and unrepentant, without concern for the victim's family. Her defense team alleges that due to mental illnesses such as DID and schizophrenia, she was not fully responsible for her actions. They attribute the strangling and dismembering of the victim to her supposed alters named A and J. However, psychiatrists assess that Kim likely feigned these disorders and her symptoms matched someone pretending to have such disorders.
Despite a record of internal violence and previous expressions of wanting to harm animals, Kim shows no signs of remorse in court, often blaming Park and asserting her Asperger's syndrome diagnosis, though this was deemed unrelated to the crime and did not imply a likelihood of criminal behavior. Kim's unremorseful attitude was further evidenced by her defense team attempting to prevent Sarang's mother from testifying and her jailhouse complaints about being pressured to apologize to Sarang's parents. Her brazen demeanor in court, including casual interactions during her attorney's speech and the lack of guilt shown while witnesses testified, starkly contrasted with the solemnity expected in such settings.
Park's attempts to distance herself from the crime
Park takes a different defensive approach, initially claiming the body parts were props and later asserting she was manipulated by Kim. Her defense team sought to depict her as a victim of Kim's influence, despite her involvement in the planning and the aftermath, evidenced by her and Kim's deletion of their online conversations to conceal evidence. Park refuted Kim's claims in court, denying knowledge of the murder and labeling Kim as a cruel person.
The impact of wealth and social status on the trial outcomes
The defense teams of both Kim and Park comprised elite, highly-connecte ...
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The psychological profiles and defense strategies of Kim and Park during their trials
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- Kim's lack of remorse could be a result of her psychological state rather than a deliberate choice, and not necessarily indicative of her guilt or innocence.
- The defense team's attribution of Kim's actions to mental illness could be based on genuine psychiatric evaluations, and the feigning of disorders might be a misinterpretation by the prosecution or a misunderstanding of complex mental health issues.
- Blaming Park could be a strategic defense move rather than an indication of Kim's personal feelings or lack of remorse.
- Park's distancing from the crime and claims of manipulation could be true if there was a power imbalance in her relationship with Kim, which might not have been fully explored during the trial.
- The involvement of elite defense teams does not inherently imply guilt or manipulation of the justice system; it could simply mean that the accused exercised their right to the best defense possible.
- The wealth of the defendants' families does not necessarily mean that it influenced the trial's outcome; it could be that the evidence presented did not support a harsher sentence.
- Public outrage is not always indicative of the fairness of a trial's outcome, as it can b ...
Actionables
- You can enhance your understanding of the justice system by attending public trials to observe the dynamics of courtroom behavior and defense strategies. By being present in court, you'll see firsthand how defendants and their legal teams interact, which can provide a deeper insight into the influence of socioeconomic status on legal proceedings. For example, take note of the demeanor of defendants and their attorneys, the resources available to them, and the reactions of the public if allowed.
- Start a journal to critically analyze media coverage of high-profile cases, focusing on the portrayal of defendants' backgrounds and public sentiment. This activity will help you discern patterns in how wealth and social status are represented in the media and their potential impact on public opinion. For instance, compare articles from different news outlets on the same case and highlight any biases or differences in reporting, especially regarding the defendants' socioeconomic status.
- Engage in online co ...
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The impact of the crime on Sarang's family and the public response
The loss of Sarang has deeply affected his family and has resonated with the public, leading to widespread calls for justice and accountability.
The devastation and grief experienced by Sarang's family
Struggling to cope with the tragedy
Sarang's tragic death has left his family in a state of profound despair. Sarang’s father openly declares that he cannot forgive the offenders, his anxiety palpable over the thought of their eventual release. Meanwhile, Sarang's grandparents are so overwhelmed by the ordeal that they resort to medication to find reprieve from insomnia. Sarang's parents, faced with debilitating grief, have received recommendations from doctors to take psychiatric medications, but they fear the harrowing visions that might haunt them.
Sarang's grandmother publicly sheds tears over the victimization of Sarang and the profound impact it has had on the family, while Sarang's uncle grapples with the distressing need to comprehend the perpetrators' motivations. During the trial, Sarang's mother tells the heart-wrenching tale of trying to navigate life in the wake of Sarang’s loss, referring to the "uncomfortable story" that still needs to be disclosed.
The public outcry and demand for accountability
A collective demand for change
The public and specialists voiced their shock and concern about the heinousness of the crime and the juveniles involved, signaling a robust public response and a desperate call for accountability. Child trial specialists have commented on the case and on Park's actions, which indicates a level of public engagement and scrutiny regarding the trial and the offenders' attendant behavior.
In an impassioned plea for policy reform, Sarang’s mother has implored parents everywhere to sign a petition aimed at abolishing lenient juvenile sentencing laws. This collective outcry is not just a demand for puni ...
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The impact of the crime on Sarang's family and the public response
Additional Materials
Clarifications
- Sarang's family members, including his father, grandparents, mother, and uncle, have each displayed unique reactions to his tragic death, ranging from profound despair and anxiety to the need for medication to cope with grief. The family's struggle to come to terms with Sarang's loss is evident through their emotional responses and the challenges they face in navigating life after the tragedy. Publicly, Sarang's grandmother has openly expressed sorrow, while his mother has shared a heart-wrenching account of the ongoing impact of Sarang's death on their lives.
- Child trial specialists are professionals with expertise in the legal proceedings involving minors, particularly in cases where juveniles are accused of crimes. They provide insights on how the legal system should approach cases involving young offenders, considering factors like rehabilitation, accountability, and the best interests of the child. Their comments often focus on the nuances of juvenile law, the potential impact of the legal process on young individuals, and the broader implications for society. These specialists play a crucial role in shaping discussions around juvenile justice, advocating for fair and effective approaches to handling cases involving young offenders.
- Juvenile sentencing laws determine how young offenders are punished for their crimes. Abolishing lenient juvenile sentencing laws means advocating for stricter penalties for juvenile offenders. This change aims to hold young individuals more accountable for their actions and potentially deter future criminal behavior. It reflects a shift towards prioritizing publ ...
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1-Page Summary- The details and investigation of Sarang's murder
- Kim and Park's involvement in online role-playing communities and violent fantasies
- The psychological profiles and defense strategies of Kim and Park during their trials
- The impact of the crime on Sarang's family and the public response
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