Tragedy in Kaohsiung: Son Arrested in Death of Mother

A Kaohsiung man is held on suspicion of murder and abandonment after his mother's death at home raises questions about his actions.

By reporters in Kaohsiung

A 43-year-old man, identified as Mr. Zheng, has been arrested in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on suspicion of murder and abandonment of a corpse following the death of his 66-year-old mother. The incident has prompted a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding her passing.

Mr. Zheng initially reported that his mother had fallen at home on the 18th. However, on the evening of the 23rd, he discovered his mother deceased in her room. Kaohsiung police and prosecutors, after investigating the scene, found that Mr. Zheng had allegedly taken no action to help his mother after the fall, leading to her death. They subsequently arrested him on charges of murder and abandonment of a corpse, and a court has granted his detention.

Preliminary investigations indicate that on the 18th, Mr. Zheng's mother fell at home. He reportedly asked her if she needed assistance, to which she responded in the negative. He then returned to his room. On the 23rd, after not seeing his mother, he checked on her and discovered she was deceased, with her body discolored and swollen.

The police found no signs of a struggle at the scene. The woman was found face down near the bathroom door. Forensic teams were called to collect evidence, and the Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office was notified. The following day, the prosecutors, considering the circumstances, suspected that Mr. Zheng did not provide medical assistance after his mother's fall, which led to her death. Despite living in the same residence, he allegedly failed to intervene. The case remains under investigation to determine the complete sequence of events and cause of the mother's death.