KB News Desk
An 11-year-old boy who died after being taken from a church in Cheonan to a hospital had filed an abuse report just three days earlier, raising questions over whether authorities did enough to protect him.
A restaurant employee took the boy to a police station on Aug. 2, where he reportedly said his maternal grandmother had beaten him. Police and city officials inspected the church and considered placing him in protective care, but concluded that an immediate transfer would be difficult given his behavioral needs and conditions at available facilities.
The boy stayed at the church while authorities sought to separate him from his grandmother. Police imposed emergency restrictions on her and requested a temporary restraining order, but a court reportedly rejected the request, finding it unnecessary, according to local reports on Monday.
On Aug. 5, emergency services received a call saying the boy was ill. He was taken to a hospital and died about three hours later.
Police found injuries on his body and received testimony that he had been tied to a bed at the church.
The church’s pastor has been arrested, while police plan to seek an arrest warrant for the grandmother. Authorities said they were investigating the pastor, church officials and the grandmother for suspected abuse.
