Pyo Chang-won Says Suicide Cannot Be Concluded in Jang Mi-ran Hanging Death Suspected Case

[Financial News] Pyo Chang-won, head of the crime science research institute, said in connection with the case of Jang Mi-ran, 37, who was found dead in Jeju Special Self-Governing Province 104 days after going missing, that "no clear signs of homicide or evidence of third-party involvement have been found so far."
In an interview with Christian Broadcasting System Radio (CBS Radio)'s "Park Sung-tae's News Show" on the 25th, Pyo said that when asked about the scene where the body was found and the cause of death, "under the principles of profiling and scientific investigation, no assumption or conclusion can be made at this stage."
He noted that, "from a practical investigative standpoint, there are no signs of a physical struggle with anyone, and there are also no traces of a third party entering and leaving, or of the body being moved or abandoned," adding that "the fact that the on-site examination of the body suggested death by hanging is important."
He went on to explain that "death by hanging refers to asphyxiation caused by compression of the neck due to gravity, and in many cases it is likely to be judged as the result of an act carried out by the person themselves," but added that "while it may be reasonable in practice to view suicide as highly likely, other factors that could produce such a conclusion cannot be ruled out, so it is still too early to make a definitive judgment."
Pyo stressed that even if the body has undergone significant decomposition, the cause of death must still be determined through a thorough autopsy. He said, "Through the National Forensic Service's autopsy and the police's thorough scientific investigation, the exact cause of death and the possibility of third-party involvement must be comprehensively identified and explained to the bereaved family and the public without any doubt."
He also expressed regret over the poor initial search. Pyo said, "Given the clothing, belongings, and CCTV footage at the time of the disappearance, investigators should have first considered the possibility of walking away on foot," adding that "if the police had continued the search instead of falsely claiming that contact had already been made, early discovery would have been fully possible, even if survival could not have been confirmed."
Regarding the officer who falsely closed the case, he criticized the move as "like entrusting fish to a cat, and a clear criminal act that abused the police's position, authority, and system," emphasizing that "no one should assume that others beyond the two already identified are also involved, and a full investigation must be carried out until the person's life status and whereabouts are confirmed."
[email protected] Ahn Ga-eul Reporter