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Bangbae police investigating the incident said DNA tests by the National Institute of Scientific Investigation determined a clear genetic relationship between the babies and V "consistent with matrilineal descent." Earlier tests already confirmed C's paternity. That makes V, who left the country for a holiday in France in June, the prime suspect. Police say the husband is being treated as a witness for the time being, but "his status may change" in the course of the investigation. Police are seeking help from French law enforcement.
Through the Korean Embassy in Paris, police are also seeking the return of the couple and have asked French police to collect another DNA sample from V for a second test. "French law enforcement authorities are willing to cooperate," a police officer here said.
A Murderous Couple?
V is being treated as the prime suspect since her husband alerted police to the dead babies during a brief return to Korea last week and there is no indication that others were involved. But C needs to answer a number of questions. He left on June 29 with his wife and returned to Korea alone on July 18 for what he said was a business meeting. Five days later, he informed police that he discovered the babies when putting a delivery of mackerel in the freezer of the villa in Seoul's predominantly French Seorae Village. Three days after that, he left and remains abroad.
Investigations indicate that the infants were born before this year, which means they could have been in the freezer for a long time. C reportedly told police the children were not his and he knew nothing about them.
Why?
The most puzzling aspect is motive. The couple have two other children in third and fifth grade. An instructor who tutored C in Korean language at his home for the last four years describes them as a 'harmonious family' and confessed to shock at police findings. Marital strife is one possibility since C's phone and credit card records yielded the names of several women police want to talk to. However, officers are not saying what their relationship with the Frenchman was. It is not known if V has a history of mental problems. "She must have been crazy," one neighbor said.
Is She the Mother?
Police seem sure of their prime suspect, but statements from neighbors raise doubts. If V is the mother, how come no one who knew her noticed she was pregnant? Both the instructor and the Filipina maid say they had no idea. A worker at a nearby convenience store said V was a frequent customer but never looked pregnant. However, police point out the woman is on the heavy side.
People who know the couple say V was short for a Frenchwoman and stout, but not to the point of obesity. For the DNA tests, police say they submitted samples taken from the V's personal effects at the house, adding they expect more precise results once they have a sample taken from the woman directly.