A family of four found dead in the underground parking lot of a Dongtan New Town apartment

In the underground parking lot of an apartment in Dongtan New Town, Hwaseong City, Gyeonggi Province, a couple in their 40s and their two teenage children were found dead, prompting the police to begin an investigation.

The police reported that there were no signs of foul play at the scene, but a suicide note was found expressing financial difficulties.

According to the police, at around 10:20 AM on the 14th, a couple in their 40s, identified as A, and their two teenage children were discovered lifeless inside a vehicle in the underground parking lot of the Dongtan New Town apartment.

The discovery was initiated when a staff member from the elementary school attended by A's children reported to the police at 9:30 AM, stating that "the child did not go to school and there has been no contact with the parents."

Upon receiving the report, the police immediately dispatched to A’s home to locate the family, and during the search, they found A's family of four inside a parked vehicle in the underground parking lot.

A suicide note, believed to have been written by A, was found at the scene, detailing complaints about financial difficulties due to business failure.

However, it has been determined that A’s family did not fall under the categories of basic livelihood security beneficiaries or the near-poor.

Details of the incident based on CCTV footage and evidence from the scene

During the investigation, the police secured closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from within the apartment complex.

The footage reportedly shows A’s family of four moving towards the direction of their vehicle together.

Police, paying particular attention to the fact that there were no signs of foul play or struggle on the bodies of the elementary school male sibling and middle school sister, are also investigating the possibility that the children ingested sleeping pills and fell asleep before the family died together in the vehicle.

A police official stated, "The specific motive for the incident has not yet been confirmed," and that an autopsy by the National Forensic Service will be conducted to ascertain the exact cause of death.

Recently, there have been consecutive incidents where parents have made extreme choices along with their young children.

On the 1st of last month, a man in his 40s, B, drove his family, including his wife and two high school sons, into the sea at Jindo Port. The family died, leaving only himself alive.

During the police investigation, B stated, "We were struggling financially, and my wife and I decided to commit the act. I thought the children would have a difficult life without their parents, so I gave them sleeping pills."

Additionally, in April in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, a man in his 50s was involved in a case where he killed his parents, wife, and teenage and twenty-something children by giving them sleeping pills, citing financial difficulties due to business failure.

If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties such as depression and finds it hard to talk about, you can receive expert counseling 24/7 through the suicide prevention counseling hotline at 109 or via the SNS counseling service at Madlan (www.129.go.kr/109/etc/madlan).

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