A 21-year-old woman in South Korea has been charged with two counts of murder after allegedly drugging two men to death, with investigators claiming she searched online about mixing sleeping pills with alcohol before the incidents.
The suspect, identified only by her surname Kim, is accused of killing two men in their twenties in separate motel encounters in Seoul earlier this year.
According to police, the first alleged incident occurred on January 28 when Kim checked into a motel with a man and left about two hours later. The man was found dead the following day. On February 9, she allegedly checked into another motel with a second man, who later died under similar circumstances.
Post-mortem examinations reportedly found large quantities of different drugs in both victims’ bodies. Kim was arrested on February 11 on suspicion of murder. During questioning, she admitted to putting benzodiazepine-containing sedatives into the men’s drinks but denied intending to kill them.
Investigators say a review of her mobile phone revealed repeated online searches asking about the effects of combining sleeping pills and alcohol. Among the reported queries were: “What happens if you take sleeping pills with alcohol?”, “How much would be dangerous?” and “Could someone die?”
A police source was quoted as saying: “She asked these questions several times and received answers, so she was fully aware that combining alcohol and drugs could be fatal.”
Authorities are also examining an earlier alleged incident involving her ex-boyfriend in December, in which she is accused of spiking his drink in a café car park in Namyangju, causing him to lose consciousness for two days. He later reported the incident.
Investigators suspect that after that alleged failed attempt, she may have adjusted the dosage in the later cases. On the day the second victim died, Kim reportedly posted a selfie on social media with hashtags including “follow me” and “DM for follow back,” raising concerns among police that she may have been seeking further contacts.
Local media reports indicate she has a history of mental health treatment. Police say they are investigating whether there may be additional victims and are awaiting the outcome of a psychological assessment as the case proceeds.