Kaohsiung police identify remains of victims in suspected murders

Kaohsiung, Feb. 10 (CNA) Several pieces of severed human remains in a Kaohsiung river and nearby docks have been identified as belonging to missing women believed to have been killed and dismembered by a 73-year-old man, local police said.

The man surnamed Chang (張) on Monday was taken back to his residence in Cianjhen District to clarify how the alleged murders took place after blood samples collected at his home last week matched DNA samples provided by family members of three previously reported missing women.

The human remains uncovered since Feb. 6 have been identified as those of a 71-year-old woman surnamed Chao (趙) and a 75-year-old woman surnamed Chang (張) of no relation, Kaohsiung City Police Department Commissioner Lin Yen-tien (林炎田) told reporters Sunday.

The third blood sample was found to be the suspect's 75-year-old sister-in-law, who is surnamed Huang (黃), according to local police.

Chao's family reported the woman as missing on Feb. 3, and surveillance footage reviewed by the police revealed that Chao gave Chang a ride on her scooter the day before to his residence where she was last seen.

Cameras also showed Chang leaving his residence 12 times between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Feb. 3. On five of these occasions, Chang carried black plastic bags, the contents of which he then dumped in a river.

The police questioned Chang on Feb. 4 and arrested him the following day in connection with the death of Chao (趙), with forensics found blood samples collected in his residence matched the missing women.

The local district court granted on Feb. 7 prosecutors' motion to detain the 73-year-old suspect.

Meanwhile, the Kaohsiung City Police Department Criminal Investigation Corps said Monday that a small piece of suspected human remains had been found and sent to the police department's Forensic Science Center the same day.