Police upgrade charges to murder after reviewing suspect’s search history and phone records
A 21-year-old woman in South Korea is facing murder charges after police said she searched ChatGPT for information about the risks of combining sleeping pills with alcohol. The suspect, known only by her surname Kim, has been linked by investigators to a series of deaths that authorities are calling the “Gangbuk motel” case.
According to the Seoul Gangbuk Police Station, Kim allegedly gave drug-laced drinks to three men in their 20s between December and early February. Two of the men died, while a third survived after losing consciousness. Police said the case has raised broader questions about intent, digital evidence, and the role of online tools in criminal investigations.
Police said a digital examination of Kim’s phone uncovered multiple inquiries made through ChatGPT about the risks of mixing sedatives with alcohol. Investigators stated that she asked what effects could result from taking sleeping pills with alcohol, how much of the combination might be harmful, and whether it could cause death.
Police stated that some of these searches were conducted after the first victim fell into a coma in December. Based on this digital record, authorities concluded that the suspect had prior knowledge of the potentially fatal consequences of mixing sedatives and alcohol.
An investigator involved in the case said Kim was “fully aware that consuming alcohol together with drugs could result in death.” Police cited the frequency and timing of the searches as key factors in their assessment of intent.
From Bodily Injury to Murder Charges
Kim was first taken into custody on Feb. 11 on charges of causing injury that led to death. In South Korean criminal law, this offense is used when a person is believed to have intended to inflict harm, but not specifically to cause a fatal outcome.
However, after reviewing her search history and communication records, police upgraded the charges to murder. Authorities argued that her online inquiries demonstrated awareness of the lethal risk, supporting a finding of intent to kill. She has since been referred to prosecutors under detention.
Kim reportedly admitted during questioning that she mixed her prescribed benzodiazepine-based sedatives into the drinks. She claimed she did not expect the men to die and said the drugs were given to make them sleep after disputes. Police rejected that explanation, pointing to the increased dosage levels used in later incidents.
Timeline of the Alleged Crimes
According to investigators, the first confirmed death took place on Jan. 28. Kim is accused of checking into a motel in Suyu-dong, in Seoul’s Gangbuk District, with a man in his 20s at about 9:25 p.m. She reportedly exited the room roughly two hours later, and the man’s body was discovered there the next evening.
A second death took place on Feb. 9 under similar circumstances. Investigators said Kim met another man in his 20s and checked into a different motel in Gangbuk. He later died after allegedly consuming a drink containing benzodiazepines.
Authorities also suspect an earlier attempted murder in December in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province. In that case, Kim allegedly gave a sedative-laced drink to her then-partner in a café parking lot, causing him to lose consciousness. He later recovered.
Investigators said that following the initial case, Kim allegedly increased the amount of sedative mixed into the drinks. Benzodiazepines are drugs that reduce activity in the brain and nervous system, and when taken together with alcohol, they can dangerously impair breathing and other vital functions.
Ongoing Investigation and Broader Implications
Authorities have not disclosed a motive. Police said they are continuing to investigate whether additional victims may exist beyond the three identified so far.
As part of the legal process, Kim is expected to undergo a psychological assessment and detailed interviews to evaluate her mental state. The results will be submitted to prosecutors.
The case has also drawn attention to how digital search histories and interactions with AI tools can become part of criminal evidence. While online platforms are widely used for general information, investigators increasingly rely on digital records to establish patterns of intent and premeditation.
Prosecutors are expected to review the evidence and determine whether to formally indict Kim on murder charges in the coming weeks.
