A police car is seen in this file photo. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

A woman in her 40s, reported missing after leaving home, was found dead in the back seat of a patrol car parked at a local police station 36 hours after she disappeared.

The discovery has sparked concerns over possible police negligence, as the patrol car's door, which should have been locked, was found unsecured.

According to the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency on Sunday, a police officer discovered the body of Ms. A in the back seat of a patrol car parked at Jinyo Police Station in Hadong, South Gyeongsang Province, at around 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Ms. A, who had a history of mental illness, was reported missing on the night of Aug. 15 after she left her home and did not return. While officers were searching for her, they noticed a woman collapsed in the back seat of the patrol car and confirmed it was Ms. A.

She was found dead with no visible external injuries. Based on the time of discovery, Ms. A is believed to have been trapped in the car for approximately 36 hours.

The temperature in Hadong on Aug. 16-17 reached a sweltering 34 degrees Celsius, with a heat wave warning in effect. Given that vehicles can become three times hotter than outside temperatures during summer, there is speculation that Ms. A may have died from heatstroke or hyperthermia.

However, the initial autopsy report listed the cause of death as unknown. A police spokesperson said, "The patrol car in which Ms. A was found was one that is rarely used. We will request an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death and will also investigate whether there was any negligence in the management of the patrol car."

A key issue is how Ms. A managed to enter the parked patrol car. According to police regulations, vehicles must be secured by turning off the engine, removing the keys and locking the doors to prevent theft or unauthorized access.

However, the door of the patrol car where Ms. A was found was not locked. Surveillance footage from the police station shows Ms. A opening the back door of the patrol car and entering it at 2:12 a.m. on Aug. 16, just a few hours after she went missing.

The back doors of patrol cars are designed to prevent escape, meaning they cannot be opened from the inside, raising further questions about how Ms. A became trapped.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by staff of The Korea Times.