5th March 2010, Korea

We try to avoid stories involving death but the actions that caused this one, defy belief. First up, we’re not sure where the couple found the time to get pregnant and secondly, we hope that they don’t find the time again.

A 41 year old man and his 25 year old wife called emergency services when they woke to discover their three-month old baby girl dead in September last year. As the story unfolded, authorities became aware that the couple’s addiction to computer games had led to the death of their own child.

Police said the couple were addicted to the Second Life-style game, PRIUS. They were raising an avatar baby through their online game profiles and neglecting both their real baby and their own lives. While spending up to twelve hours per day at internet cafes, their three-month old baby was left alone in their apartment with just a bottle of milk a day.

When they returned from an online session, they discovered their own daughter dead. Police and emergency services were called but they were suspect over the severe dehydration the baby has sustained. An autopsy revealed that she had starved to death.

Although initially well cared for by the baby’s grandmother, her health had deteriorated after she moved back in with her parents. The parents disappeared after the funeral in an attempt to avoid arrest but were caught and charged with child abuse and neglect. They told police of their guilt following their arrest and promised that they had not been near a gaming room since the death.

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Source: www.heraldsun.com.au

Tags: 2009, baby, korea, online gaming, prius, starvation