A 15-year-old mentally disabled boy was arrested Tuesday for allegedly raping a 3-year-old girl and then killing her in Tbong Khmum province’s Tbong Khmum district, police said Wednesday.
The teenager allegedly took the young girl, who was also his neighbor, behind her house on Monday afternoon, stuffed her mouth full of leaves and raped her, said Lung Sarin, deputy district police chief.
The young girl died from asphyxiation, he said.
“He put leaves in the victim’s mouth so she wouldn’t yell…. He raped the victim,” Mr. Sarin said.
Ket Than, Sralop commune police chief, said the girl’s parents informed police after they found the girl’s body on Tuesday. After the body was discovered, the boy ran and hid behind his house until he was found and arrested by police.
Despite being unable to speak due to his disabilities, the boy then apparently confessed to police, Mr. Than said.
“Although the suspect is mute, he confessed by nodding his head when questioned,” he said.
Mr. Than said the boy bought the girl an ice cream to lure her away from a group of friends on Monday, then took her behind a house and raped her.
Two years ago, the boy also allegedly stomped on his 5-year-old nephew until the child died, but police did not arrest or jail him at the time because of his young age and his mental problems, Mr. Than said.
Mr. Than said the boy was being held in provincial police headquarters and that a court date had not yet been set.
