Brutal Murder in Depok: Man Mutilates Acquaintance Met on Social Media

The mystery of a legless body suspected to be a mutilation victim in Tanah Merah, Pancoran Mas, Depok has finally been unravelled. The victim, a man with the initials K (51), was killed by another man whom he had met on social media.

The mutilated body was first discovered by residents on Tuesday afternoon, 4 August 2026. The remains were wrapped in a rice sack, inside which was a black plastic bag.

The sack containing the body had been lying on the vacant land since 24 July 2026. No resident suspected that the sack contained a human corpse until Tuesday, 4 August, when locals decided to burn the sack, believing it contained rubbish.

The discovery of the body was subsequently reported to the community police officer and forwarded to the Pancoran Mas Police, who followed up by conducting a crime scene investigation. The police also identified the body, which was later found to be that of K, a resident of Cipayung, Depok.

Based on the identification and crime scene investigation, as well as witness statements and other evidence, the police investigation led to a man named Saepul (26). Saepul was eventually arrested by the Mobile Investigation Sub-Directorate team of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police’s Criminal Investigation Directorate on Wednesday (5/8).

So what was Saepul’s motive for killing the victim?

Mutilation suspect arrested in Pandeglang

Following the discovery of the mutilated body, the Mobile Investigation Sub-Directorate team of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police’s Criminal Investigation Directorate moved to investigate. The team, led by the Head of the Mobile Investigation Sub-Directorate, AKBP Resa Fiardi Marasabessy, eventually arrested the suspect, named Saepul, in Pandeglang, Banten.

“The suspect was arrested by the Jakarta Metropolitan Police’s Mobile Investigation Sub-Directorate team on Wednesday, 5 August 2026, at 04.15 WIB, in Pandeglang, Banten, while fleeing,” said the Head of Unit 1 of the Mobile Investigation Sub-Directorate, Kompol Dimitri Mahendra Kartika.

Victim killed by a man he met on social media

The Mobile Investigation Sub-Directorate of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police’s Criminal Investigation Directorate successfully arrested Saepul (26), the suspect in the mutilation of K (51), whose body was found in a sack in Pancoran Mas, Depok. Police revealed that the suspect and the victim knew each other through social media.

“The examination revealed that Saepul (S) and the victim became acquainted through social media,” explained the Head of Public Relations of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, Commissioner Budi Hermanto, to reporters on Wednesday (5/8).

After becoming acquainted, the victim and the suspect agreed to meet. The meeting took place at a rented house in the Cipayung area, Depok, on 23 July 2026.

Argument ends with victim’s throat slit

During the meeting, the victim and the suspect became involved in an argument. The suspect then killed the victim.

“The meeting ended in an argument until the suspect stabbed the victim in the stomach and slit his throat using a knife,” Budi revealed.

Severed legs thrown into a river

During police questioning, Saepul admitted to mutilating the victim. Saepul threw the victim’s severed legs into a river to cover his tracks.

“To eliminate traces, the suspect mutilated the victim’s body at the base of the thighs, wrapped the body in black plastic and a sack, then dumped the body in the Tanah Merah area,” Budi said.

“Meanwhile, the severed legs were thrown into a river in the Pitara area, Pancoran Mas,” he continued.

Chronology of Saepul mutilating the man

The Head of Public Relations of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, Commissioner Budi Hermanto, explained that K initially became acquainted with the suspect Saepul through social media. The acquaintance continued until the two agreed to meet at a rented house in the Cipayung area, Depok.

“Saepul (SA) and the victim became acquainted through social media before agreeing to meet at a rented house in the Cipayung area on 23 July 2026,” Budi told reporters on Wednesday (5/8/2026).

The meeting between the two apparently led to an argument. Following this argument, Saepul killed K by stabbing him with a knife.

“The meeting ended in an argument until the suspect stabbed the victim in the stomach and slit his throat using a knife,” Budi explained.

After ensuring K was dead, Saepul attempted to cover his tracks. Saepul cut the victim at the base of the thighs, then wrapped the legs separately from the victim’s torso using a sack.

“The suspect mutilated the victim’s body at the base of the thighs, wrapped the body in black plastic and a sack, then dumped the body in the Tanah Merah area, while the severed legs were thrown into a river in the Pitara area, Pancoran Mas,” Budi said.

After disposing of the body, Saepul immediately fled with K’s motorcycle. He took it to the Panimbang area, Pandeglang, Banten, and then sold it.

Saepul’s confession to mutilating the victim

In a video recording received by journalists, the suspect admitted to being upset after being slapped by the victim during a verbal argument. The suspect then retaliated by stabbing the victim in the stomach and neck.

“I struggled, then he slapped me. Then I pushed him, I wanted to scream, then I was pushed down the stairs. Since I had already been pushed down, I grabbed a knife and stabbed him here (the waist),” Saepul said in the video recording.

Saepul’s emotions peaked when the victim fought back. He then stabbed the victim in the stomach until the victim was injured.

“Then he struggled again and kicked me. I got even angrier. I just held his head, his hands could no longer fight back because he was holding his stomach, then I held his head and slit his throat,” he said.

Saepul admitted to mutilating the victim’s body because he was unable to carry the corpse. Saepul mutilated the victim to cover his tracks.

“Because it was difficult to carry him, and the area was crowded with people and housing,” Saepul said when asked why he mutilated the body.