Makassar man's motive and modus operandi in rape and murder of 12-year-old girl found dead in abandoned house toilet

Police in Makassar arrested a 19-year-old suspect, identified as I, who is suspected of raping and murdering a 12-year-old girl, identified as JN, found naked in the toilet of an abandoned house on Sultan Abdullah II Street in South Sulawesi. ‘From initial investigations, the team spoke with witnesses and assessed the scene. During crime scene processing, there was a commotion, and it turned out the suspect was trying to divert attention,’ said Makassar City Police Chief Police Commissioner Arya Perdana on Wednesday. The suspect created a disturbance to distract forensic and medical teams, as well as officers from Tallo Police Station’s Criminal Investigation Unit and Makassar City Police, to leave the scene quickly. Officers became suspicious of a man in a red shirt and detained him at the scene, later confirming he was the suspect. ‘He caused the commotion to make police leave quickly to handle other matters, but it was him — a 19-year-old suspect,’ he added. After interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime, driven by sexual urges. ‘According to the suspect, he had been watching the victim for some time. He is also a narcotics user and frequently watches pornographic films on his phone, which triggered his actions towards the 12-year-old,’ the police chief said. The suspect lured the victim by asking her to buy mineral water, then instructed her to purchase food. After she returned with the food, he dragged her into the abandoned house. ‘He immediately covered her mouth, then bashed her head against the floor because she struggled. The head-bashing was extremely inhumane,’ Arya stated. He then continued his assault after the victim lost consciousness. The cause of death is pending official autopsy results, which will be explained by medical staff later.