Motive of Woman's Murder in Box in Medan Revealed: Offender Angered Over Rejection of Unnatural Sexual Advance

Medan Police Headquarters (Polrestabes Medan) have revealed the motive behind the murder of a 19-year-old woman identified as RS, whose body was discovered in a box in Medan, North Sumatra (Sumut). The perpetrator killed the victim because he was angered by the rejection of his unwanted sexual advance.

Two suspects have been arrested in the case: Syawal Ardiansyah, alias SA (19), and Sofwan Habib Rangkuti, alias SHR (19). SA is identified as the primary perpetrator.

“The suspect (SA) was hurt and angry because the victim refused to engage in unnatural sexual relations,” said Medan Police Headquarters Commander Kombes Jean Calvijn Simanjuntak, as quoted by detikSumut on Tuesday, 17 March 2026.

Calvijn stated that the perpetrator sought unnatural sexual relations due to his obsession with pornographic material.

“One reason the suspect committed unnatural sexual violence is that he frequently watched unnatural pornographic videos from a particular application. This obsession drove him to commit sexual violence,” he explained.

In addition to murdering the victim, suspect SA took the victim’s belongings, including a mobile phone and a ring. The suspect took these items intending to destroy evidence of the murder.

“The suspect took the victim’s belongings with the initial intention to destroy traces and evidence by selling them, but this was not carried out,” he said.