Saepul and Mutilation Victim Met Through Same-Sex Dating App
Police have revealed the actions of Saepul (26), who murdered and dismembered a man identified as K (51) in a rented room in the Cipayung area of Depok. The suspect is said to have joined a group for same-sex relationships, or gay community.
“A check of the suspect’s mobile phone showed that the suspect is a member of a gay community group. The initial introduction between the suspect and the victim was through the social media app Hornet,” said Kompol Dimitri Mahendra Kartika, Unit 1 Head of the Mobile Investigation Sub-Directorate at the Jakarta Metropolitan Police’s General Criminal Investigation Directorate, when contacted on Thursday (6/8/2026).
Dimitri said Saepul had planned the theft of the victim’s belongings and the murder. Hornet is an app for same-sex relationships, particularly gay men, according to its description on Google Play.
“The planning occurred because the suspect wanted to steal the victim’s motorcycle and belongings, and to take possession of the victim’s property, and there was an intention to kill the victim,” he explained.
The sack containing the body had been lying on vacant land since 24 July 2026. Residents had no idea the sack contained human remains, until finally on Tuesday, 4 August, residents took the initiative to burn the sack, which they thought contained rubbish.
Based on identification and crime scene processing, 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 General Criminal Investigation Directorate while fleeing in Pandeglang, Banten, on Wednesday (5/8).
Jakarta Metropolitan Police Head of Public Relations, Kombes 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 room in the Cipayung area of Depok City.
“Saepul (SA) and the victim became acquainted through social media before agreeing to meet at a rented room in the Cipayung area on 23 July 2026,” Budi told reporters on Wednesday (5/8).
The meeting between the two apparently led to an argument. Following the argument, Saepul then 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 the victim’s neck using a knife,” Budi explained.
After ensuring K was dead, Saepul attempted to cover his tracks. Saepul then cut off the victim’s upper thighs, then wrapped them separately from the victim’s torso using sacks.
“The suspect mutilated the victim’s body at the upper thighs, wrapped the body using black plastic and a sack, then dumped the victim’s body in the Tanah Merah area, while the two severed legs were dumped into a river in the Pitara area, Pancoran Mas,” Budi said.
After dumping the body, Saepul immediately fled with Kunaefi’s motorcycle. He took it to the Panimbang area of Pandeglang, Banten, and then sold it.