Three-Year-Old Found Bound and Gagged in Bantul Rental Home, Parents Identified as Perpetrators

The alertness of a neighbour successfully saved a toddler, a 3-year-old girl with the initials ACB, who was found in a weak condition in a rental house in Padukuhan Kedaton RT 07, Kalurahan Pleret, Kapanewon Pleret, Bantul Regency. The victim was discovered with her mouth taped shut and both hands and feet bound.

The incident came to light on Monday evening (1/6/2026) at around 21.00 WIB. Prior to the discovery, a neighbour, Abdul Baqir Zein Ikhsan, became suspicious after hearing the faint, abnormal sound of a child crying from inside the locked house.

This suspicion prompted the witness and the homeowner to check the property at around 20.50 WIB. The two then pried open a bedroom window to see the conditions inside. It was at that moment they found the victim already in a weakened state.

“The position (of the toddler when found -ed.) was with her mouth taped using clear plastic tape, both hands bound using clear tape, and both feet bound using clear tape and a maroon red shawl,” said Bantul Police Public Relations Head, Iptu Rita Hidayanto, in a statement on Wednesday (3/6/2026).

After finding the victim, residents immediately contacted the local community police officer (Bhabinkamtibmas). Police who arrived at the scene immediately conducted a crime scene investigation and evacuated the victim. Residents were also shocked because the victim was found alone in the room, while the air conditioner and fan were switched on and directed at her body.

From the investigation, police discovered that ACB is the child of a couple, RF and TKS. At the time of the incident, a witness saw TKS leave the house alone around 17.00 WIB and return an hour later. However, by the time residents and police arrived at the rental house, TKS was no longer at the location.