Tragedy of Bekasi Toddler Killed by Stepmother While Father Worked Abroad

A four-year-old girl with the initials QSH in Tarumajaya, Bekasi Regency, West Java, has died after allegedly being tortured by her 19-year-old stepmother, DM, while her biological father was working abroad. The victim was living with DM and a one-year-old stepsibling, while her father worked overseas, unaware of the abuse that led to his daughter’s death. DM has been named a suspect and is being held at the Bekasi Metro Police detention centre.

The case came to light after the Bekasi Regency Technical Implementation Unit for the Protection of Women and Children (UPTD PPA) informed police that the victim was receiving intensive care in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of Koja Regional General Hospital in North Jakarta, in an unconscious state. Police visited the hospital and discovered multiple injuries on the victim’s body that were deemed unnatural. A preliminary post-mortem examination revealed bruising on the back, chest, face, and stomach, as well as abrasions and burns on the buttocks.

Initial investigations suggest the violence occurred repeatedly from May until early July 2026. The suspect allegedly used a dipper to strike the victim, pinched her, and injured parts of her body with a toothbrush, claiming she was disciplining the child. DM initially denied the abuse, stating the victim’s injuries resulted from slipping in the bathroom, but medical staff found the wounds inconsistent with that explanation and reported the case to the UPTD PPA and the Tarumajaya Police.

DM later confessed to the abuse, claiming she was driven by resentment over remarks made by her husband and his family, which she then took out on the victim. Police are continuing to investigate the motive and gather further statements. The victim passed away at Koja Regional General Hospital and her body was taken by her family for burial in Lebak, Banten. The Metro Jaya Regional Police have expressed their condolences and assured the public that the case will be investigated thoroughly.