Kochi toddler death: Postmortem reveals 4-year-old suffered brutal sexual abuse before murder

Kochi: Shocking details have emerged from the postmortem report of a four-year-old girl who was sexually assaulted and later killed by her mother by being thrown into a river in Moozhikkulam, Ernakulam district.

The postmortem revealed that the child was subjected to brutal sexual abuse, with injuries indicating torture up to a day before her death. Forensic examination confirmed unnatural abuse and multiple physical injuries, raising red flags for investigators and ultimately leading to the arrest of the main accused — a relative of the child’s father.

Police confirmed on Wednesday that the man confessed to the crime during interrogation. He was taken into custody late Tuesday night and has been formally arrested under sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Juvenile Justice Act.

According to officials, the sexual abuse took place inside the child’s home. The suspect broke down during questioning, following inputs from the forensic team that conducted the autopsy. His confession was recorded hours before the formal arrest.

Meanwhile, a separate murder case has been registered against the child’s mother by Chengamanad police. Authorities say she admitted to throwing her daughter into the river, but her motive remains unclear. During questioning, the mother gave conflicting and vague explanations, prompting suspicions that she may have been aware of the ongoing abuse and that it may have influenced her actions.

Police are preparing a formal custody request to question the mother in detail. Investigators are working to determine whether she acted out of desperation or guilt, and whether she may have played a role in concealing the abuse prior to the killing.

A special investigation team led by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Puthencruz, is overseeing the case. On the day before the arrest, police questioned several close relatives of the child, which helped narrow down the suspect.

Police sources said the autopsy findings were instrumental in shifting the focus of the investigation. According to the police, the injuries on the body were not consistent with a simple case of drowning. They clearly indicated prolonged abuse and physical torture.