Police Arrest Couple for Killing Toddler Due to Poverty
An Indonesian mother and her step-father killed their 20-month-old daughter in a Jakarta public restroom on October 31, 2026, citing financial desperation, according to law enforcement records.
Arrest at Kebayoran Lama Market
Police arrested 22-year-old step-father AR and 19-year-old biological mother JM following the killing of the toddler at the Kebayoran Lama market in South Jakarta. The infant was drowned in the public toilet’s water reservoir. Kebayoran Lama police chief Seala Syah Alam stated that the owners of the public restroom initially alerted authorities after suspecting abuse was taking place on the premises.
Investigators established that the couple selected the youngest of their two children to execute. The household’s severe financial strain drove the decision, according to police statements gathered from the suspects. Following the killing in the South Jakarta market facility, the couple boarded a ride-hailing vehicle to Palmerah in West Jakarta.
Burial in Bendungan Hilir Vacant Land
After alighting from the online transport service in Palmerah, the two suspects walked toward Bendungan Hilir in Central Jakarta. They located a vacant plot of land on the left side of the road where they buried the infant’s body wrapped inside a plastic shopping bag. Police tracked the movements of the suspects through intelligence gathering before making the arrests.
The pair walked toward the burial site from the transport drop-off. Authorities quickly intervened upon receiving reports of suspicious activity in the area.
Police Order Autopsy and Place Sibling in Temporary Care
The remains of the toddler were transported to the Kramat Jati Police Hospital for a complete forensic autopsy by medical examiners. Meanwhile, the older sibling, a three-year-old child, received immediate administrative assistance from local sub-district officials.
Police coordinated directly with the local district head to place the surviving sibling under the temporary care of the Social Affairs Agency. Law enforcement officials charged both suspects under multiple statutes, including Article 76C in conjunction with Article 80 paragraph (3) of Law Number 35 of 2014 concerning Child Protection, alongside provisions of Law Number 1 of 2023.