A ten-year-old girl who died after being found not breathing in a bathtub on Monday is now suspected of being abused after it was discovered her aunt and uncle lied about the girl falling into the tub.

Police in Yongin City, Gyeonggi Province, said Tuesday that they arrested the couple in their 30s on Monday without a warrant for violating the law on special cases concerning the punishment of child abuse crimes. 

The arrest came after the couple testified that they had hit their niece a couple
times over the past two days and put her in and out of a tub filled with water to discipline her earlier on Sunday.

First responders were dispatched to the couple’s home around 12:30 p.m. on Monday upon receiving a report that a child died after falling in the tub. The first responders gave the girl CPR and transported her to the hospital but she was declared dead.

The first responders and hospital staff reported the death to the police, suspecting child abuse after they found bruises on the girl’s body. The exact cause of death is set to be confirmed after autopsy results come out in roughly two weeks.

Police plan to request an arrest warrant for the couple to look further into the case. 

The young girl had reportedly been staying at her aunt’s since the end of October after her mother entrusted her younger sister with the girl’s care.