A 65-year-old man surnamed Lin, suspected of suffering from a prolonged illness and losing the will to live, went hiking on Shishan Mountain the day before yesterday morning. He hid in the woods, where he used a fruit knife to stab his abdomen and then his neck, leading to his death by suicide. Police initially treated the case as a homicide, but later found a "will to die" letter in Lin’s clothing pocket, indicating a strong likelihood of suicide. After an initial examination by prosecutors and police, further forensic review was deemed necessary.
Police explained that the 65-year-old Lin, who lived in Sankua District, Kaohsiung City, had gone hiking on Shishan Mountain the day before yesterday morning as per his usual routine but did not return home by evening. His family reported him missing, prompting police and firefighters to search the mountain without success. Yesterday morning, the search resumed, and his body was eventually found in a low thicket near the former Taiwan Cement mining area bicycle path.
Police initially suspected a homicide, but later discovered a "will to die due to prolonged illness" letter in Lin’s pocket, along with a major illness medical card and a receipt for the purchase of a fruit knife. The case took a sudden turn from homicide to apparent suicide.
Police investigations revealed that Lin had purchased a fruit knife at a convenience store near the intersection of Lixing Road and Zhongyong Road on the 15th. The receipt was still in his pocket, leading investigators to conclude that suicide was highly likely. Prosecutors and police conducted an autopsy yesterday afternoon and have instructed that further examination be carried out.