Police in southern Vietnam have arrested a man for raping and suffocating a young girl before dumping her body in a pond nearby.

Tran Van Cu, 33, was taken into custody on Saturday afternoon, two days after he sexually assaulted and strangled second grader N.T.K.N. to death, police in Dong Thap Province announced.

According to Colonel Duong Anh Kiet, head of the division in charge of social crimes under the provincial police department, the suspect resides in Thuong Thoi Tien Commune in Hong Ngu District, approximately 300 meters from the victim’s house.

Cu told police officers that he had stalked N. several days earlier and known her daily school schedule.

On Thursday, the suspect followed the young girl to a less-frequented pond, where he intimidated and raped her before mercilessly asphyxiating the minor to death and stealing her gold earrings.

He then walked away after disposing of the body in the pond.

N.’s family immediately reported her missing case to police officers. The young victim’s naked body, showing signs of suffocation, was found in the pond not far from her home one day later.

Colonel Kiet said police are looking further into the case.

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