Tu Yi-shu, 40, confessed to taking his son on a suicide attempt on the evening of Oct. 20 by riding his motorcycle into a lake in the Putzu Township. After both entered the water, however, Tu changed his mind and swam back to shore, at which point, Tu told investigators, he lost sight of his son.

Tu¡¦s relatives found him Sunday wandering around the area where his son, Tu Ming-hung, had likely drowned. Police on Monday recovered the body of Tu¡¦s son and the motorbike from the lake on Monday.

Investigators said Tu initially confessed to forcing his son along in the attempted suicide, citing his divorce, unemployment, and financial woes as his motives, but later retracted his confession, saying instead that his son had accidentally fallen into the water.

District prosecutors said Tu’s son had an insurance policy with Tu as the sole beneficiary. Tu himself did not have an insurance policy. While the son’s body shows no signs of injury, an autopsy will determine in the next few days whether the victim lost his life before or after entering the water.

Tu’s father told the United Evening News that his son adored his grandson and could not have hurt him. Even though Tu had lost his factory job two months ago he was still able to manage financially, he continued.

Tu’s family said he suffered from depression, for which he did not seek medical treatment.

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