News On Japan

New Arrest in Tokyo Murder Case

TOKYO, Jan 23 (News On Japan) - A 34-year-old Filipino man has been arrested on suspicion of disposing of the bodies of a couple found dead under their house in Tokyo, following the arrest of a Filipino woman.

The suspect, Bryan Jefferson Dela Cruz, is under investigation for the alleged disposal of the bodies of Norihiro Takahashi, 55, and his wife Kimie, 52, on January 16 in Adachi Ward.

Dela Cruz, an acquaintance of Hazel Ann Baguisa Morales, a 30-year-old already in custody related to the case, was apprehended in Ibaraki Prefecture on Monday. Investigators were led to Dela Cruz after surveillance footage showed a man disposing of blood-stained clothing alongside Morales.

Dela Cruz has reportedly admitted to the charges.

The bodies of couple were found on January 18, wrapped in sheets underneath their home.

Investigations have revealed that the bodies were individually wrapped in sheets underneath the first-floor floor storage, and that there were traces of bloodstains wiped in several places inside the house. A subsequent search led to the discovery of a bloodstained knife. Both victims had been stabbed in the chest from the front, and police suspect the knife was used as a murder weapon.

According to investigative sources, Morales was previously in a relationship with the Takahashi couple's eldest son, who had previously consulted Tokyo police claiming he had lent "several hundred thousand yen" to Morales but was not repaid.

Source: FNN

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