GUNMA - A 41-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of fatally assaulting her brother-in-law at her home in Shibukawa, Gunma Prefecture, after allegedly telling emergency services that he had fallen from a roof.
Police said unemployed Rieko Mochizuki is suspected of kicking her husband's younger brother, Sumio Mochizuki, in the chest, abdomen and other parts of his body at her home in February 2025, causing injuries that resulted in his death. Sumio was 44 at the time and was also unemployed.
The case initially came to light when Mochizuki called emergency services and reported that her husband's brother had fallen from a roof and was lying near the entrance of the house.
Fire and ambulance crews responded to the scene, and Sumio was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Investigators, however, found circumstances at the scene that raised doubts about the reported fall. Sumio's body was found in a position that appeared unusually far from the area directly beneath the roof from which he was said to have fallen.
Police also found older injuries on his body that did not appear to have been sustained recently.
Following an investigation, police came to suspect that Mochizuki had assaulted Sumio and caused his death, leading to her arrest.
Mochizuki lived with her husband and eldest son, while Sumio lived with his mother in the neighboring house. Investigators said Mochizuki regularly moved between the two homes.
Mochizuki has admitted to the allegations and told police that she had been dissatisfied with Sumio's behavior and lifestyle.
Police are investigating whether Mochizuki may have repeatedly assaulted him before the fatal incident.
Source: FNN
