A shocking murder case in Japan has led to the arrest of a married couple and four teenage boys after a 69-year-old woman was allegedly stabbed to death during a violent robbery attack in Tochigi Prefecture.
Japanese authorities believe the suspects may have been linked through social media and connected to a loosely organised criminal network operating around the Tokyo area.
According to reports from The Japan Times and The Asahi Shimbun, the deadly incident took place on May 14.
The elderly victim was found fatally stabbed inside her home, while her two sons also suffered injuries during the attack.
Police later arrested four 16-year-old boys believed to have carried out the robbery and assault. Investigators subsequently linked the teens to married couple Kaito Takemae, 28, and Miyu Takemae, 25.
Authorities alleged that the couple lent the teenagers a white luxury sedan which was used to travel to the crime scene.
Couple Reportedly Faced Financial Problems
Japanese media investigations revealed that both Kaito and Miyu were reportedly unemployed at the time of the incident.
Local broadcaster FNN Japan reported that the couple may have been struggling financially prior to the crime.
Miyu was allegedly several months behind on payments owed to her dance school, while Kaito reportedly dropped out of high school when he was younger.
Police became suspicious of the couple after statements from the teenage suspects allegedly pointed investigators in their direction.
One of the boys reportedly claimed the married pair had instructed them to carry out the robbery attack.
Authorities are now investigating whether the couple played a larger role in organising the crime.
Husband Arrested While Allegedly Trying To Flee Japan
Kaito Takemae was eventually arrested at the international departure gate of Haneda Airport while allegedly attempting to leave the country.
Meanwhile, Miyu Takemae was reportedly located at a hotel in Kanagawa together with the couple’s seven-month-old daughter.
Despite the allegations, both suspects have denied involvement in the killing.
Investigators are also looking into possible links between this murder and several other robbery cases reported across the Tokyo region in recent months.
According to police findings, an earlier theft at the victim’s son’s residence in April resulted in an item containing the elderly woman’s address being stolen.
Authorities further noted that suspicious vehicles spotted near the victim’s home closely resembled those seen near attempted robberies in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district earlier this year.
The case has sparked widespread concern in Japan over the growing involvement of youths in organised crimes allegedly coordinated through social media platforms.