Kenji Oyama, aged 42, is wanted by police in the province of Hyogo in connection with the death of Sumie Tanaka, aged 74, and his daughter Chihiro, aged 52. The bodies were found on the 19th in a house in the city of Tatsuno. Security Câmeras recorded images of a person with characteristics similar to those of the suspect circulating in the area close to the crime scene two days before the bodies were discovered.
The connection between Oyama and the victims goes back approximately ten years. Conforme reports from neighbors, he lived in the house next to Sumie Tanaka, who lived with her husband at the time. Oyama left the neighborhood about ten years ago. Sua daughter Chihiro returned to her mother’s home approximately five years later, following the death of Sumie’s husband.
Câmera catches suspect near crime scene
On the 16th, the police questioned Oyama, who was sleeping on a street in Takasago’s town, about thirty kilometers away. Durante interrogated, he allegedly confessed to killing someone, however the details were sketchy and he was not armed. Sem provided enough evidence for arrest, the police officers escorted him towards Tatsuno’s region.
On the morning of the 17th, security cameras captured images of a man on a street a few hundred meters from the house where the bodies were found. The registration was made shortly after 5 am. The person was wearing a black hat, mask and white t-shirt, black pants, walking slowly while touching something that looked like a jacket. A witness saw him sitting before 5am and stated that he was wearing the same hat and mask as the image recorded by the camera.
Vizinhos describe the suspect’s family history
Moradores from the region revealed details about their previous coexistence with Oyama and his family. A neighbor commented: “He and his father lived together (in the house next door) for about 10 years.” Outro report emphasizes that Chihiro did not live simultaneously with Oyama. “Chihiro didn’t live there at the same time as Oyama, judging by how long she stayed there. Chihiro came back after Oyama left.”
Neighbors describe Oyama’s father as a quiet person, from an apparently normal and serious family. Ninguém had observed problematic behavior at the time they both lived there.
- Kenji Oyama has lived in Tatsuno’s neighborhood for approximately ten years
- Saiu from the region before Chihiro Tanaka’s return to her mother’s home
- Interrogado by the police on the 16th in Takasago
- Confessou generic crime without details or possession of a weapon
- Registrado on security camera on the 17th, shortly after 5am
Testemunha describes behavior observed on the morning of the crime
A person who saw Oyama on the morning of the 17th revealed details about his physical state at that time. “Ele was sitting here before 5am. He was still wearing the same hat and mask as the person on the security camera.” When asked, Oyama stood up shaking. The witness offered help, but he refused, responding, “Não, everything is fine.” There were no obvious signs of drunkenness.
Police collected security camera footage as evidence. The victims’ estimated date of death is the 13th of the month, six days before the bodies were discovered. The chronology of events suggests that Oyama was circulating in the region after the initial interrogation.
Investigação public: reason and legal difficulties
Especialista in criminal investigation explained the reasons why the police opened a public investigation. Tatsuyuki Narumi, former head of the 1st Divisão of Investigação of Polícia of Prefeitura of Kanagawa, stated that “to issue an arrest warrant, one must be absolutely certain of the suspect’s identification. It is difficult to issue a warrant without something other than the murder weapon that can identify him, such as cards or a wallet he may have dropped.”
Narumi acrescentou que a polícia enfrenta uma questão investigativa crítica: “Precisamos esclarecer o motivo pelo qual o suspeito, Oyama, que morava lá há 10 anos, cometeu o assassinato agora.” Esta central inquiry suggests that there is no apparent connection between the former neighbor and the victims that would justify the crime at this specific time. The lack of a weapon recovered and the absence of the suspect’s personal effects at the scene make it difficult to establish indisputable guilt before the law.
The investigation remains ongoing as police work to locate Oyama and gather evidence that will allow them to formalize the murder charge against him.