Two women have been found dead in an apartment in the city of Izumi, Osaka Prefecture, with multiple stab wounds, police said Thursday, as authorities launched a murder investigation into the case.
The victims were identified as Kazuko Murakami, 76, and her daughter Yuka Murakami, 41, a certified social worker. Both lived at the residence, according to investigators.
An autopsy determined that both of them died of blood loss, with fatal injuries including severed arteries in the neck. They sustained multiple stab and slash wounds concentrated on the head, neck and back, police said.
Yuka also had signs of blunt-force trauma to her right cheek. Both victims had defensive wounds believed to have been inflicted as they tried to fend off the attacker.
Police believe the assailant acted with strong intent to kill and have set up an investigation headquarters at Izumi Police Station.
The case came to light at around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday after a male relative, alerted by Yuka’s workplace that she had not shown up for work, visited the apartment and called emergency services.
Investigators estimate the deaths occurred at around 4 a.m. the same day. The mother was found in the living room, while the daughter was discovered near the kitchen, both lying bleeding.
A 39-year-old woman who lives in the same apartment complex told the Asahi Shimbun she was on friendly terms with the Murakami family, such as receiving fruit from them.
“They were a close mother-daughter pair, and I never heard of any trouble concerning them,” the woman said. “I was close with them, so this is a huge shock.”
Translated by The Japan Times
AloJapan.com