Rina Yasutake had been deceased for weeks when authorities discovered her at her North Yorkshire residence. A neighborhood pharmacy became suspicious when her siblings purchased multiple bottles of surgical spirit over the course of several days.
An inquest heard that the family of a woman whose mummified body was discovered in their house believed she was alive for months after her death.
Rina Yasutake’s bones were discovered in the Helmsley, North Yorkshire, home she shared with her mother and siblings. Despite intensive police investigations, no cause of death has been determined in her case.
In September 2018, suspicions were raised at a local pharmacy after her brother Takahiro, 51, and sister Yoshika, 56, purchased multiple bottles of surgical spirit over several days.
The emergency services were called to the Bondgate residence. Where paramedics discovered her body beneath a duvet on a floor mattress.
It was evident that the 49-year-old had been dead for weeks, the coroner was informed at her autopsy.
However, the secluded family remained convinced she was still alive.
Craig Hassall KC, representing the family, questioned Detective Inspector Nichola Holden. Who lead the police inquiry, as to whether the family was “certain” that she was alive when emergency services arrived.
They were at the moment and for many months thereafter, the detective responded.
Given the level of mummification, Home Office pathologist Dr. Jennifer Bolton stated that it was difficult to tell how long Ms. Yasutake had been deceased, but that the process had taken “several weeks.”
Ms. Yasutake’s brother, sister, and 80-year-old mother, Michiko Yasutake, were charged with impeding a lawful and decent burial, but the prosecution was halted when it was discovered that the Japanese-born family suffered from a rare mental condition.
Coroner Jon Heath was informed that there was no proof of a third party’s participation in her death. Also no indication of a physical or chemical reason.
Rina Yasutake was a gifted student who received a scholarship to study classics and linguistics at Cambridge University.
The inquiry was informed that she had not worked since graduating from college and that the family had resided in Helmsley for 20 years.
In testimonies made to a psychiatrist, the brother and sister reported that during the course of 2018. Rina Yasutake stopped eating, grew weaker, and began to move less and less.
Earlier that year, it was noted that Ms. Yasutake, who was 4ft 11in tall, weighed just six stone six pounds.
Yoshika Yasutake, her sister, told the psychiatrist, “She didn’t speak much, so we told her to eat and drink more.
“She appeared to be nourished by consuming her soul.”
I have no idea how to explain.
Even though she was not eating, she was sustained by spiritual nourishment and was satisfied.
Mr. Hassall described his clients as “extremely insular and isolated,” and Ms. Holden concurred that communication was difficult to even with a Japanese interpreter because the family spoke their dialect.
Ms. Holden stated that it was discovered throughout the investigation that they had no means of communication with the outside world and no television or radio.
Mr. Heath recorded an open verdict, stating, “I cannot identify how she died based on the existing evidence.”
Mr. Heath stated that the family will listen to an audio recording of the inquest later.
