- Woman and Her Parents Arrested in Connection with Headless Corpse Found in Japanese Hotel
- Victim Discovered in Sapporo’s Red Light District, Decapitated Body in Bathtub
- Search for Suspect and Missing Head Continues, Investigation Underway
On 2 July, the body of 62-year-old Hitoshi Ura was discovered in the red light district of Susukino, known for its “love hotels” with brief stays, in the northern city of Sapporo. It is believed that he checked into the hotel with a woman who was later spotted departing by herself while carrying a large suitcase.
A woman and her parents were arrested following the discovery of a headless corpse in a hotel bathtub in Japan.
Hitoshi Ura’s body was discovered on 2 July in the red light district of Susukino – known for its so-called short-stay “love hotels” – in the city of Sapporo on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido.
CCTV footage reveals 62-year-old Mr. Ura checking in with a 29-year-old woman whom police believe to be suspect Runa Tamura.
She and her father, 59-year-old psychiatrist Osamu Tamura, were detained on suspicion of conspiring to decapitate the victim in a hotel room and moving his severed head during the night.
Her mother, 60-year-old Hiroko Tamura, is accused of plotting to convey the head to their residence.
After accessing the room since no one had checked out, hotel staff found Mr. Ura’s decapitated body in the bathtub.
The cranium is still missing, according to Hokkaido police.
Officers executed a search warrant at the suspects’ residence and continue to investigate a possible motive for the murder. They have not yet confirmed whether or not the victim and Runa Tamura are acquainted.
Local media reported that Mr. Ura arrived at the hotel with a woman wearing light-colored attire and a wide-brimmed hat.
According to Kyodo News, she departed alone three hours later wearing black with more than 200 officers searching for her.
The hotel room contained none of the victim’s possessions, and the bed was unoccupied.
The man was presumably beheaded with a cutting instrument after his death, according to an autopsy report.
