Japanese police re-arrested a husband and wife and four teenagers on suspicion of attempted robbery-murder in Tochigi Prefecture [1].
The arrests signal a deepening investigation into a violent home invasion that left a 69-year-old woman dead and her two sons severely injured [1].
Kaito Takemae, 28, and his wife, Miyu, 25, were re-arrested on June 6, 2024 [1]. Four teenage perpetrators were re-arrested the following day, June 7, 2024 [1]. Investigators said the couple were the individuals in the instruction role who coordinated the attack [1].
The incident occurred at the home of Eiko Tomiyama, 69, in the town of Kaminokawa [1]. According to police, the group conspired to break into the residence, where they attacked Tomiyama's sons using a crowbar [2].
The violence resulted in critical injuries to the victims. The eldest son, who is in his 40s, suffered a fractured right arm [1]. The younger son, in his 30s, sustained a brain contusion, and traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage [1]. Eiko Tomiyama died during the attack and suffered more than 20 stab wounds [1].
The original robbery-murder incident took place on May 14, 2024 [2]. Police said they are now focusing on the coordination between the adult organizers and the minors used to carry out the physical assault [1].
Reports on how the couple managed the teenagers vary. Some evidence suggests the couple provided real-time instructions via smartphone calls during the robbery, while other reports indicate the group met for a meal to discuss the plan together [3].
“The eldest son, who is in his 40s, suffered a fractured right arm”
This case highlights a disturbing trend of 'dark part-time jobs' in Japan, where adults recruit minors via social media to perform violent crimes for money. By acting as coordinators, the adult 'instructors' distance themselves from the physical crime while exploiting the legal leniency often granted to minors in the Japanese judicial system.
