Tochigi Prefectural Police have obtained an arrest warrant for a man in his 40s thought to be the mastermind behind a robbery-murder case in Tochigi Prefecture that left one woman dead, investigative sources said Wednesday.
The man, who fled to China after the incident, is suspected of having been in contact with Kaito Takemae, 28, and his wife Miyu, 25, who are believed to have directed the attack.
Police are investigating the case as the work of an anonymous, fluid crime group known as ³Ù´Ç°ì³Ü°ù²â¨±. They believe the man instructed Takemae and his wife to carry out the attack.
Takemae, his wife and four 16-year-old boys suspected of carrying out the attack are accused of conspiring to break into Eiko Tomiyama¡¯s home on the morning of May 14 with the intent to rob it, as well as killing the 69-year-old.
Tomiyama¡¯s body had more than 20 stab wounds and other injuries. Her two sons, who rushed to the scene, were seriously injured, and the family dog was also killed.
An analysis of Takemae¡¯s seized smartphone and other devices showed he had been in contact with the suspected mastermind through an encrypted messaging app before the incident, according to the sources. Investigators also found that the man left Japan for China several days after the killing and might have later fled to Southeast Asia, according to TBS.
Takemae had been arrested on May 17 at Haneda Airport just before trying to board?a flight to Seoul. From there, he had allegedly planned to travel onward to Manila.
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