crime

Elderly couple found dead in apparent murder-suicide

8 Comments

An 80-year-old man and his 77-year-old wife were found dead at their home in Atsugi, Kanagawa Prefecture, in an apparent murder-suicide, police said Monday.

According to police, Yuriko Nomaguchi, 77, is believed to have strangled to death her bedridden husband Motomu, 80, sometime on Sunday afternoon, and then killed herself, Sankei Shimbun reported.

Yuriko had told a male acquaintance on Saturday that she was worn out from looking after her husband and that she wanted to die. The acquaintance became concerned after hearing her remarks and when he couldn’t contact her on Sunday afternoon, he called 119.

Police went to the two-story house where they found Motomu lying in his bed on the first floor. They said he had been strangled by a cord. Upstairs, police found the body of Yuriko who had hanged herself. A note written by Yuriko was also found on the first floor dining table; however police have not revealed its contents.

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8 Comments
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I am sorry, I am 58, and very happily married. My wife and I spend every day together, because it comes natural to us and I see no problem for an adult couple, to decide at a certain time to leave the world together as they lived. MIND YOU,  I don't know what happened here. My wife and I have already discussed this , we see no use in continuing without the other just to pass more time alone remembering the other. In Japan, I can imagine this is not openly discussed but I can also imagine Japanese needing less words to come to the same conclusion.

I just want to say, it is not always sad, again, this case is probably different, for a loving couple to leave together, a time to say goodbye comes for all, and a dignified way out does not have to be wrong. 

If these people did this out of dispare , I am sorry, and society let them down, and their family.  But , I am quite sure, this husband would forgive his wife, having the chance.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

In another article a while back, I remember some people talking trash about a husband who killed his bedridden wife because he was worn out taking care of her.

Now we see it works both ways. Conclusion : the japanese welfare system doesn't do enough.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

This has been depicted overly dramatical, yet real in "Petero no Souretsu".

This will regretfully keep on happening until the whole immediate post-war generation does not die out. The notion of ending the suffering in a "dignified" way and leaving this mortal coil after a beloved one is deeply misguided. Until the New values are enforced/encouraged onto the growing (aging) society, such a way out will be seen preferable for many.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

They ran out of reasons to live, it's very sad... Taking care of an ill relative is way too much weight for a single person.... if it's even hard for a family I cannot imagine how hard must've been for a single person. I like Japanese society in a lot of ways, but the family life is something that needs heavy improvement...

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Another very sad story. Gut wrenching to spend your life to have it end this way.

I said in the last case we all read. Japan needs to be funding more yen into the local wards to assist elderly when they feel no hope to go on living. The lack of compassion for the elderly by the police and the government is appalling in this country. I love Japan. However I hate this the most above all. This needs to be addressed and fixed. If anyone in power is reading this. Get these poor souls some help who feel no reason to go on living. A panic button that can be installed in homes. An app. A dial system designed to dispatch specialist in the field. Good God! Help them please Japan.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

If the husband desired it, or they both came to an agreement that this is how it was going to end, I don’t see much wrong. May they both Rest In Peace. Die and let die, so to speak.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

My grandmother died of cancer at the age of 80. Her widower (my grandfather) grieved himself to death a year later because he lost his better half of 60 years. That's the way it should be. There's no excuse or justifying killing your mate, then yourself. IDK what anyone else says, this murder-suicide thing is just that and it's wrong.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Romeo and Juliet

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

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