crime

Mother, son found dead in apparent murder-suicide in Chiba

27 Comments

Two bodies were found at a residence in Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture, in what police said looks like a murder-suicide.

According to police, the bodies are those of a woman in her 40s and her son who was in his teens, Fuji TV reported.

Police said the boy's father, who lives separately, got a phone call from the boy's school on Tuesday, inquiring why the boy didn't come to school. Tuesday was the first day of the school term. The father called police and said he had tried unsuccessfully to contact the boy's mother and asked the police to go to the residence with him.

When they arrived at the scene, they found the mother had hanged herself on the second floor of the house and the boy was lying face up on a futon.

As there were no signs of anyone breaking into the house nor any external injuries on the bodies, police believe that this was a case of murder-suicide. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of the boy's death.

© Japan Today

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27 Comments
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Again! Again and Again! When can I possibly open JT without these issues? :( :( :( I have started not to open JP as often I did before due to these unthinkable crimes within families, then here we go again!

Japan ohhhh Japan, The land of the RISING SUN! you don't really deserve your title.

How on earth people here are so reluctant in seeking self help? Troubled minds, please ask help, talk to your friends, trusted individuals...Don't kill yourself and even kill your loved ones!

Isn't it enough that Japan has been dobbed as an aging society making it more struggling! Goodness! Mothers out there who are persevering , please spare your children...they have way far to go a better place is not the grave for God sake! Be sensible! Get back to your senses!

Can't the government or any NGOs do something about this?

R.I.P little one.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

If anyone is undecided about whether there is a problem with child murder in Japan see this headline national news item in the UK. In japan, these incidents barely get a mention anymore.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-35998417

0 ( +0 / -0 )

hmm we don't know who and whose behind the crime, the mother or the boy? RIP

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Dear Japan Today,

Please, stop torturing us . We know there is a serious problem with child abuse and child murder in Japan. But it pains us to know that there seems to be no debate or action being taken by government or community group.

Can you please at least do a little investigative journalism and find out if there is any sign that this problem is being taken seriously or just being swept under the proverbial instead of just telling us people are Japanese people are killing children every day.

Thanks.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

It's the same situation with other Asian countries as well, try read our local news even horrendous than this...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Strangerland: "Really? 2014 was the 11th straight year in a row that crime dropped in Japan, and in 2013 murders dropped 8.8%. (I don't have newer numbers than this)."

You do understand what "this kind of crime" (or "these kinds of"), mean, right? Back then did you read about mothers killings their kids almost every day? Because you have taken that and chided the poster as though they were referring to crime in general, and not "this kind of crime". Of course, you could just read the related article on how cars of child abuse are up more than 60% since 2014, leading to the 14-year-old committing suicide, and other parents later murdering the kids, but that might be too much, I guess.

Be as "skeptical" as you like in attempting to back track, the fact is this kind of crime is on the rise.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Everyone is aware that it is taboo to let it be known that there is/are 'coping' problems.

Thank you "Fight!" mentality.

In this modern world, there are to many stressors. The cloak of stigmatism, needs to be lifted, so that the poor, hapless sufferers can get the care and support they desperately need.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Let's say that's true, I was speaking of trends - crime rates going down - and since the same group is taking the stats, and using the same methodology, the trend will be correct even if the absolute numbers are not.

Still, no one has ever shown any numbers to show other numbers, so I'm skeptical. Some people just want to believe Japan is worse than it is.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

Crime stats in Japan should be taken with a grain of salt. They are compiled by the police rather than an independent body. Those in charge of collecting and publishing the stats have a vested interest in making it appear that they are declining. It's naive to blindly trust these kinds of "findings".

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Yeah I think its getting worse, we will & are seeing more seniors killing their spouses & family members, while infanticide MAY decrease over time because less people are having kids, but we sure seem to be seeing lots of parents killing their kids, sadly too common.

During the bubble years, when Japan was the world's economic powerhouse, I used to read The Japan Times everyday. Mothers killing their kids, senior citizens killing each other etc. were very rare compared to these days.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Stranger,

Yeah I think its getting worse, we will & are seeing more seniors killing their spouses & family members, while infanticide MAY decrease over time because less people are having kids, but we sure seem to be seeing lots of parents killing their kids, sadly too common.

A lot of this stems from very severe issues wrt to having kids(just ask abe!) & getting old here, Japan is failing rather badly on both ends unfortunately, I don't like this am merely pointing it out

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Again? Dam . . . this is terrible. Too bad the boy couldn't have lived with his father. Then the mother would not have been able to easily murder her own son.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I think GW is just pointing out the fact that these kind of crime/news does not seem to decline.

No, re-read his comment. He's saying it's getting worse.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

I wonder what the Japanese government is doing about these suicides.

well, we know the answer to that now dont we..

Really? 2014 was the 11th straight year in a row that crime dropped in Japan, and in 2013 murders dropped 8.8%. (I don't have newer numbers than this). It sure seems that a lot of people on this site think the number of articles they read is a direct correlation to actual crime rates.

You're correct. Crime rate in Japan has indeed been declining. I think GW is just pointing out the fact that these kind of crime/news does not seem to decline.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

News like this is very common here that somehow, it won't be considered as "news" anymore.

Sad.

I wonder what the Japanese government is doing about these suicides.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Like I have been saying for years this kind of stuff hasn't anywhere near peaked, & its getting worse

Really? 2014 was the 11th straight year in a row that crime dropped in Japan, and in 2013 murders dropped 8.8%. (I don't have newer numbers than this).

It sure seems that a lot of people on this site think the number of articles they read is a direct correlation to actual crime rates.

-10 ( +3 / -13 )

Seems pretty irresponsible to only conduct an autopsy on the son. If there were ever a serial killer in Japan whose MO was to stage murder suicides he/she would never be found with this type of half-measure. How could they possibly determine the mother committed suicide without conducting an autopsy on her as well? Then again, it's more than obvious that police here are only interested in pursuing open and shut cases.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

My goodness gracious another mother-of-the-day! PLEASE let your child live give him a chance. He's probably even excited in the first day of school, wondering about new friends, what to wear... This is the very reason why Japan will have less and less children in the future.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Seems the father was separated or perhaps divorced, maybe didn't have a key...........yeah a bit weird

And SmithIJ its just two in the news, I bet there are many more cases that don't make it to print

Like I have been saying for years this kind of stuff hasn't anywhere near peaked, & its getting worse

0 ( +0 / -0 )

That's two so far this week! Mother of the day again! If you need to kill yourself, let others live!

0 ( +2 / -2 )

thanks Danny!

In any case, killing your kid before killing yourself (If it was indeed murder-suicide), even with the intention of "taking your son to a better place" is just unfathomable. The fact that a lot have done it does not help, as it makes itself a trend and gives ideas to other weak people/parents out there.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

lockke, yes. well said

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

On a side note, I have a feeling the father is aware of SOME issues involving the mother and/or the Kid.

If it was me and i received a call telling me my son didn't go to school, and I call my wife and she didn't respond, my first reaction would be irritated BUT not do anything. I'll probably think my wife is sleeping, busy etc. I'll contact them again during lunch and if still no answer, I'll probably contact my friends in order to have them take a look. I wouldnt even consider the police at any point unless i go home and they are not there.

The fact that he reached to police that quickly tells me he knows some depression/mental/issues with either his wife/kid. That would explain why he asked them to escort him to his house that soon.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

she in her mind, different religion than west, did not murder son. she took him to a better place. herself as well. this is japan. ask any local.

-10 ( +2 / -12 )

nor any external injuries on the bodies, police believe that this was a case of murder-suicide. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of the boy’s death.

What if the boy had died from an illness and the mother hanged herself out of despair ? Maybe we should wait for the results of the autopsy ?

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Another heartless "mother" murders her child. Don't give me that "she thought he'd be in a better place" cr@p either.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

C'mon...this trend is getting ridiculous! Why kill someone else just because you've given up on life. Stupid selfish people!

6 ( +8 / -2 )

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