The remains of missing Kanazawa housewife Haruna Fukuda, 27, were discovered buried in the sand at a beach in Onebu, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Thursday. Around 50 police officers had been searching beaches for her belongings since Feb 17.
Fukuda had been missing since she left home in her car on Feb 6 after telling her parents that she was going to collect some money that was owed to her by a male acquaintance. After she failed to return home, she was reported missing. On Feb 21, it was reported that Ishikawa prefectural police had confiscated the car of a 35-year-old freelance cameraman, who was commissioned to work for public broadcaster NHK, on suspicion that he had been involved in the woman's disappearance.
Investigators examined the vehicle and found bloodstains on the passenger seat. A DNA test later confirmed that the blood was that of Fukuda.
Investigators have been questioning the man in hospital since he recovered from self-inflicted injuries sustained in a botched suicide attempt made on Feb 18. Police believe that Fukuda had been involved in a dispute with the man over several million yen she had entrusted to him as an investment. The man has so far denied having anything to do with Fukuda's death.
According to police, Fukuda's body was dressed in the same blue sweater and jeans she was wearing when she left her home on Feb 6. Although there were visible signs of external injuries, an autopsy has been ordered to establish the exact cause of death.
© Compiled from news reports
13 Comments
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smithinjapan
RIP. She definitely should have gone with someone to get the money, but I guess hindsight is always 20/20. I hope they nail the guy responsible.
jason6
Sad story.
techall
Around 50 police officers had been searching beaches for her belongings since Feb 17
Think how much sooner they would have found the body if they had actually been looking for HER.
tomatoflight
Ugh, that is awful. What a punk that guy is.
nath
Could it be more obvious that the cameraman killed her? I suppose the lady's blood was planted in the cameraman's car by either the tooth fairy or the OJ Simpson murder investigators?
Elbuda Mexicano
I work with many a Japanese cameraman, and yes, many of these guys come off as dodgy, fishy characters, so somehow I am not so surprised that this idiot cameraman killed a housewife. RIP dead housewife.
proudnippon
Could it be more obvious that the cameraman killed her? I suppose the lady's blood was planted in the cameraman's car by either the tooth fairy or the OJ Simpson murder investigators?
nath
proudnippon: My clients would disagree with you. Sure, one can dream up many reasons for why the lady's blood was found in the cameraman's car and for why he attempted to commit suicide around the same time. But really, let's apply a dose of logic and commonsense to the facts. If you do that, what is the overwhelming conclusion that you reach? No, I'm afraid the cameraman killed the lady and is lying about it. Plain and simple.
brookman
I think have been to this beach 2 years ago. :O This is horrible!
proudnippon
Oh, I think he did it but would like to believe in the little things like due process etc.. Look it up in one of your fine leather-bound editions. The OJ murder investigators? Co Come on man. Lawyers make a living from loopholes and exploiting reasonable doubt...some bloodsucker could get him off. String him up already?
Fadamor
Why was a housewife "entrusting several million yen as an investment" with a photographer and why did she decide to try and get it back?
imjdmyo
why would he deny it? The police have proof that the blood stains in his car where from her dna. quit being a little bitch and be accountable for your actions.
Monkeyz
smithinjapan--Of course, the other possible outcome to your suggestion is that two people might have died instead of just one.
If she went by herself, it's possible she felt she had no reason to worry. Of course, we have to rely on her killer to tell us what really went down ...