Woman, former common-law husband arrested over death of 21-month-old son

Kanagawa prefectural police said Saturday they have arrested an unemployed 26-year-old woman and her 29-year-old former common-law husband on suspicion of fatally abusing her 21-month-old son at their apartment in Sagamihara last September.

According to police, Yuki Fukura, who currently lives in Yokohama’s Midori Ward, and her then common-law husband, Masashi Ota, currently of no fixed address, suffocated her son Hayato on Sept 22 last year, Fuji TV reported. At around 1 p.m. that day, Fukura called 119 and said her son had lost consciousness. At the hospital, she told doctors Hayato had been sleeping with her but did not wake up.

On Sept 26, the hospital notified Sagamihara police that the boy might have been the victim of abuse. Hayato died without regaining consciousness on Oct 1.

Police said Fukura has admitted to the charge, while Ota has denied abusing the child.

Prior to Hayato's death, Fukura had gone to a child welfare office on a few occasions to seek advice, saying she could not raise a child. A counselor visited her apartment but saw no signs that Hayato had been physically abused.

Meanwhile, local media quoted a neighbor as saying that after Fukura and her son moved into the apartment in June 2016, he would often hear the child crying.

After Hayato died, Fukura moved out of the apartment and went to Yokohama.

© Japan Today