Police said Monday that the bodies of two sisters in their 40s were found in a Sapporo apartment on Friday. Police say one woman froze to death and the other died from hematoma. They added that there was no food in the house, no gas and no electricity, TV Asahi reported.
The apartment building's manager said he had not heard from the women since mid-month. The older of the sisters appeared to have been dead for between two and four weeks, according to police, while the younger – who froze to death – had been dead between five days and two weeks, TV Asahi reported.
The younger of the sisters apparently suffered from a mental disability. The two women lived alone in the apartment, according to the manager of the complex.
© Japan Today
18 Comments
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Pizzaface
What a sad story. Cold Japan strikes again, in more ways than one. Still, its better than hearing that a person murdered a neighbor for food and kerosene. There is no perfect world.
Utrack
Where is the rest of the family, home healthcare of the mentally disabled can't be left to one family member, RIP sisters.
Gurukun
So sad. Must have been a slow, painful way to go. RIP
Yubaru
It is very sad, local communities often patrol during summer to check on the elderly and sick, this needs to be extended to winter as well.
Coming from a cold weather location myself I have learned that someone who dies from freezing to death usually does so in their sleep.
Samantha Zoe Aso
That is just so sad. Seems like they only had each other. RIP.
Johannes Weber
At least it seems that one of them died in a peaceful way. Not that I'd wish anybody to freeze to death - but I can imagine much worse. Probably, these two death were an accident. Sad images are floating in my mind now... RIP
Samantha Ueno
apparently they asked the town hall for assistance 3 times and were given the paperwork routine.
nath
Sad story.
But City-Hall doesn't hand out " FREE Social Welfare" unless you fulfil the criteria for it. Would be interesting to know how far along the process of it being approved was.
I have known a few foreigners that got approved within 5 minutes and others that got rejected as they didn't meet the criteria. All did their paperwork.
Like they say the job isn't done till the paperwork is finished, same for across the globe.
Utrack
@ Samanatha
apparently they asked the town hall for assistance 3 times and were given the paperwork routine.
This is the saddest thing I ever heard, These women were basically turned away when they should have been giving emergency aid upfront and then monthly assistance.
Takuma7
So sad RIP!!! Also how do but die from a hematoma (bruise)?
Puller Lanigan
It's quite possible the one with the hematoma fell and hit her head. Possibly due to lack of food...possibly due to cold, worse she probably bled out internally (a la Natalie Richardson). Surviving sister may have thought she was dead or 'sleeping' depending on how mentally incapacitated she was. Dying of hunger and cold is not a kind way to die.
Fadamor
I have to wonder about that apartment manager, though. He says he hadn't "heard from the women since mid-month", yet the older one apparently died sometime around New Year's. That means he only talked to the one with mental issues and then just about the time she died. As the apartment manager, wouldn't he know if an apartment has heat and power? Something isn't right with this story.
supermonk7
Ouch.
Takuma7
Ok per mainichi news The younger sister, 40, had frozen to death sometime between five days to two weeks before they were discovered, while the elder sister, 42, had died from a brain hemorrhage, police said.
mitoguitarman
Very sad news. It is a sorry indictment of our society.
delrennich
very sad. even Japan's advanced social welfare system let these two slip through the cracks.
Elbuda Mexicano
No food?? No gas?? No electricity?? In freezing cold Hokkaido?? So sad! RIP 2 sisters.
nath
So the eldest died, possibly in her sleep and the younger didnt know what to do due to her disabilty. very sad story. My condolences to them.