Police in Aichi arrest 58-year-old man after decayed body found in Okazaki apartment
In short
Aichi prefectural police arrested a 58-year-old man on suspicion of abandoning a body after a decayed corpse was found in an apartment in Hashime-cho, Okazaki, on October 4. The discovery followed a 119 call at about 10:00 from a man living in the unit, who said his father was not moving. Police believe the body is that of his 86-year-old father and are working to confirm the identity and establish how he died.
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Police in Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture, arrested a 58-year-old man on suspicion of abandoning a body after a decayed corpse was found in an apartment in the city, the Sankei Shimbun reported. The Okazaki police station named the suspect as Seiji Ogawa, 58, unemployed and a resident of Hashime-cho in Okazaki. [ 3 ]
The body was found at a residential building in Hashime-cho after a man living in the unit called 119 at about 10:00 on October 4, saying that his father was not moving at all and was probably dead, according to police and firefighters, as reported by Livedoor News and TBS NEWS DIG. Firefighters who arrived confirmed the death at the scene, Livedoor News reported. [ 1 , 2 ]
The body was lying on a sofa in the living room and was in an advanced state of decomposition, according to Livedoor News and the Sankei Shimbun. [ 1 , 3 ]
The Sankei Shimbun reported that the suspect is alleged to have left the body in his home between early September and October 4. Police believe the body is that of his 86-year-old father, with whom he lived, and are working to confirm the identity and to establish how the death occurred, the paper said. [ 3 ]
Earlier on October 4, Livedoor News reported that police were questioning the man who lived in the unit and were investigating whether there was any criminal element, and that they were working to identify the body. Those earlier accounts did not name a suspect or say that a crime had been established. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The case is a local police matter in Aichi Prefecture, and the documents give no indication of wider consequences beyond the ongoing investigation. The main open question for readers is the identity of the dead man and the circumstances of his death, both of which police say are still being examined.
Key facts
- A decayed body was found in a residential building in Hashime-cho, Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture, on October 4. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- A man living in the unit called 119 at around 10:00 on October 4, saying his father was not moving at all and was probably dead. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Firefighters who arrived at the scene confirmed the death. [ 1 ]
- The body was found lying on a sofa in the living room and was in an advanced state of decay. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Aichi prefectural police's Okazaki station arrested Seiji Ogawa, 58, unemployed and a resident of Hashime-cho, Okazaki, on suspicion of abandoning a body. [ 3 ]
- Police allege the body was left in the home between early September and October 4. [ 3 ]
- Police believe the body is that of the suspect's 86-year-old father, who lived with him, and are working to confirm the identity and the circumstances of the death. [ 3 ]
- Police said they were investigating whether there was any criminal element and were working to identify the body. [ 1 , 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether the dead man is the suspect's 86-year-old father. Only the Sankei Shimbun report gives the age and the presumed relationship, and it states that police are still confirming the identity.
- The cause and circumstances of the death. No document states a cause of death; the Sankei Shimbun reports that police are investigating how the man died.
- Whether any offence beyond the alleged abandonment of the body is involved. The earlier reports say only that police were investigating whether there was a criminal element, without stating a conclusion.
- The body was found on a sofa and was in an advanced state of decomposition. Reported by a single source so far
- A man living in the unit called 119 at around 10:00 on October 4 and said his father was not moving. Reported by a single source so far
- Police said they were examining whether there was any criminal element and were working to identify the body. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- A man living in the unit in Hashime-cho, Okazaki, calls 119, saying his father is not moving at all and is probably dead; firefighters arriving at the scene confirm the death. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Livedoor News reports that a decayed body was found and that police are investigating whether there was any criminal element. [ 1 ]
- TBS NEWS DIG reports the discovery of the body and the 119 call. [ 2 ]
- The Sankei Shimbun reports that police arrested a 58-year-old man on suspicion of abandoning a body. [ 3 ]