Mie police rearrest man over murder of partner found dead with daughter in Nara
Version 2: No substantive change in the news itself: additional national outlets, including NHK, confirmed the same rearrest and the details already reported, with no new facts or disputes.
In short
Mie prefectural police said on Oct. 7 they had rearrested a 37-year-old unemployed man on suspicion of murdering his 44-year-old partner, whose body was found with her 20-year-old daughter's in Nara City in July. Investigators allege he strangled her with a binding band at her home in Iga, Mie Prefecture, between the night of Feb. 9 and the early hours of Feb. 10. He had already been indicted for abandoning the two bodies; police have not disclosed whether he admits or denies the charge, and say they are also investigating the daughter's death.
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Mie prefectural police said on Oct. 7 that they had rearrested a 37-year-old unemployed man, Takahiro Imagita of Horencho, Nara City, on suspicion of murdering his 44-year-old partner, whose body was found with her 20-year-old daughter's in Nara City in July. The man had already been indicted for abandoning the two bodies, the reports said. Police did not disclose whether he admits or denies the charge, according to Yomiuri Shimbun, Mainichi Shimbun, Jiji Press and Asahi Shimbun. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]
The rearrest alleges that between the night of Feb. 9 and the early hours of Feb. 10 he strangled the woman, Ikeda Sonoe, at her home in Odacho, Iga City, Mie Prefecture, causing death by suffocation. Mainichi, Jiji and Asahi said the neck was constricted with a binding band; Asahi reported that the band was a commercially sold product the suspect had bought in advance. Mainichi described the location as the bedroom of her home and Jiji as her home in Iga. [ 3 , 5 , 6 , 12 , 13 ]
The two bodies were found in July in Nara City. Livedoor News and Mainichi said they were found on the bank of the Nabari River, which Mainichi placed at Tsukigase-dake; Asahi said a riverbed in Nara City and Yomiuri said mountains in Nara City. Mainichi and Asahi said the alleged abandonment took place around Feb. 10 to 12. The man was arrested in July on suspicion of abandoning the bodies and was indicted by the Tsu District Public Prosecutors Office in August, Mainichi reported. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]
Jiji Press and Asahi reported that police believe the man was also involved in the daughter's death and are investigating. Asahi said police believe the daughter, a university student, was in a room on the second floor of the house at the time the mother was killed. No document describes how or when the daughter died. [ 12 , 13 ]
Asahi reported, citing investigative sources, that the suspect worked at a nursing-care company, met the woman through work and had been in a relationship with her for about a year. The woman and her daughter were last seen with the suspect on Feb. 9, according to Livedoor News and Asahi; Asahi said he had taken leave from his workplace that day, and Livedoor News said the pair had not been seen since going out with him. [ 1 , 13 ]
Why it matters
The case has moved from a charge of abandoning the two bodies to an allegation that the mother was killed, meaning prosecutors now treat her death as a homicide and the suspect faces a far more serious charge. Police say they are also investigating whether he was involved in the daughter's death, so further charges remain possible. The documents give no wider significance beyond the case itself.
Key facts
- Mie prefectural police said they rearrested a 37-year-old unemployed man on suspicion of murdering a 44-year-old woman. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]
- The man had already been indicted for abandoning the bodies of the woman and her 20-year-old daughter. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]
- The bodies were found in Nara City in July 2026. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 13 , 14 ]
- The alleged killing took place at the woman's home in Iga, Mie Prefecture, between the night of Feb. 9 and the early hours of Feb. 10. [ 3 , 5 , 6 , 12 , 13 ]
- Mainichi, Jiji and Asahi reported that the woman's neck was constricted with a binding band. [ 5 , 12 , 13 ]
- Police have not disclosed whether the suspect admits or denies the charge. [ 3 , 5 , 12 , 13 ]
- Jiji and Asahi reported that police believe the man was also involved in the daughter's death and are investigating. [ 12 , 13 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Mie prefectural police rearrested a 37-year-old unemployed man on Oct. 7 on suspicion of murdering a 44-year-old woman with whom he was in a relationship. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]
- The man had already been indicted for abandoning the bodies of the woman and her 20-year-old daughter. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]
- The two bodies were found in Nara City in July. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 13 , 14 ]
- The alleged killing is said to have occurred between the night of Feb. 9 and the early hours of Feb. 10 at the woman's home in Iga, Mie Prefecture. [ 3 , 5 , 6 , 12 , 13 ]
- Police said they are not disclosing whether the suspect admits or denies the allegation. [ 3 , 5 , 12 , 13 ]
- Mainichi, Jiji and Asahi reported the woman's neck was constricted with a binding band, causing death by suffocation. [ 5 , 12 , 13 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the suspect admits or denies the murder allegation. Yomiuri, Mainichi, Jiji and Asahi all say police have not disclosed his admission or denial.
- The exact place where the two bodies were found. Yomiuri says mountains in Nara City; Mainichi places them on the left bank of the Nabari River at Tsukigase-dake in Nara City; Asahi and Livedoor News say a riverbank or riverbed in Nara City.
- Whether the suspect will also be charged over the daughter's death. Jiji and Asahi say police believe he was involved and are investigating; no charge has been announced.
- Details of how or when the daughter died. No document describes the cause or timing of her death.
- That the binding band was a commercially sold product the suspect bought in advance, that he worked at a nursing-care company and met the woman through work, and that the daughter was on the second floor when the mother was killed. These details come from Asahi Shimbun alone, attributed to investigative sources.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Ikeda Sonoe and her daughter Rion go out with the suspect and are last seen; Asahi reports the suspect had taken leave from work that day. [ 1 , 13 ]
- The woman is allegedly strangled to death at her home in Iga, Mie Prefecture. [ 3 , 5 , 6 , 12 , 13 ]
- The bodies of the mother and daughter are allegedly abandoned on the bank of the Nabari River in Nara City. [ 5 , 13 ]
- The bodies are found in Nara City and the man is arrested on suspicion of abandoning them. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 13 , 14 ]
- The Tsu District Public Prosecutors Office indicts him for abandonment of the bodies. [ 5 ]
- Livedoor News reports that a 37-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder in the case. [ 1 ]
- Yomiuri Shimbun reports the man was rearrested on suspicion of strangling the mother to death and that police have not disclosed his admission or denial. [ 3 ]
- Mainichi Shimbun reports the rearrest alleges the woman was strangled with a binding band at her home in Iga. [ 5 ]
- Sankei Shimbun reports the rearrest over the killing of the woman at her home in Iga. [ 6 ]
- Asahi Shimbun reports the binding band was a commercially sold product the suspect bought in advance, and that police believe the daughter was in the house at the time. [ 13 ]
- NHK reports the rearrest, attributing the charge to police. [ 14 ]