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Miyagi cops: Man dumped mother’s corpse over lack of money for funeral

Officers from the Sendai Chuo Police Station arrested Norio Sasakawa for abandoning the body of his mother
Officers from the Sendai Chuo Police Station arrested Norio Sasakawa for abandoning the body of his mother
TOKYO (TR) – Miyagi Prefectural Police have arrested a 67-year-old man in Tokyo for allegedly dumping the body of his mother in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture two years ago, reports NHK (Nov. 26).

Between late November and December 25 of 2013, Norio Sasakawa is alleged to have abandoned the body of his mother, Akiko Shiratori, 87, at a residence they shared inside a temporary housing facility in Aoba Ward.

Shiratori suffered from a cognitive impairment and was bedridden. The pair relied on her pension payments to cover living expenses.

Sasakawa admits to the allegations, telling offices from the Sendai Chuo Police Station that he did it because he did not have money for a funeral. He added that his mother died of natural causes.

Shiratori’s 91-year-old sister contacted police in December of 2013 after Sasakawa had refused to allow her access to her relative. Her corpse was later found lying face-up on a bed inside the residence. At the time of the discovery, the suspect’s whereabouts were unknown.

On Wednesday, police arrested Sasakawa in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward after using pension payment records to locate his whereabouts.