FUKUSHIMA (TR) – Fukuahima Prefectural Police have arrested a 63-year-old man over the alleged fatal strangulation of his elderly wife at their residence in Koriyama City, reports the Sankei Shimbun (Oct. 27).
At around 3:30 a.m. on Sunday, Fumiyuki Fukaya, of no known occupation, telephoned police. “I killed my wife,” he reportedly said.
Officers from the Koriyama Police Station arriving at the residence, located in the Shinmeicho area, found Fukaya’s wife, 88-year-old Hide, collapsed atop a bed.
Hide was later confirmed dead at a hospital, police said.
Upon his arrest on suspicion of attempted murder, Fukaya admitted to the allegations. “I was worn out from serving as [her] nurse,” the suspect was quoted by police. He added that he used an electrical cord to strangle Hide.
Fukaya and his wife shared the residence. Police believe that he carried out the crime about 15 minutes before he made the call.
In addition to using the results of an autopsy to determine the cause of death, police will investigate whether to change the charges against the suspect to murder.
