AOMORI (TR) – Aomori Prefectural Police have launched a murder investigation following the discovery of a woman’s body inside her apartment in Aomori City, reports the Sankei Shimbun (Mar. 25).
At 1:30 a.m. on Friday, Makiko Takamura, 53, was found lying face-up on the floor of the living room of her residence in the Okidate area.
Takamura’s body had a stab wound to her left side. After being rushed to a nearby hospital, she was confirmed dead.
At the time of the discovery, the front door was not locked, and the interior of the residence had not been ransacked. Police have not yet found a weapon at the scene.
Takamura shares the residence with a man whose whereabouts are currently unknown. Police are now attempting to find him for questioning about the case.
A man connected to the landlord found Takamura’s body during an inspection after the fire alarm for the residence started ringing.
The man told the Asahi Shimbun (Mar. 25) that Takamura moved into the unit one week ago.
Update: Police have arrested Takamura’s boyfriend, Katsumi Kitagawa, on charges of murder, reports Fuji News Network (Mar. 26).