GUNMA (TR) – Gunma Prefectural Police launched a manhunt last week for a 30-year-old man who allegedly stabbed his ex-wife’s mother to death and injured her brother, just six days after officers warned him about domestic violence, reports NHK (Sep. 27).
On September 25, Yuka Tezuka, 52, was violently killed inside her residence in Ota City, Gunma Prefecture. According to police, she sustained more than a dozen stab and slash wounds, with some of the blade strikes penetrating her lungs. Her eldest son was also slashed and injured during the brutal attack.
Police have placed Riki Mihara, the ex-husband of Tezuka’s eldest daughter, on a wanted list on suspicion of attempted murder regarding the attack on the son. His whereabouts remain unknown.
The fatal attack occurred despite prior police intervention. According to investigative sources, the daughter consulted police on September 19 regarding domestic violence from Mihara. At the time, she warned officers of his threat: “My ex-husband told me he would kill my mother and brother, and then kill himself.”
This was not the first time she had sought help. The daughter had previously consulted police about her ex-husband’s abuse in June. On both occasions, officers only issued verbal warnings to Mihara, instructing him to stop the abuse. Police stated that the decision to limit their response to verbal guidance was based on the victim’s wishes.
However, just six days after the second verbal warning was issued, the deadly home invasion took place.
Gunma police are now desperately tracking Mihara’s movements leading up to the crime, while concurrently launching an internal review to determine whether their handling of the domestic violence reports was appropriate.
Persons with information on the case are advised to call the Ota Police Station at 0276-33-0110.
