Corpse of Miyazaki woman carved into pieces, 3 arrested

MIYAZAKI (TR) – Miyazaki Prefectural Police on Wednesday made three arrests following the discovery of a dismembered corpse, reports Fuji News Network (Oct. 3).

On the evening of October 2, investigators found the body of Yumi Sawaki, 27, inside the one-room residence of Masami Abe, 22, in Miyazaki City. The victim’s corpse had been cut into pieces and stuffed inside several plastic garment bags placed in the closet.

Officers subsequently arrested Abe, Ryuji Higashi, 28, and Mana Kanemaru, 23, on charges of abandoning a corpse.

The three suspects, all acquaintances of the victim, have reportedly admitted to the allegations. “The three of us concealed the body by cutting it up,” Abe is quoted by police.

On September 30, the mother of Sawaki called police to report her daughter as missing. A search of the residence that the victim shared with Kanemaru revealed a large number of blood-stained clothes.

According to Nippon News Network, Higashi and Kanemaru told investigators that the victim suffered a head injury during a dispute. They denied having committed murder.

After speaking with Kanemaru and Higashi, investigators were lead to the residence of Abe.

Investigators are now working on applying murder charges to the suspects.