Japans Hinterkaifeck

The Setagaya Family murders happened on December 30, 2000 in Setagaya, Tokyo. The victims were Mikio Miyazawa, 44, who worked for a London based firm, his wife Yasuko, 41, who was a school teacher and their 2 children, Niina, 8 and Rei, 6.

In the past few months prior to their deaths, residents of their neighborhood started leaving after a skate park had been built there. They were last seen shopping in a mall a few hours before their murders.

In December 30, 2000, at around 11PM, an intruder entered the family's home by climbing a tree, entering an open window in the second floor bathroom then cutting the screen window using a sashimi knife (which he also used to harm the family). After entering, he entered Rei's room and started strangling him with his bare hands while Rei was asleep. Mikio, hearing the commotion upstairs, rushed to the second floor, and started a fight , injuring the killer in the process.

The killer unfortunately stabbed him in the head with a sashimi knife, causing the blade to break off inside Mikio's head, killing him. Mikio's body was found at the bottom of the stairs. Afterwards, the killer drew his attention to the females of the house, Yasuko and Niina, who were in the third floor bedroom. Their killings was more brutal than the other two as they were repeatedly slashed and stabbed even after their deaths. (Psychologists said that it is likely the killer have a problem with women)

After climbing into the third floor, the killer attacked them with the broken knife but after realizing it didn't finish the job, he goes back to the kitchen and got a Santoku knife, the girls was trying to tend to their wounds (their family first aid box was found near their remains. It was also speculated that they tried to pull up the ladder and hide in the attic bedroom). Eventually the killer got back up stairs to finish off the last 2 family members.

Instead of leaving the house immediately, the killer decided to make himself home, staying in the home for about 11 hours. He browsed through the family computer, attempting to purchase tickets for a movie through a website bookmarked by Mikio. He consumed barley tea, melon and ice cream from their fridge, treated his injuries with first aid kits and even defecated in their bathroom without flushing the toilet.

The family was discovered the following day by Yasuko's mother after she failed to answer the phone (the killer had cut the phone lines while staying in the home). While the investigation ensued, a lot of evidence was found. The feces he left were tested and suggested he had eaten string beans and sesame seeds the day before. Another evidence is that some of the killer's blood was left on the floor which was tested as type A.

The blood test also suggested he was of mixed race, with paternal DNA suggesting an East-Asian descent while maternal DNA suggesting a Southern European descent. He had left his clothes in the home and the sweater he wore was found to be only produced and sold 130 times, although the police only tracked down 12 buyers. The killer was believed to be 5'7" tall with a thin build and aged between 15 and 35. Lastly was the sashimi knife he left that was used to kill Mikio.

The fingerprints and DNA were scanned but none of them matched anyone from Tokyo police records therefore concluding that the killer had a clean record. Due to the possibility of the killer either being not being in Japan or not being Japanese, Tokyo police sought help from the International Criminal Police Organization.

-More info-

Sand from Edward's AFB and a stake park in Japan found in his pockets. Police identified the killers perfume and it is said that this brand is popularly used by skateboarders. Red fluorescent agent found on his clothing. Police seem to think this links him to set design in theatre. Might just be from a highlighter though. Clothes were washed in hard water, Japan had soft water. Probably a foreigner.

Geneolgically, his mom was southern European and his dad was east asian, probably Korean.

He did not type when he used the computer. Just used the mouse to go to saved links. Didnt know Japanese writing? The killer attempted to purchase tickets to the theater.

Power cord for the computer was missing. Perhaps he used it as a tourniquet?

The couch was disturbed, it appears the killer had lay down or even taken a nap.

he killed collected random trash from throughout the house and piled it in the tub. Weird but maybe he was bored.

Six hours after the discovery of the crime a man was treated for a knife wound at a train station about 80 miles north. Was wearing jeans and a down jacket. An old jacket was missing from the home.

Several people saw a suspicious man age 35-40 lurking around the train stations matching the description in the days before the attack. One woman almost hit this man with her car, he glared at her and thumped the hood.

Three men used a taxi, one of which left blood stains in the back seat near the house that morning. Possibly this guy shared a taxi?

His hankerchief had been ironed. Little unusual.

It is reported the killer stole the families New Years cards. In reality a junior officer took these cards as evidence and logged them incorrectly.

In the days before the murders the family has told friends a strange car had been parking in front of their home. But this killer seemingly took the train?

The day before the murders a man was seen at the local train station wearing an identical outfit to the items left at the home. The witness remembered the clothing because it wasn't winter clothing and the guy looked cold.

A few days before the murder a man in his late 40s was wandering around the house yard.

The last thing he ate before the murders was sesame spinach.

On the night of the murder a man matching the description was seen hurrying on a path toward the home at about 11:30 pm.

Paperboy noted the outside light was on when he delivered the paper at 6:30 am but off when he doubled back to leave the neighborhood.