Japan - Miyazawa family of 4 murdered, Setagaya, Tokyo, 30 Dec 2000 #4

[Incoherent]

@FacelessPodcast re: the adaptation, I think it has already taken place. Satoru and Kohei Takaba were also in attendance.

Re: shoes being Korean made, exactly. The killer Yasufuku in the Takaba case also had Korean made shoes and it had nothing to do with anything in the end, she had just picked them up from a department store.

I don’t know why I was expecting it anyway but also no further information from the TMPD on the DNA supposedly revealing the age of the killer to be in his 30’s. That was suddenly announced out of nowhere and has faded into the distance with zero clarification.

 

[FacelessPodcast]

I don’t know why I was expecting it anyway but also no further information from the TMPD on the DNA supposedly revealing the age of the killer to be in his 30’s. That was suddenly announced out of nowhere and has faded into the distance with zero clarification.

RSMB: Interesting, isn't it? Another year, another "nameless source," another nothing burger.

Of course, it's possible the TMPD do have this fantastical genetic age prediction in their hands. But then, what would be the reason for saying nothing about it? They have shown us their 3D models. They have published TV listings from the night in question in a desperate hope it will spark some tangential memory. They have told us they have travelled to China on the possibility that the handkerchief was held a certain way in the manner of local fish factory workers. So on, and so on, and so on. Yet supposedly, they know the killer's age and they stay tight-lipped?

And this technology, of course, would have to have been deployed just after the making of FACELESS--around the time the TMPD revised their age range of the killer downwards, not up. That was reported by national news media directly quoting them.

 

[Incoherent]

RSMB: Interesting, isn't it? Another year, another "nameless source," another nothing burger.

Of course, it's possible the TMPD do have this fantastical genetic age prediction in their hands. But then, what would be the reason for saying nothing about it? They have shown us their 3D models. They have published TV listings from the night in question in a desperate hope it will spark some tangential memory. They have told us they have travelled to China on the possibility that the handkerchief was held a certain way in the manner of local fish factory workers. So on, and so on, and so on. Yet supposedly, they know the killer's age and they stay tight-lipped?

And this technology, of course, would have to have been deployed just after the making of FACELESS--around the time the TMPD revised their age range of the killer downwards, not up. That was reported by national news media directly quoting them.

To add, if they’re going to plead with the general public annually for information and ask people to think back to around that time, they may want to update that he was actually a man in his 30’s and not what the plethora of released information has been based on to date. Or else what do you have? Millions of people with entirely the wrong image of who he was looking in the wrong places.

IIRC it was just one news station that said they had an “informant” about it and that’s it. Nothing else has ever been said.

 

[Incoherent]

It seems someone has broken into the Miyazawa house.

A police officer in the area on December 13th found smashed glass on the floor from the window next to the entrance. Upon checking inside they also found muddy footprints around and the front door was unlocked from the inside. They’re currently checking to see if anything has been stolen from the house.

Link to Asahi news

Edit: not great quality but Asahi news also provide two images where you can see the window patched up from today.

 

[Eliver]

It seems someone has broken into the Miyazawa house.

A police officer in the area on December 13th found smashed glass on the floor from the window next to the entrance. Upon checking inside they also found muddy footprints around and the front door was unlocked from the inside. They’re currently checking to see if anything has been stolen from the house.

Link to Asahi news

Edit: not great quality but Asahi news also provide two images where you can see the window patched up from today.

View attachment 631271
View attachment 631272

Oof, this is huge, wonder if someone is trying to do an indipendent investigation or what.

I remember just a couple years ago some students entered the perimeter of the house but not the house proper.

 

[Incoherent]

Oof, this is huge, wonder if someone is trying to do an indipendent investigation or what.

I remember just a couple years ago some students entered the perimeter of the house but not the house proper.

Found on the 13th, the same day the leaflets were being given out at Seijo Gakuenmae station with a huge police presence in the area.

The house is also loaded with CCTV so I’m sure whoever it was will be found soon.

The updates will be interesting.

 

[FacelessPodcast]

It seems someone has broken into the Miyazawa house.

A police officer in the area on December 13th found smashed glass on the floor from the window next to the entrance. Upon checking inside they also found muddy footprints around and the front door was unlocked from the inside. They’re currently checking to see if anything has been stolen from the house.

Link to Asahi news

Edit: not great quality but Asahi news also provide two images where you can see the window patched up from today.

Thank you, @Incoherent for the update. Obviously, providing 24 hour security for the better part of 25 years is something that you could only really see in this case. So I don't blame the TMPD for taking away that officer from the door in recent years. But as @Eliver says, this is not the first intrusion.

We approached An Irie several times circa 2021, asking for access to the property to scan for some residual genetic material left behind by the killer (which is legal on the say-so of the property's owner under Japanese law). That request was rejected several times. Now it's clear that, even if the laws surrounding DNA in Japan change tomorrow, the window is likely closing as the forensic integrity of the house is no longer preserved.

 

[Incoherent]

Not only did they break in, they went to the second floor as well and moved things around.
Link

 

[Frankie Hellis]

Thank you, @Incoherent for the update. Obviously, providing 24 hour security for the better part of 25 years is something that you could only really see in this case. So I don't blame the TMPD for taking away that officer from the door in recent years. But as @Eliver says, this is not the first intrusion.

We approached An Irie several times circa 2021, asking for access to the property to scan for some residual genetic material left behind by the killer (which is legal on the say-so of the property's owner under Japanese law). That request was rejected several times. Now it's clear that, even if the laws surrounding DNA in Japan change tomorrow, the window is likely closing as the forensic integrity of the house is no longer preserved.

Well hopefully they have DNA from 2000, if it hasn’t degraded beyond use. The break-ins are a defense attorney’s dream though.

 

[FacelessPodcast]

Well hopefully they have DNA from 2000, if it hasn’t degraded beyond use. The break-ins are a defense attorney’s dream though.

Yes, the TMPD definitely do have it. But until new laws are enacted, it doesn't seem like they can go any further with it (unless we believe the 'unnamed sources' that periodically get bandied about). Assuming they do need to wait for new laws to be written, that could be years. My point was that, had the owner of the property agreed to it, it would've been perfectly legal for experts to comb the house for the killer's DNA and by now we would have all sorts of information about him.

Information that eludes the TMPD as things stand.

 

[SteveL]

Yes, the TMPD definitely do have it. But until new laws are enacted, it doesn't seem like they can go any further with it (unless we believe the 'unnamed sources' that periodically get bandied about). Assuming they do need to wait for new laws to be written, that could be years. My point was that, had the owner of the property agreed to it, it would've been perfectly legal for experts to comb the house for the killer's DNA and by now we would have all sorts of information about him.

Information that eludes the TMPD as things stand.

But, isn’t it true that “An Irie” can personally send any property (legally hers) in the house to an independent lab for DNA analysis?

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Is someone getting spooked with the new media attention? Not likely if they are not in the country right?

It puzzles me why An Irie would reject collection of residual genetic material... Is this to be true the laws/culture possibly? It's a shame as sounds like possible to solve (or maybe not 100% solve but get some traction with DNA on exactly where to follow it) if this was allowed, no?

 

[Eliver]

NHK「未解決事件」シリーズで「世田谷一家殺害事件」30日放送（シネマトゥデイ） - Yahoo!ニュース

NHKが社会に衝撃を与えた未解決事件を独自取材で追跡するプロジェクト「未解決事件」シリーズの30日放送・年末特別編（午後10時15分～11時14分）として、「File.09　世田谷一家殺害事件」が

news.yahoo.co.jp

A known series here on Japanese television roughly translated to "Unsolved Cases" will broadcast a special episode on December 30th.

The episode will focus on the Miyazawas and will also discuss the recently solved Nagoya Housewife Murder case.

Right now I am unsure if it's a rerun of an old episode, if it's new or if it's related to last year's documentary.

 

[Incoherent]

Is someone getting spooked with the new media attention? Not likely if they are not in the country right?

All speculation at the moment. Here’s hoping this would have caught them hopping the fence and running out of the front door:

There was a lengthy interview with Setsuko released this morning, but it is very heartbreaking to read. It’s long so I won’t translate it here but you can get the gist well enough with your translation apps/features. Interview with Setsuko

 

[Eliver]

世田谷一家殺害　浴室窓は「常に開放」と近隣住民証言　犯人も把握か | 毎日新聞

東京都世田谷区で2000年12月、会社員の宮沢みきおさん（当時44歳）一家4人が殺害された事件で、現場の宮沢さん宅の中2階にある浴室の窓について、近隣住民の一人が「換気のために常に開けっ放しだった」と証言していたことが捜査関係者への取材で判明した。警視庁捜査1課は、この窓が犯人の侵入経路とみており

mainichi.jp

The Mainichi Shinbun reports that a neighbor testified that the bathroom window which is considered to be the entry (and leaving) point was "always open for ventilation".

If this is true, it wouldn't have taken much for regular visitors of the park to notice as well I guess?

 

[Incoherent]

世田谷一家殺害　浴室窓は「常に開放」と近隣住民証言　犯人も把握か | 毎日新聞

東京都世田谷区で2000年12月、会社員の宮沢みきおさん（当時44歳）一家4人が殺害された事件で、現場の宮沢さん宅の中2階にある浴室の窓について、近隣住民の一人が「換気のために常に開けっ放しだった」と証言していたことが捜査関係者への取材で判明した。警視庁捜査1課は、この窓が犯人の侵入経路とみており

mainichi.jp

The Mainichi Shinbun reports that a neighbor testified that the bathroom window which is considered to be the entry (and leaving) point was "always open for ventilation".

If this is true, it wouldn't have taken much for regular visitors of the park to notice as well I guess?

Would definitely be easy for someone to notice a pattern, especially if it was left open in the daytime too. That leads me to lean more towards that it wasn’t just a random attack and he was watching.

If it were actually ajar and not just unlocked that night then I’d say it was likely that the bathroom door was closed to keep the cold air from flowing into the house, which could explain a bit more about how the noise of him entering was masked.

 

[Lalalacasbah]

世田谷一家殺害　浴室窓は「常に開放」と近隣住民証言　犯人も把握か | 毎日新聞

東京都世田谷区で2000年12月、会社員の宮沢みきおさん（当時44歳）一家4人が殺害された事件で、現場の宮沢さん宅の中2階にある浴室の窓について、近隣住民の一人が「換気のために常に開けっ放しだった」と証言していたことが捜査関係者への取材で判明した。警視庁捜査1課は、この窓が犯人の侵入経路とみており

mainichi.jp

The Mainichi Shinbun reports that a neighbor testified that the bathroom window which is considered to be the entry (and leaving) point was "always open for ventilation".

If this is true, it wouldn't have taken much for regular visitors of the park to notice as well I guess?

Since following this story I keep our upstairs windows closed including the bathroom, even during those hottest summer nights and use fans without the fresh air

I used to feel safe with bedrooms upstairs and LOVE fresh air but this story creeped me out too much. I also remember my father who worked in corrections in maximum security interviewing criminals said how there was a rapist who'd climb up balconies (IIRC he was labelled 'balcony rapist' or something here in Canada).

I also remember something a killer said (can't remember where on earth I heard it, likely a true crime doc lol) - if they see an open door or window they take that as an invitation.

If someone is watching and waiting and knows a house, they would get the confidence to do the act. So was that the case here, regulars in the neighborhood or park like you say?

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Would definitely be easy for someone to notice a pattern, especially if it was left open in the daytime too. That leads me to lean more towards that it wasn’t just a random attack and he was watching.

If it were actually ajar and not just unlocked that night then I’d say it was likely that the bathroom door was closed to keep the cold air from flowing into the house, which could explain a bit more about how the noise of him entering was masked.

Yeah, doesn't sound so random

 

[Bobban]

I always assume someone with bad intension is watching, not as bad of intentions as murder but a theif who is looking for opportunities because the smallest thing could be an opportunity to someone (especially during holiday times when robbers are scouting out neighborhoods.)

A childhood friend of mine down the street were robbed during summer vacation when her, her mom and a friend had a sleepover in the play house in their backyard. Somehow, a robber who was scouting the neighborhood had overheard them talking about how they were gonna keep the back door open if they needed to use the bathroom or got scared. In the early hours of the morning her father who slept in the house woke up to rattling sounds and went downstairs to check and found a random man going through their drawer. The robber scurried away with a few valuables but thankfully no one was hurt.

Its unsettling to know now after the fact that someone was behind the hedges in the yard listening in on what they spoke about and made their own plans around theirs.

So now during the holliday times, throw an extra eye on your neighbours house if they're traveling. If there is snow, walk up to their door to leave some prints or drive up their driveway to leave signs of activity

 

[Bobban]

+ Wanna add to my own story that my childhood friend's family always kept all doors locked at all times, even during the day despite it being a really good area. The one day they didn't it became an opportunity for a stranger who by extraordinary chance was within range to overhear and in business to act.