HYOGO, Jun 01, 2026 (News On Japan) –
Every week has handed since police publicly named and sought the arrest of a suspect within the homicide of a mom and daughter in Tatsuno, Hyogo Prefecture, but his whereabouts stay unknown regardless of greater than 350 suggestions from the general public. Investigators proceed an intensive search of the world surrounding the crime scene as efforts to find the suspect intensify.
Multiple investigators have been seen looking out the world on June 1st.
“More than a week has passed since the public wanted notice was issued, but suspect Kenji Oyama has still not been found,” reporter Reika Takimoto mentioned from the scene. “Search operations are continuing around the crime scene today as well.”
The case includes the deaths of Sumie Tanaka, 74, and her daughter Chihiro, 52. Police issued a public needed discover for Kenji Oyama, 42, on suspicion of murdering Chihiro. More than per week has now handed because the announcement.
Although authorities have obtained over 350 items of knowledge from the general public, they’ve but to slender down the suspect’s actions.
Investigators have expanded their search to a spread of areas, together with vacant condo buildings close to the crime scene.
At round 11:36 a.m., investigators have been seen inspecting a residential complicated within the space.
“Most of these places are vacant houses now, including the house next door,” one native resident mentioned. “But I haven’t noticed any signs of someone staying there.”
Hyogo Prefectural Police have been conducting day by day searches of vacant properties and areas surrounding the bridge over the Ibo River, the place the suspect was final seen.
Search groups have additionally been combing by way of overgrown vegetation reaching knee peak in locations not often entered by the general public.
Investigators imagine Oyama could have remained hidden for a number of days in densely vegetated areas close to the crime scene.
A witness who reported seeing a person resembling the suspect described encountering him round 4 p.m. on May seventeenth.
“He was wandering around near a puddle, looking down as if he was searching for something,” the witness mentioned. “He kept looking at the ground. He was wearing a black tracksuit with two white stripes, had a towel around his neck, a cap on his head, and a white face mask. When I later saw the suspect’s photo, I thought it was definitely him.”
Over the weekend, investigators have been additionally seen utilizing ladders to rigorously examine gaps round bridge helps.
Footage obtained throughout the investigation suggests Oyama repeatedly modified garments whereas on the run.
Security digital camera footage captured him close to JR Harima-Shingu Station, the closest station to the crime scene, on May 14th. Additional footage recorded him close to the crime scene on May seventeenth.
Two separate movies taken on May nineteenth, roughly one hour earlier than police have been alerted to the murders, additionally captured the suspect. Another picture recorded the next day confirmed him beneath a bridge over a river.
Based on these photos and movies, investigators have confirmed that Oyama modified his clothes no less than 4 occasions whereas evading seize.
Police are persevering with to enchantment for info from the general public because the seek for the suspect enters its second week.