Woman Arrested in 1999 Cold Case Murder in Nagoya
Nagoya, October 31 (Jiji Press) – A 69-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with the 1999 murder of a 32-year-old woman in Nagoya’s Nishi Ward, Aichi Prefecture. kumiko Yasufuku, a part-time worker, surrendered to police on Thursday adn was formally arrested Friday evening.
The arrest follows a DNA match between Yasufuku and blood evidence recovered from the scene of the crime. Yasufuku reportedly confessed to the allegations, stating, “That’s correct.”
Namiko Takaba was found dead in her second-floor apartment on November 13, 1999, having suffered multiple stab wounds to the neck and body. She died as a result of blood loss.Investigators believe the attack occurred around noon, with the victim discovered by her apartment’s owner at approximately 2:00 PM, who then contacted emergency services.
Evidence suggests Takaba attempted to defend herself,sustaining injuries to her hands. The apartment showed signs of a violent struggle, with meaningful bloodstains found in both the living room and bathroom. Takaba’s two-year-old son was present at the scene and was unharmed.
Witnesses reported seeing a woman, estimated to be in her 40s or 50s and with an injured hand, near the apartment building around the time of the murder. Blood found at the scene was persistent to be Type B, differing from Takaba’s blood type.
The Aichi Prefectural police released composite sketches based on eyewitness accounts in 2015 and 2020, hoping to generate leads. The investigation involved interviews with over 5,000 individuals and the deployment of more than 100,000 officers over the years.
The case gained further attention due to the efforts of Takaba’s husband, Satoru, 69, who advocated for the removal of statutes of limitations on murder and other serious crimes – a change enacted in 2010. in 2020, the National Police Agency offered a reward of up to 3 million yen for details leading to an arrest.
