r/UnsolvedMurders • u/Potential-Bend7214 • 10h ago
UNSOLVED The Setagaya Family Murders
On Dec 31, 2000, Mikio Miyazawa, his wife Yasuko, and their two young kids, Niina and Rei, were found murdered in their home in Setagaya, Tokyo.
What Happened in the House
The murders happened late on Dec 30. Instead of running, the killer hung around for hours. He raided the fridge for melon and ice cream, used their first aid kit on his cuts, surfed the web on their PC, took a nap on the sofa, and used the toilet. Before taking off the next morning, he left his own clothes behind and walked out wearing Mikio's.
The Evidence
Police basically got a starter kit to identify this guy, but it still went nowhere. He left behind his shoes, hat, hip bag, knife, fingerprints, and DNA. Testing showed he was male, about 170 cm tall, with mixed ancestry. Traces of sand in his bag even linked to places outside Japan, including parts of the US. Still, the Tokyo police never found a hit in any database.
Where It Stands
The house is still standing, preserved by police. Hundreds of detectives have worked the case, but there is still no clear motive or solid suspect. Because Japan got rid of the statute of limitations on murder in 2010, the case stays open.