Couple in their 60s found dead in apparent murder-suicide

Police in Sakai, Ibaraki Prefecture, said Saturday that a 62-year-old man and his 64-year-old wife have been found dead in their apartment in an apparent murder-suicide.

The bodies were found at around 4:15 p.m. on Friday by a friend of the wife who was concerned at not hearing from her for awhile, Fuji TV reported. She had dropped by on Christmas eve and saw a light on but no one answered the door.

On Friday, the wife's friend contacted the landlord. They entered the locked apartment using a master key and found the couple already dead.

Police said the wife was found lying on her back in the hallway while her husband was found in the living room where he apparently had hanged himself with an electric appliance cord. Police said a will was found nearby and believe the husband killed his wife and then himself.

Police said the couple had been dead for several days. There were no signs of external injury on the wife's body. Officers said an autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of her death.

© Japan Today