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Police investigating the murder of a 13-year-old Kawasaki boy whose naked body was found on the bank of the Tama River said Monday that clothing and shoes that had been burned in a nearby public toilet may have belonged to the victim.
The body of Ryota Uemura was found just after 6 a.m. last Friday. An autopsy revealed that the boy had been dead for about four hours before he was found. There were several knife wounds on this neck, face and arms.
The burned clothing and shoes were found in the toilet which is about 800 meters from where the body was found.
Police said they are analyzing street surveillance camera footage that shows Uemura pushing a bike and walking with two other boys about the same age as the victim toward the riverbank. Later on, footage shows only two boys returning.
In other developments, an official at the school that Uemura attended said that the boy had not been to school much since the new term began after the New Year holidays, TBS reported.
Police have begun questioning school officials about reports that Uemura was being bullied by other students. Some students said they had seen Uemura with bruising on his face last October.
© Japan Today
15 Comments
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Sensato
This story breaks my heart and infuriates me at the same time. RIP Ryota.
Apparently Ryota had been enduring incidents of bullying by upperclassmen since the summer. The bullying intensified and he was brutally beaten in January (pictures here http://breaking-news.jp/2015/02/23/017406).
Ryota moved to the Kawasaki area from Shimane Prefecture (Oki Islands) about 18 months ago.
It is heartbreaking to imagine the suffering he went through in the months leading up to his death.
sillygirl
Police only have to look at today's news to see if he was bullied.
Michael Grant
He was seen with three other older kids. Not two. Don't let a single one of those monsters get away!
Mirai Hayashi
Another school faculty who are out of touch with their kids
Tahoochi
Sensato: Thanks for the info. Absolutely agree. I hope they find the sub-humans who did this and I hope JT follows the story.
Tessa
He got in with a bad crowd, and wanted to escape. The violent bullying started after he was ordered to shoplift by his "friends" and refused to do so.
He was in fear of his life, according to another friend.
That bruising looks horrific. How can the adults in his life not have noticed that, at least?
HongoTAFEinmate
Been busy a couple of days so hadn't been taking any notice. That being said, however, NHK had this at the top of the 9 o'clock news last night. Listening to the report, I had to switch channels because it was so abhorrent. I just hope the cops get a result on this one rather quickly.
DaDude
Japanese news says though that he was quite popular at school. I thought the burned clothing news was said 3 days ago when the story broke.
UK9393
As for these 'things' parents...
Sorry I wasn't there to help Ryoa, believe us, the very vast majority would have stood up for you and hit back.
oikawa
It should be pretty easy to find out who did it. I wouldn't be surprised if the police already pretty much know. The problem is judging by the Kobe case they'll probably get a couple of years in juvenile holiday camp then given a false name, apartment, and move to Saitama.
Daniel Neagari
I think people here shouldn't jump in to conclusions, specially regarding the parents of this boy. There is not enough information about the parents, which I think is pretty strange... but it may because several reasons... One option I think it may probable is that the parents are living far away... any how blaming the parents at this point is not a wise thing to do.
Now the school authorities I think they screw up thing here... if the boy was not going to school for over a month then they should have take some actions in a very early stage...
As for the police... I think they have a pretty much solid case at the moment... probably they are just tighten up the knots and before not too much the murders will be presented (though probably they are underage and they won't be shown in public)...
NYtoday
Pictures of suspects (a group of troubled well-known local teenagers, senpais of the victim) have gone viral over the Internet.
Clearly locals and classmates had been aware of the victim's unfortunate situation but decided not to make a big deal out of it till he was murdered. They perhaps underestimated the possible outcome or were too scared to speak up. But now with police involved and media coverage, the people turned into keyboard warriors.
Japanese tendency to avoid trouble or "let’s-don’t-rock-the-boat principle," really upsets me. Bullying at school is often overlooked, ignored, and covered-up by very adults who should be actively involved to prevent it, showing the moral and right, civil attitude to kids. But that's not the case.
ShyDingo
I hate bullying. I also can't stand it when people know its happening but remain passive.
For this poor kid, he did not deserve this. I hope those involved get caught soon.
Brian Wheway
Joeintokyo, why should the teachers be sacked? does the government or local schools have an anti bullying policy ? if not, why not? why are you blaming them? has the child or his parents reported this? unless there is anti bullying policy in place and or if they don't know about these attacks, what can they do? but if they do have a anti bullying policy, well they seemed to have failed on this occasion, and they do need to get a grip and possibly disaplanery action should be taken. the other thing is that this attack took place out of school not in school, teachers can't be held responsible for other peoples actions after or out of school. this should be a matter for the police.