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Police fooled as 'body' turns out to be life-sized doll

Wednesday 03rd September, 06:58 AM JST

TOKYO —

Police were trying to determine Tuesday whether they were the victim of a hoax after a “body” they found wrapped at a seaside resort was actually a life-sized doll.
 
Investigators found what seemed like a body in a forest in Izu City, a seaside resort in central Japan, after an anonymous caller reported seeing it, a Shizuoka prefectural spokeswoman said on condition of anonymity, citing department policy.
 
Investigators felt it from outside but never actually looked inside, and brought it back to the city police station for a post-mortem examination, she said. Apparently no one doubted a human body was inside until a medical examiner unwrapped it and found a doll there, she said.
 
The Asahi newspaper said the doll was sophisticated and life-sized, and wore a brown wig, a blouse and a skirt. It appeared to have been wrapped or enclosed in a dark green sleeping bag.
 
The city was participating in nationwide earthquake drills Monday, but the doll was not part of a readiness drill, the spokeswoman said.

Copyright 2008/9 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Latest 15 of 30 Total Comments Show All

  • mikihouse at 10:58 AM JST - 3rd September

    I am glad the report did not say, police did an autopsy and after rigorous DNA testing, found out that the body was made of polysynthetic material. Police are still puzzled and looking for a clue

  • mikihouse at 10:59 AM JST - 3rd September

    this news should be in the entertainment section people

  • Alphaape at 11:15 AM JST - 3rd September

    Normally at the scene of a body, the forensics experts photograph all the surrounding area. Once they have all that they need, then the lead detective gives them the ok to move the body to at least do a preliminary inspection. I would imagine that in this case it would be to open the bag. You would not want to be carrying a bomb or some other device into your crime lab.

    I wonder how many police it took to bring the "dummy" in? Will the supervising police officer get promoted or fired?

  • KissMint at 11:59 AM JST - 3rd September

    Not wanting to contaminate a crime scene is one thing, but how about making sure the "body" actually was a body and not a person who was still alive?

  • KissMint at 12:01 PM JST - 3rd September

    How many police did it take to bring the "dummy" in ? Sounds like a good joke... someone want to provide the punchline?

  • borscht at 12:18 PM JST - 3rd September

    Mainichi stopped their WaiWai column because it reflected badly on Japan to the rest of the world. Is everyone aware that this story has hit all the news websites around the world. (Well, at least Yahoo and CNN)?

    Alphaape,

    Forensics experts? They have them in Japan, home of the confession?

  • mindovermatter at 01:20 PM JST - 3rd September

    Police fooled as 'body' turns out to be life-sized doll

    Later several of the Police officers were allowed to leave with the doll for a few minutes of "private time," alone with the doll.

  • thepro at 01:50 PM JST - 3rd September

    I heard that they only found out it was a doll because it didn't confess after being beaten for 3 weeks

  • bushlover at 03:37 PM JST - 3rd September

    I'm sure they only found out after thoroughly investigating and probing the orifices that it was a dummy. "Hey this feels just like my wife." "But you are not married." "I mean my ... imaginary wife...the dummy."

  • Taka313 at 09:35 PM JST - 3rd September

    Altria,

    To be honest, sometimes there's not a lot of difference.

    Hell Son, you just made ice tea come out of my nose ("Son" reference in homage of Jerry Reed's death. RIP Snowman)!

    That one's going to be tough to top.

    Taka

  • Taka313 at 09:36 PM JST - 3rd September

    Based on the look of her face, initial reports believe she died of shock.

    (my best effort....Son).

    Taka

  • DenshaDeGO at 11:37 AM JST - 4th September

    Maybe the owner realized it wouldn't fit in a 燃えないゴミ bag

  • cwhite at 11:42 PM JST - 4th September

    I wonder if they checked the doll for bodily fluids?

  • kjunluc2 at 12:24 PM JST - 9th September

    I was just about to ask if they did a rape kit. cwhite beat me to it.

  • toolongheremaybe at 05:12 PM JST - 9th September

    Is this really a true story?

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