Man arrested over murder of woman in Aichi in 2011

Police in Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, said Monday they have arrested a 52-year-old man on suspicion of robbing and killing a 53-year-old woman in her apartment in November 2011.

According to police, the suspect, Hidetoshi Taku, who works as a truck driver, has admitted to killing Ikue Fukuyama, whom he had met in 2009 on an online dating site, Fuji TV reported.

The body of Fukuyama was discovered by a male acquaintance who went to visit her and found the door unlocked on the afternoon of Nov 28, 2011. According to police, she was found naked, lying on the bed face up, and with both of her arms bound by adhesive tape. Police said she was strangled to death.

Fukuyama was last seen alive on the night of Nov 26 at the restaurant where she had been working until 11 p.m.

Taku, who lives in Ogori, Fukuoka Prefecture, is accused of strangling Fukuyama and then stealing cash, a TV set, her cell phone and other valuables from the apartment. He has admitted to the murder, police said.

Police said Taku's name surfaced as a suspect after they widened their investigation to include the victim's friends and acquaintances whom she may have met online. More than 500 people were investigated, police said.

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