Japanese boy found dead in Kyoto; Japanese media: Stepfather admits to abandoning the body
An 11-year-old boy from Nantan City, Kyoto, missing since late March, was found dead in a mountain forest. His 37-year-old stepfather has admitted to abandoning the body, and police plan to seek an arrest warrant.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 15, 2026 at 23:20
- 🔍 Collected: April 15, 2026 at 23:31 (10 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 05:28 (77h 56m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA Correspondent Tai Ya-chen, Tokyo, 15th) An 11-year-old boy died in Nantan City, Kyoto Prefecture. Japanese media reported that the Kyoto Prefectural Police will apply for an arrest warrant against the boy's 37-year-old stepfather on suspicion of abandoning a corpse. Police searched the boy's home this morning and questioned relatives; the stepfather has reportedly admitted to involvement in abandoning the body.
The 11-year-old boy, who attended Sonobe Elementary School in Nantan City, went missing on March 23rd, and his body was found in a mountain forest about 2 kilometers from the school on April 13th. Because the body and personal belongings were scattered across multiple locations, the circumstances were highly suspicious.
Kyoto Shimbun and Sankei Shimbun reported that the boy's stepfather initially told police and the school that he drove the boy near the school around 8 a.m. that day and left, but surrounding security cameras did not capture any relevant footage, nor were there any eyewitness accounts.
After the incident, police and fire departments launched a massive search for several days, mobilizing about 1,000 personnel to cover the mountainous area around the home and the entire Nantan City. On March 25th, the police released a photo of the boy and what he was wearing the day he went missing, urging the public to provide clues.
On March 29th, the boy's relatives found his yellow backpack in the mountains about 3 kilometers from the school; on April 12th, his shoes were found in the mountains between his home and school, as key clues gradually emerged. At 4:45 p.m. on April 13th, police found a body in the mountain forest of Sonobe-cho, Nantan City, which was confirmed to be the boy. The body was lying face up, exposed in the open, with no signs of being buried or intentionally concealed, and was not wearing shoes.
The results of a judicial autopsy showed that the cause of death is unknown, with the estimated time of death being late March. Police pointed out that since the body, backpack, and shoes were found in different locations, coupled with the abnormal conditions at the scene, it was judged that the boy might be involved in a crime, and the police launched an investigation into the abandonment of a corpse.
Police interrogated the boy's stepfather today. According to related sources, the man has admitted to being involved in abandoning the body, and the police will proceed to apply for an arrest warrant. (Editor: Hsieh I-hsuan) 1150415
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(CNA Correspondent Tai Ya-chen, Tokyo, 15th) An 11-year-old boy died in Nantan City, Kyoto Prefecture. Japanese media reported that the Kyoto Prefectural Police will apply for an arrest warrant against the boy's 37-year-old stepfather on suspicion of abandoning a corpse. Police searched the boy's home this morning and questioned relatives; the stepfather has reportedly admitted to involvement in abandoning the body.
The 11-year-old boy, who attended Sonobe Elementary School in Nantan City, went missing on March 23rd, and his body was found in a mountain forest about 2 kilometers from the school on April 13th. Because the body and personal belongings were scattered across multiple locations, the circumstances were highly suspicious.
Kyoto Shimbun and Sankei Shimbun reported that the boy's stepfather initially told police and the school that he drove the boy near the school around 8 a.m. that day and left, but surrounding security cameras did not capture any relevant footage, nor were there any eyewitness accounts.
After the incident, police and fire departments launched a massive search for several days, mobilizing about 1,000 personnel to cover the mountainous area around the home and the entire Nantan City. On March 25th, the police released a photo of the boy and what he was wearing the day he went missing, urging the public to provide clues.
On March 29th, the boy's relatives found his yellow backpack in the mountains about 3 kilometers from the school; on April 12th, his shoes were found in the mountains between his home and school, as key clues gradually emerged. At 4:45 p.m. on April 13th, police found a body in the mountain forest of Sonobe-cho, Nantan City, which was confirmed to be the boy. The body was lying face up, exposed in the open, with no signs of being buried or intentionally concealed, and was not wearing shoes.
The results of a judicial autopsy showed that the cause of death is unknown, with the estimated time of death being late March. Police pointed out that since the body, backpack, and shoes were found in different locations, coupled with the abnormal conditions at the scene, it was judged that the boy might be involved in a crime, and the police launched an investigation into the abandonment of a corpse.
Police interrogated the boy's stepfather today. According to related sources, the man has admitted to being involved in abandoning the body, and the police will proceed to apply for an arrest warrant. (Editor: Hsieh I-hsuan) 1150415
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The text, images and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.