Police sent a 40-year-old man to prosecutors on a murder charge Tuesday after three people were found dead with blunt trauma injuries in Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo.
Jun Saito is suspected of killing William Bishop Jr., a 69-year-old U.S. national, by hitting him with a blunt object and damaging his cervical cord on the premises of a residence in Hanno around 7 a.m. Sunday.
Bishop, his 68-year-old wife Izumi Morita, and their 32-year-old daughter were found dead outside the residence with multiple wounds on Sunday.
A security camera on the property has captured a man hitting a person, according to investigative sources.
Saito, who lives near to the scene, was previously arrested on suspicion of damaging a vehicle at the residence but ultimately not prosecuted.
The police received several emergency calls at around 7:15 a.m. on Sunday morning reporting that a man had been beaten, with officers finding the three upon reaching the scene at about 7:30 a.m.
A fire on the property was also put out after around an hour and a half. As kerosene was later detected from the scene, the police suspect Saito intentionally started the fire.
The police said officers initially visited Saito's home shortly after the incident took place, but received no response. Because there were no further reported sightings of Saito, the police believe he immediately went home after the incident and pretended not to be inside when officers called.
Saito also resisted investigators' attempts to open the door to his home on Sunday night after they had obtained an arrest warrant on suspicion of attempted murder, according to the police.
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