Hokkaido police announced Thursday that a 21-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of murder and her accomplices used social media to extort a 17-year-old high school student from the city of Rumoi before knocking her off a bridge into pushed her. dead.
Authorities said Riko Uchida, along with a 16-year-old boy, threatened the victim, Runa Murayama, on April 18 using a social media app.
The trouble allegedly started when Murayama used Uchida’s photo on social media without her consent, leading to the extortion.
Police are investigating the sequence of events that led to the victim’s death.
Police say the suspects may have forced Murayama to transfer money or goods through electronic payment systems.
After extorting the victim, Uchida and the boy were joined by a 19-year-old woman and a 16-year-old girl. The four suspects allegedly locked Murayama in a car from April 18 to 19.
The group then moved to Kamui Bridge in Asahikawa City. Uchida and the 19-year-old woman allegedly pushed Murayama off the bridge, leading to her death.
While the four suspects had previously been arrested on charges of confinement, the two women were arrested on Wednesday on charges of murder. Those under the age of 20 are considered minors under the Youth Act and are not referred to as such.
The police will not say whether the suspects have admitted to the charges.
Murayama’s family reported her missing in late April after being unable to contact her. Following a search, her body was found in the lower Ishikari River in late May, with drowning identified as the cause of death.
The four suspects are acquaintances and the police are currently investigating their relationship with the victim.
Translated by The Japan Times
