Elderly Woman Arrested After Hiding Daughter’s Body for 20 Years

A 75-year-old woman, Keiko Mori, has been arrested in Japan after she confessed to hiding her daughter’s body in a freezer for two decades. Mori turned herself in to the police on September 23, 2023, accompanied by a family member, following the recent death of her husband.

Investigators arrived at her residence in Ibaraki Prefecture, located in the northeast of Tokyo, where they discovered the remains of a woman, identified as Mori’s daughter, curled up in the freezer. The body was found in an advanced state of decomposition, wearing only a T-shirt and underwear.

Police reports indicate that Mori had been living alone since her husband’s passing just weeks before her confession. During her statement to the authorities, she admitted to keeping her daughter’s body in the freezer, which she purchased to manage the strong odor emanating from the remains. While she disclosed that the deceased was her daughter, born in 1975, Mori did not provide information regarding the cause of her daughter’s death or any potential involvement in it.

Investigation and Legal Proceedings

Following the discovery, the local police have initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the daughter’s death. An autopsy is planned to determine how she died. Mori has been arrested on suspicion of abandoning a body, a charge that underscores the severity of the situation.

Mori’s daughter was reportedly not her only child, although police did not disclose the number of children she had. This tragic case has raised questions about the circumstances that led to the prolonged concealment of her daughter’s remains.

The investigation continues as authorities work to uncover more details about this disturbing situation. Community members and acquaintances of Mori are expressing shock at the revelation, with many struggling to comprehend how such a scenario could unfold in their neighborhood.

As the police gather evidence and await autopsy results, the case highlights broader issues regarding mental health and support for the elderly in Japan, particularly following significant life events such as the death of a spouse.