Japan couple believed to have ordered 4 teens, aged 16, to attack woman, 69, who was stabbed to death

A couple in Japan has been arrested, along with four 16-year-old boys, for their involvement in a robbery-murder in Tochigi Prefecture.

A 69-year-old woman was found stabbed to death on May 14, with her two sons also injured.

The couple, Kaito Takemae, 28, and his wife, Miyu Takemae, 25, are believed to have lent a white luxury sedan to the four teens, who used it to travel to the crime scene, The Japan Times reported.

The boys are believed to have met each other for the first time that day.

Police believed that the six suspects may have been acting on instructions of a crime group whose members are often loosely connected through social media, The Asahi Shimbun reported.

Victim stabbed to death

The victim was found with at least 20 stab wounds on her body.

Her two sons, in their thirties and forties, reportedly suffered broken bones and other injuries.

After carrying out the attack, two of the boys reportedly fled the crime scene in the car.

Another was arrested 30 minutes after the attack near the crime scene.

Couple arrested

Statements from the boys reportedly led investigators to the Takemae couple.

One of the teens apparently told investigators that the couple had ordered them to carry out the attack.

Kaito was arrested at the departure gate of the international terminal at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport during an attempt to flee the country.

Meanwhile, Miyu was found at a hotel in Kanagawa with their seven-month-old daughter.

Connection to other cases

Authorities believed this latest incident may be linked to a string of crimes in the Tokyo area.

A theft occurred at the victim's second son's house in early April, according to The Asahi Shimbun.

An item revealing the victim’s address was stolen in that case.

A suspicious vehicle seen near the victim’s home on May 6 closely matched one spotted near an attempted theft at a liquor store in Tokyo’s Shinjuku ward in mid-March, it was reported.

The same liquor store was also targeted in a separate attempted robbery in early April.