Japan couple who allegedly ordered 4 teens involved in murder of woman, 69, were unemployed & had financial problems

A couple in Japan was 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.

More details have come forth from Japanese media's questioning of those around the couple.

They were reportedly unemployed at the time of the crimes, with FNN noting they might have been going through financial issues.

The outlet also reported that Miyu was months behind on payments at her dance school.

The outlet also revealed that Kaito had dropped out of high school when he was younger.

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.

The two have maintained their innocence.

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.