Police in Tatsuno, Hyogo Prefecture, have launched a m#rder investigation after the bodies of a mother and her adult daughter were discovered inside their residence on Tuesday.
The victims, identified as 74-year-old Sumie Tanaka and her 52-year-old daughter Chihiro Tanaka, were both found with multiple stab wounds, according to TV Asahi. One woman was discovered near the interior entrance of the two-storey home, while the other was found in the hallway. Notably, no weapon was recovered at the scene.
Authorities were alerted at approximately 9:30 a.m. when an acquaintance of Chihiro contacted a nearby police box after failing to reach anyone at the residence. Officers who responded found the front door unlocked upon arrival.
An autopsy is expected to be conducted to establish how long the women had been dead before their discovery.
As part of the ongoing investigation, police are reviewing street surveillance camera footage from the surrounding area in an effort to identify anyone who may have visited the home in the days leading up to the discovery.
No arrests have been reported and the case remains under active investigation.