(Update1) Victim in Headless Body Case in Sapporo Believed to be Stabbed While Defenseless

The Yomiuri Shimbun

16:17 JST, July 5, 2023 (updated at 16:33 JST)

SAPPORO – In an incident which a male body was found decapitated in a hotel room in Sapporo, the body does not have defensive wounds, investigative sources said Wednesday.

Since there were no signs of a struggle inside the room, the Hokkaido prefectural police are investigating the possibility that he did not defend himself while being stabbed.

The man was a 62-year-old company employee from Eniwa, Hokkaido, and the cause of death was hemorrhagic shock, according to the police.

A nearby security camera captured the man and a person dressed like a woman walking alone separately on Saturday night, according to the police. They then met up near a hotel, and at around 10:50 p.m. on Saturday, a security camera captured the two entering a room together.

One person was seen walking out of the hotel with a large suitcase at around 2 a.m. Sunday, three hours after the two entered it.

The police believe the person took the man’s head and are searching for the person.

Body With Head Severed Found at Sapporo Hotel