On Oct. 23, 2013 a couple in Tokyo’s Ota Ward, Hideaki and
Cheimi Tonuma were arrested on suspicion of abandoning their three babies soon
after their births in 2002, 2010 and 2011. The press reported that Cheimi was
formerly a bar hostess. The unemployed husband’s previous occupation was not
given.
The couple’s history of abandoning their children came to
light in March 2011 when a abandoned baby girl was found in a public park in Ota,
Japan. She was discovered and saved from death. Police conducted a DNA test on
the baby and were able to use the match the genetic information that of the
parents. After a two year effort the parents, Hideaki and Cheimi Tonuma, were
found.
When interrogated the Tonumas admitting to a series of
similar atrocious acts of child abuse. In 2003 the abandoned a the corpse of a
baby son in the Saitama Prefecture. The pair filed a missing person report,
presumably to protect themselves if they were found out. It is presumed the
child died but the body has never been found.
In the following year (2004) the only child that the couple
did not abandon in infancy, a 9-year-old son, was removed from parental custody
by the court due to child abuse.
In 2010 Chiemi gave birth to her first daughter. The baby
was abandoned and died of exposurre. DNA samples were preserved.
It was the surviving baby’s DNA and the two abandoned
daughters, one dead ande the other alive that led to the unnatural parents and
proovide the evidence needed to convict them.
On January 16, 2014, Hideaki, 32, unemployed and Cheimi,
pleased guilty to two homicide charges.
***
2002 – newborn boy murdered; disposed of his body in Saitama
Prefecture
2004 – 9-year-old son who was placed in a child welfare
center after being abused by his parents.
2010 – newborn murdered. The court heard that the pair also
abandoned another baby girl in 2010. The girl was found but the son’s body was
never found. Police said that DNA tests on the two baby girls led them to the
parents who remained elusive until their arrest.
Mar. 2011 – the couple were arrested for abandoning a baby
girl who was found alive in a public park in Ota.
Oct. 30 (?), 2013 – arrested for murders.
Jan. 16 (?), 2014 – trial begins. Both plead guilty.
***
Sources:
[“Trial begins for couple who
abandoned 3 newborn babies over 9-year period,” Japan Today, Jan. 16,
2014]
[“Couple confess to abandoning 3 newborn babies over
9-year period,” Nov. 5, 2013]
***
For more cases of this type, see Serial Baby-Killer Moms.
***
[372-1/16/21]
***
No comments:
Post a Comment