A Month On, the Motive Remains Murky in the Saitama Nursing Home Killing Case

Even a month after the incident, a mystery remains

“Around 6 a.m., the police sirens were blaring, so I looked outside. Several police cars and ambulances were stopped there, and I saw someone being carried out on a stretcher. I knew something serious had happened, but when I learned it was a murder case, I was truly shocked.” (Neighboring resident)

One month has passed since two female residents were killed at Wakaba Nursing Home, a paid elderly-care facility in Tsurugashima City, Saitama Prefecture. On the day of the incident, former employee Toya Kimura (22) was arrested on suspicion of murder, but many questions—especially about the motive—remain unanswered.

The incident occurred around 5 a.m. on October 15.

“Two elderly female residents were found bleeding from their heads, and both were later confirmed dead. One was found lying on her back in her bed on the 4th floor, the other similarly on the 5th floor.

The facility’s security cameras captured a suspicious figure wearing a mask and hood, walking around with a knife. Police began searching for this person, and at around 9 a.m. that same day, they located Kimura about 250 meters from the scene. That afternoon, he was arrested on suspicion of killing the 5th-floor resident, Ms. A (89), by slashing her with what appeared to be a bladed weapon.

Kimura admitted, ‘There is no mistake, I stabbed her with a knife and killed her,’ but has said nothing about his motive.” (National newspaper social affairs reporter)

On October 16, more than 50 reporters gathered at the Nishi-Iruma Police Station in Saitama. At 8 a.m., when the police van carrying Kimura appeared to transfer him to prosecutors, the press surrounded it. Kimura briefly looked toward them, then lowered his gaze, closed his eyes, and did not move.

Later, it was revealed that Ms. A’s cause of death was asphyxiation from strangulation. Kimura also reportedly stated that regarding the 4th-floor resident, Ms. B (89), he strangled her and stabbed her in the chest area with a knife, while also claiming he held no grudge against either woman.

“Kimura worked as a caregiver at the facility from May 2023 to July 2024. The staff entrance’s PIN code had not been changed since his employment, so it is believed he entered the building by entering the same four-digit code. Both victims had been residents since the time Kimura worked there, so it is possible they were acquainted in some way.” (same social affairs reporter)

He rode his bicycle about 20 km to the crime scene on the day of the murders

After graduating from a junior high school in the prefecture, Kimura went on to an agricultural high school, where he was a member of the track and field club. A classmate from junior high said they remembered his name but had no particular impression of him. The apartment where his family was believed to have lived at that time was already unoccupied by any family members.

A resident of the apartment in Kumagaya City where Kimura lived at the time of the incident said, “Around summer, his gas had been shut off, so I wondered if he could manage daily life,” but added, “Until this incident happened, I had no idea what kind of person lived there.”

However, one resident told reporters they had seen strange behavior from Kimura.

“Every time someone in the apartment building came home, he would open his curtains and peer out, as if checking who had arrived. You could see him through the curtains, and at times he appeared to be completely naked.”

Have any new facts emerged in the past month? A social affairs reporter explains:

“Kimura seemed to be extremely short of money. On the day of the murders, he rode his bicycle about 20 km from his home to the scene. He reportedly told investigators, ‘I used a bicycle because I didn’t even have train fare.’

Later, on November 5, Saitama Prefectural Police rearrested him on suspicion of theft and unlawful entry. Between October 12 and 14, he allegedly broke into a restaurant in Kumagaya City and stole about 20,000 yen from drawers near the register. Kimura admitted, ‘There is no mistake that I stole the money,’ and said it was to get living expenses.”

Kimura has now been arrested on suspicion of murder, theft, and unlawful entry. Investigators are expected to continue looking into whether he also murdered Ms. B and whether he had criminal responsibility at the time.

Based on his statements and autopsy results, both victims were strangled and then slashed with a blade, and police believe he had strong intent to kill. He was also carrying a knife purchased beforehand and stated, “I entered the facility with the purpose of killing,” making it clear the crime was premeditated.

Why did he brutally murder two women he claims he held no grudge against? The motive remains unknown, and it appears that uncovering the full truth will still take considerable time.