Ichihashi apprehended

Believe it or not, Ichihashi was caught in Osaka after someone at a ferry station called in with information on his whereabouts.

Ichihashi apprehended

Ichihashi worked for a construction company

Tatsuya Ichihashi, the suspected killer of Lindsay Ann Hawker, spent much of the last year working for a construction company in Osaka prefecture where he had a room in the outfit's dorm.

He was apparently able to fly below the radar due to alterations to his appearance that may have included plastic surgery. He is said to have often worn hats and glasses to help mask his appearance.

The Japanese nightly news is currently doing a roundup of his recent whereabouts and possible connections.

Having failed miserably at figuring out how Ichihashi could survive on the lam for so long, hopefully the police use the recent lessons learned to reassess cold cases involving other dangerous individuals that they lost track of long ago.

Ichihashi worked for a construction company

Newly released photo of Ichihashi looks nothing like him

Or that's what it sounded like when I read this in the Mainichi today:

According to investigators, the picture was taken prior to the cosmetic surgery. The man had a beard and mustache in the picture, but police intentionally erased the features in the released picture to avoid confusion.

So it would appear that the police have provided the public with a photo that won't really help the people who have seen him recently understand that they have actually glimpsed the fugitive himself, Tatsuya Ichihashi. Why? Because when they saw him he had a mustache and beard in addition to all of the cosmetic surgery that the media is currently talking about.

And it won't really help the rest of us either. If he's still sporting facial hair, then how does that doctored photo assist in his apprehension?

Or did the police hold off on releasing the photo long enough so that Ichihashi would have plenty of time to shave...?

Well, either way, I think it would be helpful if police released the original, untouched photo as well.

Newly released photo of Ichihashi looks nothing like him

Hawker's killer had plastic surgery in Nagoya?

The Mainichi reported that Lindsay Ann Hawker's accused murderer is suspected of having had plastic surgery at a clinic in Nagoya late last month.

Tatsuya Ichihashi has been on the run ever since he managed to elude a football team's worth of police officers that cornered him at the scene of the crime (his apartment) back in March 2007.

Police apparently headed to Nagoya soon after they received the news that someone resembling Ichihashi underwent a cosmetic procedure. There is no word yet on what type of appearance-altering procedure he had done.

Update (11/5/09; 11:30 AM):

The TV news is finally running with this story, and Ichihashi's face is once again all over the place. It is pretty remarkable, however, that he was able to waltz all over the country visiting different clinics and not sounding any alarms. The Japan Times carried this more detailed story today.

Update (11/6/09; 10:55 AM):

The Japan Times posted the before and after photo of Ichihashi (above right) that police obtained from a clinic in Nagoya. It appears as though the fugitive has been hard at work remolding his facial features.

Hawker's killer had plastic surgery in Nagoya?

Hawker Family Visits Tokyo

Lindsay Ann Hawker, who was murdered a year ago by a suspect who still remains at large, has a family that refuses to rest until the murderer is found.

Lindsay's family helped the Chiba Prefectural Police pass out flyers with Tatsuya Ichihashi's photo printed on them while asking passers-by for help and information that might lead to his arrest.

Lindsay Hawker's parents, William and Julia, and sisters, Louise and Lisa, return to the UK today.

Hawker Family Visits Tokyo

Police Issue Poster of Disguised Hawker Murder Suspect

The Chiba Prefectural Police have come up with some hypothetical images of what Tatsuya Ichihashi might look like if he were to venture out in public in disguise.

This still taken from a news program last night shows what Ichihashi might look like if he were to grow his hair long and dress like a woman, and the picture on the right is just the murder suspect with dyed hair and glasses.

Perhaps they should have included one of him in a surgical mask. Half of Tokyo is walking around with them on these days due to the kickoff of hay fever season, so he would have no problem blending in.

It was reported by Kyodo (click here) that the Chiba police force have printed 4,000 posters and at least 30,000 fliers featuring the disguised Tatsuya Ichihashi to be distributed around Japan.

Police Issue Poster of Disguised Hawker Murder Suspect

Lindsay Ann Hawker's Alleged Murderer Tatsuya Ichihashi

The Chiba Prefectural Police have posted this enlarged picture of Lindsay Ann Hawker murder suspect Tatsuya Ichihashi. It shows two birthmarks on the left side of his face.

Seeing as how it's now "hay fever" season, Ichihashi could easily cover his birthmarks by wearing a surgical mask like everyone else (or use some concealer), so maybe this isn't incredibly helpful information.

There is still no new (reported) information on Ichihashi's whereabouts as we near the one year anniversary of Hawker's death.

Lindsay Ann Hawker's Alleged Murderer Tatsuya Ichihashi

Lindsay Ann Hawker Update

Some of Lindsay's friends were picked up by the media campaigning in Harajuku on Sunday. They were pictured wearing Tatsuya Ichihashi (the only suspect in the case) t-shirts and handing out flyers asking for information about Ichihashi's whereabouts.

The Japan Times ran an article on it today, and the nightly news did a quick recap of what went on. They also displayed some doctored images that showed what Ichihashi might look like in disguise (e.g. with a mustache, wearing sunglasses, long hair, etc.).

Lindsay Ann Hawker Update

Interview with Lindsay Hawker's Sister, Lisa

The facts remain the same. I don't know how many times I've posted about this, but the police still have no idea where Tatsuya Ichihashi is.

Lindsay's sister, Lisa Hawker, provides a window to how her family is coping with the loss, and how they are haunted by the fact that Ichihashi is still roaming free.

Click here for other posts related to this topic.

Update: [September 27, 2007]

Julia and Bill Hawker, Lindsay Hawker's parents, are now in Japan to mark the six-month-anniversary of Lindsay's death.

They have expressed frustration that the police aren't keeping them thoroughly updated on their search for the only suspect in the case, Tatsuya Ichihashi.

Interview with Lindsay Hawker's Sister, Lisa

Lindsay Ann Hawker's Brutal Death

I don't know why it took so long for the Hawker's to gain access to the autopsy report, but it sounds like we have a serial killer on the loose.

Tatsuya Ichihashi, the only suspect in the case, must be caught before he strikes again.

Lindsay Ann Hawker's Brutal Death

Wanted Poster: Tatsuya Ichihashi

This is the wanted sign for Tatsuya Ichihashi that I saw posted in Shinjuku-Sanchome subway station last week.

It's posted on the wall right outside the gates.

For more information about Tatsuya Ichihashi, and why he is the only suspect in the murder of Lindsay Ann Hawker, read this post and follow the links.

Wanted Poster: Tatsuya Ichihashi

Lindsay Ann Hawker Update

The Hawker family was able to get the Japanese media (Japan Times) to run another article related to their frustration with the investigation into their daughter's murder.

The case has gone cold and Mr. and Mrs. Hawker are upset that communication with the Japanese authorities has been so vague and inconsistent.

Mrs. Hawker is quoted as having said, "Although we understand that there are some aspects of the case the police need to keep confidential, we don't feel that the standard of the investigation is the same as in the United Kingdom."

Sadly, Mrs. Hawker is completely accurate in her assessment of what is taking place in Tokyo and Chiba. There are allegedly 100 officers assigned to finding the prime suspect, Tatsuya Ichihashi, but very few of them have any real training or experience in investigating anything other than stolen bicycles.

Mr. Hawker cited the urgency of the hunt for Ichihashi when he said that "...we are concerned that he could strike again and leave another family facing a life sentence like we are." This very point has been argued before on several websites, including this one and Trans-Pacific Radio, as several key details of the murder bear a close resemblance to those of a sexual predator who is likely to strike again.

A website has been set up to facilitate global awareness of this case and to educate people that Ichihashi could be anywhere in the world right now.

For additional posts on this subject, click here.

To buy a t-shirt that will help in publicizing this case, click here.

Lindsay Ann Hawker Update

Lindsay Ann Hawker's Death: Police Mistakes and Suspect Escapes

Update 11: [Friday April 6th] Not much in the print news yesterday (Thursday April 5th), but there were a couple of articles this morning. Police are now saying that prime murder suspect, Tatsuya Ichihashi, may have fled from the area near Gyotoku station by bicycle [Mainichi]. It was earlier thought that he had taken off in a taxi.

The face masks that are routinely donned during hay fever season, and the umbrellas on rainy days, are probably making it possible for Ichihashi to move around quite easily right now. It is not suspected that he is still in the area near the apartment. Most educated guesses put him in Tokyo. In other words, he will not be found unless he makes a very big mistake (i.e. needle in a haystack).

The Japan Times ran an interesting article this morning in which they interviewed the head of the Gyotoku police station (which has jurisdiction in this case), and a couple of retired detectives. Echoing the criticisms logged on this site in Update: 9, they agreed that the police regarded Tatsuya Ichihashi as a major person of interest when they went to his apartment building. Therefore, police statements that they had no idea they would find a dead body in the apartment, or that this wasn't anything more than a routine missing persons case, don't really sound convincing.

Akio Kuroki, a retired Tokyo police detective, said, "There is absolutely no way that nine well-placed (officers) would fail to catch one guy. There are huge contradictions in the police explanation."

Police continue to be protective of the minute details of the case. Exactly what transpired between police and Tatsuya Ichihashi after he answered the door, exactly how Lindsay Ann Hawker was murdered, and whether or not she was sexually assaulted are conspicuous omissions from the information that police are releasing to the public. A London website (thisislondon.co.uk) reported two days ago that Hawker's neck was broken. This had not previously been mentioned in the Japanese press.

It is unclear whether this protection of information is in line with investigative protocol, or if it is intended to hide other obvious police blunders that may have occured.

It could also be argued that police are carefully trying to avoid painting the image of a serial killer. There are several factors in this case that might lead one to believe that this was a well-planned murder, and that the suspect is likely to kill again in the future.

Given the suspect's history of stalking, it is hoped that the Gyotoku police department is reopening other missing-person cases in their area that had been previously abandoned.

Update 12: [Sunday April 15th] Nothing new has come to light in the past week. The dailies have not found any reason to keep printing photos of the prime suspect, Tatsuya Ichihashi. Ichihashi has apparently disappeared without a trace.

Ichihashi's bike was located near the station where he lives, so the theory that he fled by bicycle has obviously been discounted.

Update 10
Update 9
Updates 7 and 8
Original story (plus updates 1 - 6)

Lindsay Ann Hawker's Death: Police Mistakes and Suspect Escapes

Domestic Reporting on the Lindsay Ann Hawker Murder Case

Update 10: [Wednesday April 4th] No new information was divulged by the news or in the daily newspapers, but an article in the Asahi shows that the Lindsay Ann Hawker murder case was the number three story in terms of on-air time in Tokyo from March 26th to March 30th. The total time logged on four channels during the five day period was 3 hours, 33 minutes, and 32 seconds.

While this blog reported that the mass media was initially slow to report details of the case (lagging far behind reporting in England--were they waiting for some kind of press club release?), it is clear that authorities have been keen to keep suspected murderer Tatsuya Ichihashi's face at the front of the collective consciousness. Ichihashi's whereabouts are still unknown.


Update 11
Update 9
Updates 7 and 8
Original story (plus updates 1 - 6)

Domestic Reporting on the Lindsay Ann Hawker Murder Case

Lindsay Ann Hawker Update

Update 9: [Tuesday April 3rd] The news last night showed security camera footage of Hawker and Ichihashi (pictured left) in a coffee shop the morning that she disappeared. It is suspected that she went to his apartment by taxi shortly thereafter. Note: this photo is from about three years ago--a more recent one might be helpful.

She was apparently scheduled to teach her first lesson at NOVA at 10:50am that morning, so there is some speculation going on as to why she would hop in a taxi to travel the three minutes to his apartment only half an hour before work.

The police still have not commented on whether or not Hawker was sexually assaulted by the suspect. There also seems to be sustained effort by police to cover their own backs because the suspect slipped out from under their noses. This morning's edition of the Japan Times provides some new information about how he was able to get away:

Police found Hawker's body the following day buried in a sand-filled bathtub on
the balcony of the Ichikawa condominium. Ichihashi escaped during a subsequent
chase, losing his shoes in the process. Officers were questioning his neighbors
when he bolted.

Why were officers questioning neighbors before they were finished questioning the suspect? The actual number of officers on the scene is difficult to pin down (the number is routinely reported as several, with most reports saying between five and nine officers were sent), but it is obvious that Ichihashi was a major suspect. Japanese police are generally allowed by the courts to do whatever they want in an investigation, so it is mind-boggling to hear that they tried to gather incriminating evidence through Ichihashi's neighbors rather than set about searching his house immediately. By stating that they were busy questioning other people when he ran away, they have simply dug a bigger hole for themselves.

At the very least they should have apprehended him on the spot as a 'person of interest'. Officers in Japan are granted phenomenal amounts of leeway when it comes to detaining and/or questioning suspects.

This case seems to be another example of a botched investigation on the part of police. If the suspect is not caught soon, then we should start to hear some serious howling about how things were not done correctly from the beginning (the initial news conference last week was actually delayed because Mr. Hawker spent more time than expected asking the police questions. At the time, he said he was satisfied with the investigation. However, this observer suspects that he was just being polite).


Update 11

Update 10
Updates 7 and 8
Original story (plus updates 1 - 6)

Lindsay Ann Hawker Update

British Teacher Found Dead in Sand-filled Bathtub

Update 7: [Saturday March 31st] The late-nite news shed a little light on a theory that is gaining steam in the murder case of Lindsay Ann Hawker.

It is suspected that the alleged killer, Ichihashi Tatsuya, had his eye on Hawker for a period of time before actually approaching her. Partly fueled by interviews with local residents, the theory goes that he had been stalking her. It is speculated that he knew where she lived, worked, and socialized with her friends.

Update 8: [Monday April 2nd] Over the weekend Lucie Blackman's father spoke out in support of the Hawker family.

Articles being carried by both the Japan Times and the Mainichi (English) hint at growing impatience with the pace of the investigation. Mr. Bill Hawker demonstrated impressive restraint and diplomacy during the first news conference last Wednesday when he said that he was satisfied with the investigation being carried out by police (a diplomatic tact was likely coached by members of the British embassy). Now he is attempting to apply some pressure by saying that the country has been "shamed" by this crime.

Update 11

Update 10

Update 9
Original story (plus updates 1 - 6)

British Teacher Found Dead in Sand-filled Bathtub

British Woman Murdered

The police are searching for the suspected murderer in the death of 22 year old English teacher, Lindsay Ann Hawker.


The late-night news dedicated nearly 5 minutes of their program on Tuesday to discussion of the details of the crime, but what is surprising is that the body was allegedly discovered by police on Monday night.

The delay in reporting on this case, especially by the print media (Kyodo, to its credit, has a couple of items on its website that were posted on Tuesday), is a little strange. This story has not been deemed front page material by most news outlets.

As for the big English-language newspapers in Japan, the Yomiuri and Japan Times still haven't filed a story related to the alleged murder. Meanwhile, the Asahi lists ramen shops, flu shots, and possible landslides as being more news-worthy (one must click past the front-page headlines to reach the article linked to below).

I think most people would agree that if a non-Japanese woman or man was suspected of killing a Japanese, then the story would receive much more attention.

This case is reminding people of what is commonly thought to be impossible: that a foreign resident of Japan can actually be the victim of a crime. Up until now (1pm Wednesday), reporting has reflected that common stereotype.

Hopefully we will have a more complete account of what happened once they nab the guy who is the prime suspect.

And on a side note, how did the police lose the suspect even when they were in the guy's apartment to begin with? Kyodo reported that he escaped from the officers barefoot!

Update 1: [Wednesday March 28th] The Japanese version of the Yomiuri Newspaper posted a brief article on its website at 2:37 this afternoon. It seems that the best place to get a detailed report on this crime is the international media (BBC).

Note: the suspect's name is Ichihashi, not Ichihachi as claimed in the BBC piece.

Update 2: The Japanese version of the Asahi Newspaper covers the same information revealed in the international press in an article posted at 3:17pm today (Tokyo time).

Update 3: Lindsay's father and boyfriend landed in Japan today and have since given a press conference pleading for information regarding the whereabouts of Ichihashi. The nightly news dedicated the first 10 minutes of the broadcast to the murder.

Update 4: [Thursday March 29th] All of the major news outlets have finally come around. It is now Thursday morning, and most papers are carrying articles (Japan Times) that detail yesterday's press conference. Everyone seems to be coming around to what Lindsay Hawker's family has asserted all along--that she had only known the suspect for a short time and was not dating him. The suspected murderer, Tatsuya Ichihashi, has still not been found.

Update 5: Forensic specialists have determined that Lindsay was bound with gardening wire and then strangled. It seems likely (although this is unconfirmed) that the severe beating she suffered preceded her being tied up.

Update 6: [Friday March 30th] The Yomiuri newspaper (Japanese) detailed some of the things that the suspect, Ichihashi Tatsuya, bought at a hardware store before police figured out where he lived. The Asahi (Japanese) talks a little bit about the chronology of events leading up to Hawker's death. The Mainichi (English) ran a story alleging that Ichihashi kept her tied up in his apartment for a while before killing her.



Updates 7 and 8
Update 9
Update 10
Update 11

British Woman Murdered