On May 19, 74-year-old Tanaka Sumie and her 52-year-old daughter Chihiro were found dead covered in blood at their home in Tatsuno, Hyogo Prefecture.

Autopsies showed that both had multiple stab wounds to the upper body, and they are believed to have died around May 13.

The Hyogo Prefectural Police determined the two had been murdered and were tracking the whereabouts of a suspect.

Police officials said they have obtained an arrest warrant on suspicion of murder for Oyama Kenji, a 42-year-old man of unknown address and occupation, for his alleged involvement in killing Chihiro and placed him on the nationwide wanted list.

Investigative sources said Oyama had told police officers before the case came to light that he killed someone, but the officers ended up not arresting him then.

On May 16, police questioned him after receiving a report that he was sleeping on a street in Takasago, Hyogo Prefecture.

At the time, he made remarks to the effect that he had killed someone, but because his account was inconsistent and he was not in possession of a blade that could be considered a murder weapon, officers took him to the area near the crime scene in Tatsuno where he is believed to have lived in the past.

Police later confirmed that Oyama lived next door to the Tanaka residence about 10 years ago.

The police have released a photo and security camera footage of the suspect and are calling on the public for information on his current whereabouts.