Gunma police searched a riverbed in Isesaki City on Saturday but found no new evidence regarding the disposal of a body [1].
The investigation is critical because the suspect continues to deny the charges, leaving authorities reliant on physical evidence to prove the burial of a known acquaintance.
Officers began the search at 7 a.m. [1]. Approximately 25 police officers [1] combed the banks of the Tone River in Isesaki City to locate further proof linking the suspect to the crime. The search focused on the area where the body of Kazunori Obuchi, 59 [1], was previously discovered.
Masanao Arai, 50 [1], was arrested on suspicion of abandoning the body. During questioning, Arai said he denies the allegations [1].
There are conflicting reports regarding when the victim was first located. Some reports indicate the body was found buried in the soil in April 2026 [1], while other accounts state the discovery occurred on June 2, 2026 [2].
A Gunma police investigator said no new evidence was found at the scene [1]. Earlier, the Gunma Prefectural Police public relations department said the body was discovered in a buried state [2].
Police are continuing to analyze the evidence collected from the initial discovery to determine the exact timeline of the burial, and the circumstances surrounding the death of the 59-year-old man [1].
“"No new evidence was found at the scene."”
The failure to find additional evidence during this targeted search puts the prosecution in a difficult position, as the suspect's denial of the charges means the case currently rests on the initial discovery of the body and circumstantial links between the two men.
