Hiroshima teen father arrested over infant son’s death
AM730 · 2 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Police in Fukuyama, Hiroshima Prefecture, arrested an 18-year-old father after his two-month-old son died from suffocation following an alleged assault at home. Investigators say the father told them he put a plastic bag over the baby’s head because the crying was too loud, while denying any intent to kill.
Key Points
- The case happened in Fukuyama, Hiroshima Prefecture, where police allege the father covered his two-month-old son’s head with a plastic bag at about 5:30am on September 4.
- Investigators said the bag remained over the infant’s head for about three and a half hours, and the father did not check on the baby during that period.
- An autopsy carried out on September 7 confirmed the baby died of suffocation, and police later arrested the 18-year-old father in connection with the death.
- According to police, the parents noticed something was wrong with the baby by 9am, but the mother did not call for help until more than four hours later.
- Hiroshima authorities had received a report on August 22 alleging child neglect, including claims the baby was left home alone at night, before municipal staff visited the residence
Why It Matters
The investigation now extends beyond the alleged act itself to the hours before emergency services were called and to whether earlier welfare concerns were missed. For Hong Kong readers, the case is a stark reminder of how quickly infant distress can turn fatal and why suspected child neglect reports require urgent follow-up