Man Arrested After Body Found in Oita Mountains; Linked to Missing Teenager
Oita Prefectural Police arrested a 58-year-aged man on April 12, 2026, in connection with the discovery of a body in the mountains of Bungo-Ono City, potentially identifying the remains of a teenage girl who has been missing since March.
Tadamune Himeno, an unemployed resident of Motomachi, Oita City, was taken into custody on suspicion of abandoning a corpse. Investigators believe the body was discarded in the mountainous region during early March.
The arrest is the result of an ongoing investigation into the disappearance of a woman in her late teens. According to police, the woman was last seen by her family at her home around 11:30 p.m. On March 2, 2026 and appeared to have left on her own. Her mother filed a missing person report on March 4, 2026.
Although a search conducted by authorities on April 11, 2026, failed to yield results, police were able to locate a body—of undetermined age and gender—on April 12, 2026, following Himeno’s arrest. The discovery was made possible through statements provided by the suspect.
Officials stated that Himeno has largely admitted to the charges and has made statements hinting that he killed the victim. As part of the investigation, police conducted a search of Himeno’s residence on April 12, 2026.
The case highlights the complexities of search-and-recovery operations in rugged terrain. Authorities are currently working to confirm if the recovered remains belong to the missing teenager and are investigating the specific relationship between Himeno and the victim.
