A footprint near where an 11-year-old boy was stabbed to death last week in Kinokawa, Wakayama Prefecture, is similar to the size and pattern of sandals a suspect arrested in the slaying was wearing, investigative sources said Tuesday.

The investigators lifted the footprint from a concrete cover for a ditch on the edge of the vacant lot where Toshi Morita was found dead. An analysis indicates the footprint to be similar in size and pattern to sandals that Oshu Nakamura, 22, was wearing Friday evening when he was asked to submit to voluntary questioning at a local police station, the sources said.

The police believe the print supports the suspicion that Nakamura entered the lot, the sources said.