A husband and wife were found murdered at their home in Shizugawa, Miyagi Prefecture, police said Friday.
A milkman found Takeko Sato, 59, in the early morning lying at the back door covered in blood, while ambulance crews, who arrived at the house after the milkman made an emergency call, found her husband, Shigeyoshi, the 61-year-old owner of a small construction firm, lying on a sofa inside.
Both had been stabbed in the neck and chest, and were confirmed dead at a nearby hospital, police said.
They said they found broken glass on the first floor of the house, suggesting someone had broken in, and noted the wife was wearing pajamas when she was killed. Police believe she was stabbed while trying to escape from her attacker.
The husband was wheelchair-bound, according to a neighbor.
The two lived alone in the house, located in a farming district several hundred meters east of JR Shizugawa Station.