Two people whose bodies were found Monday in the burned house of Mabuchi Motor Co. President Takaichi Mabuchi were strangled before being set on fire, investigators said Tuesday.
The bodies are believed to be Mabuchi's wife, Etsuko, 66, and daughter, Yuka, 40.
Lengths of what appeared to be neckties were found around their throats, police said after examining the bodies found in the home in Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture.
They were badly charred and gasoline was found around them, police said.