Police have reconstructed events in the five slayings and suspected arson that destroyed two homes in the tiny hamlet of Shunan, Yamaguchi Prefecture, officials said Wednesday.
The corpses were found Sunday and Monday. Makoto Sadamori, 71, his wife, Kiyoko, 72, and Miyako Yamamoto, 79, were probably the first to be bludgeoned to death sometime Sunday evening, the police said, adding their homes were apparently torched hours later.
It is likely the two other victims — Satoko Kawamura, 73, and Fumito Ishimura, 80 — were killed afterward, authorities added. Their bodies were found at around noon Monday.