A 27-year-old woman was arrested Friday following the deaths of her three daughters at their home in central Japan the previous day, police said, adding that it appears she tried to kill herself as well.
Himeka Takakuwa was served an initial warrant over the death of her infant daughter Sakura at their home in Ichinomiya, Aichi Prefecture, on Thursday.
According to police, the woman's husband and the father of the three girls, Hiroshi, 34, called for an ambulance upon arriving home from work in Ichinomiya at around 9:10 p.m., saying his children were unconscious.
Rescue workers confirmed the deaths of the girls — Himari, 5; Nanoka, 3; and Sakura, less than 1 year old — in a living room on the second floor of the home.
The mother, who had been at home with the girls, admitted her involvement in the deaths, telling investigators that she was "feeling unstable," according to the police.
The mother sustained minor injuries to her left wrist and neck. She was initially arrested on suspicion of attempted murder but the police are considering upgrading the charge to murder.
If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs help, resources are available. In case of an emergency, please call 119 in Japan for immediate assistance. The TELL Lifeline is available for those who need free and anonymous counseling at 03-5774-0992. You can also visit telljp.com. For those in other countries, visit www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.html for a detailed list of resources and assistance.