The Osaka Prefectural Police said it has placed a Brazilian man, suspected of murdering his wife and daughter at their apartment, on the nationwide wanted list and is conducting an investigation with a possibility of putting him on international wanted lists as he has been confirmed to have fled to his home country.
The police obtained an arrest warrant for Barbosa Anderson Robson, 33, for allegedly stabbing his 29-year-old wife Manami Aramaki and their 3-year-old daughter Lily multiple times sometime between Aug. 20 and 21. The two were found dead in an apartment room in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, on Aug. 24.
Police confirmed that Barbosa left Narita Airport on Aug. 22 for Brazil after contacting his workplace and saying he would take two weeks' leave since he had been involved in an accident.
Brazilian media has reported that Barbosa comes from Londrina in the state of Parana in southern Brazil and that there is a possibility that he might be hiding at his relative's place in the city.
On the day the suspect left Japan, a message was sent from his wife's smartphone to her mother, asking her not to come to visit them, investigative sources said.
Investigators have not found the smartphone at Aramaki's home. They believe Barbosa took the phone with him and sent the message to delay the discovery of the bodies.
Because Japan has not signed an extradition treaty with Brazil, the Japanese government may ask Brazilian authorities to prosecute the man under its law by providing investigation documents.