Cold Case Homicide Detectives Get Their Man

Los Angeles: A murder suspect who has been eluding dragnet has finally been captured.

On February 21, 2008, at 9:30 AM, detectives from the LAPD’s Cold Case Homicide Unit were informed that 60-year-old, Kazuyoshi Miura, was arrested on a warrant, charging him with the murder of his wife, Kazumi Miura, and conspiracy.

Mrs. Miura, who was 28 years old at the time, was shot on November 18, 1981.  She was at a location in the 200 block of Fremont Avenue, in downtown Los Angeles.  She died over a year later in Japan on November 30, 1982.

Miura’s was taken into police custody on the Island of Saipan, located in the northern Marianas Islands, a commonwealth territory of the United States.  Cold Case Detectives have been closely working with authorities in Guam and Saipan, believing that Miura would be visiting the island from his residence in Japan. 

Miura was arrested at Saipan’s airport on February 22, 2008, at noon.

Miura’s extradition is pending, and there is no additional information available at this time.

Comments

[Gabe]

It's a shame that you guys didn't use this blog to tell this story more completely, because it's a good story that reflects very well on the LAPD, and especially the retired Lt. Sakoda. I had to read it in the Times. Think about that, all you Times-haters out there.

The Times reported that the suspect has been blogging, and through diligent monitoring of the blog, Lt. Sakoda, from retirement, worked with Cold Case Detective Jackson and ICE, managed to get his man after the suspect blogged about his upcoming trip to Saipan. When he prepared to leave the U.S. territory, ICE nabbed him.

An excellent job of police work and of standing for the victim who can no longer stand for herself. Thank you, Lt. Sakoda (retired) and the Cold Case unit.

Now let's see if you can get that Toru Sakai fellow . . .

[LovesLALEOs]

I have been waiting for the post on the shooting at Central and Vernon. Our own blog master, PIO Lt De La Torre, was on scene immediately. Thus I understood the delay in posting the incident. Then, the Chief and the Mayor announced suspect in custody less than 24 hours later...still no post? There are three very important aspects of this incident; the community support of LAPD, LAPD's swift response, and the dearth of erroneous leaks to the press. Kudos to PIO for giving concise, exact facts early on and for having the mayor and the chief deliver the resolution, making it clear that the citizens in this part of town matter. I heard the children are feeling the post trauma effects and someone is asking for federal funds to address this! but if officers maintain contact with the schoolchildren, that will help to reassure them. The police were here for you, are here for you, and will continue to be here for you, little ones. They care, so let them know how much that matters to you. I have always believed there was love between the Central and South Central communities and the PD. I was fostered there, myself. On February 15th, it looked like a full blown love affair, and the handling of this crisis continues more of the same...