True Crime Time Hop ep. 23: Nevada-Tan

Tonight we will be traveling to Japan. Specifically, Sasebo, of the Nagasaki Prefecture. On this day, June 1, in 2004, an 11 year old schoolgirl committed a truly heinous act against her 12 year old classmate, Satomi Mitarai. This occurrence went down in history as the "Sasebo Slashing". The little girl who did the killing has come to be known as "Girl A" because Japanese laws are in place to protect the identities of young offenders. At some point in more recent history, her real name was exposed in some form of media, but we won't be divulging that here. You're welcome to do your own research but keep in mind, this girl was 11 at the time she committed the crime. She didn't even understand the extent of the injuries she inflicted-- she was documented as saying when she was first arrested that she hoped to apologize to her victim directly. She didnt expect Satomi to succumb to her wounds.

Girl A, who was later dubbed "Nevada-tan" in the media for the Nevada University sweatshirt she wore on the day she committed the killing, had been exhibiting signs of depression and mental illness online for a year or more at that point. There were previous episodes of violence that occurred between Girl A and other children as well as an incident with a knife that happened a month prior to the crime. She had been a big fan of the internet and the many subcultures and dark influences she was able to access through it. She had a website which was filled with links to shock movies, fan fiction about her favorite movie Battle Royale, recipes with strange names, and just all the randomness her disturbed little heart desired. There was evidently very little supervision of her and how she was spending her time on the internet by her parents. Had they seen what her mental state was leading up to the events of that fateful day, maybe they'd have gotten her help before it cost someone their life. It is said that she began withdrawing from extracurriculars and there were just so many warning signs. It really is a shame. But I digress.

Girl A was in a vulnerable place mentally at the time when Satomi, who was a friend from school, posted comments about Girl A being overweight which was thought to be the motive of this crime.

The next day, on the third floor of the Okubo Elementary School, Girl A approached Satomi and acted as though their online spat the previous evening was water under the bridge. The girls laughed and talked together and it seemed like the beef was going to blow over so Satomi didn't hesitate when her friend invited her to an empty classroom near their class where she wanted to spend their lunch hour. She had an idea for a game she wanted to play with Satomi and instructed the little girl to sit at one of the desks with her eyes shut. Girl A walked up behind her trusting friend, with a boxcutter clenched in her hand. She reached her arm around to the front of her victim's neck and sliced her throat. The bloodied child fell to the ground, unable to scream. Her attacker then advanced onto her once more, this time slashing her wrists to further reduce her chances of surviving.

The girls were not gone long, but after a few minutes the teacher noticed the open seats and began to grow concerned. Just as she began to take action in looking for her missing students, Girl A entered the classroom and sat down at her desk, covered in blood. It didn't take long for her teacher to find Satomi, whose body laid lifeless where Girl A left her. EMS rushed to the scene but sadly, the little girl was pronounced dead on the scene.

The school called her father but all they told him is that his little girl had gotten injured. He was the chief of the local news and his office was close to the school so he rushed over to support. Unfortunately he arrived to the grisly scene of his only daughter, bloody and deceased. Just 2 years after he lost his wife and Satomi's mother to cancer.

Girl A did not try to hide her guilt but rather admitted to her teacher and subsequently, the police, that she was sorry and did a bad thing. She apologized over and over, cried for much of the night while she was locked up, and initially refused food or drink. In September, she was tried as an adult because of the severity of her crime but instead of jailtime, she was institutionalized for a 2 year bid. There were 2 additional years added during her time there. After she was determined to be rehabilitated, the court did not impose any further sentencing and she is now living free.

Do you think a few years in a mental institution are enough to keep a young murderer from re-offending? Let me know below.