A high school student in Japan was taken into custody under suspicion of trying to kill his uncle by contaminating his miso soup with oleander plant extracts, a highly toxic substance that can be fatal to both humans and animals.
The 18-year-old from Ichihara City, Chiba Prefecture, allegedly attempted the murder by cutting up and incorporating oleander leaves into his uncle’s meal around midday on July 17. Fortunately, the uncle detected an unusual taste in the miso soup and immediately spat it out.
Despite ingesting a lethal dose of the plant, the uncle managed to survive with minor symptoms after promptly seeking medical attention. The incident occurred as a result of the perpetrator’s frustration with his uncle’s loud snoring, as stated in reports by News On Japan and Nippon TV.
The student confessed during interrogation, revealing that his motive for the attempted poisoning stemmed from his intolerance of his uncle’s snoring. Oleander, commonly found in gardens and along roadsides, is a poisonous shrub with toxic compounds present in all parts of the plant.
Following the failed poisoning incident, the same student was apprehended at JR Chiba Station six hours later for assaulting two women with a hammer in a nearby restroom. The victims, aged in their 40s and 50s, sustained minor injuries as the teenager targeted their shoulder areas with a 24-centimeter hammer.
In a chilling statement to investigators, the student admitted his intention to harm a vulnerable woman and cause pain. Law enforcement authorities are actively investigating the multiple incidents involving the student, with prosecutors considering formal charges of attempted homicide. The suspect remains in custody as the legal process unfolds.