‘Twitter Killer’ Admits to Killing 9 Women by Luring Them through Social Media

In a high profile case, a young man in Japan has pleaded guilty of killing nine people by luring them through social media. 

Takahiro Shiraishi now known as the “Twitter killer” was arrested in 2017 when human body parts were discovered in his house. This case had sent shockwaves across the country. 

The accused has now accepted that the murders were committed by him in court however his lawyers say that the punishment should be reduced as the victims gave him consent to kill them. 

Takahiro Shiraishi first created a Twitter account in March 2017 and contacted mostly women aged 15 to 26. His victims were young women who talked about taking their own lives.

He would connect with them saying that he would assist them in their plans or even die alongside them. His account had the following words: “I want to help people who are really in pain. Please DM [direct message] me anytime.”

Only one man had become his victim who had contacted Takahiro Shiraishi in connection with his girlfriend's whereabouts. 

Though lawyers say that the accused killed the victims with their consent, Takahiro Shiraishi told a local daily Mainichi Shimbun, that he killed the victims without their consent. He told them, “There were bruises on the back of the victims' heads. It means there was no consent and I did it so that they wouldn't resist.” 

Public broadcaster NHK reported that the accused has accepted the nine counts of murder saying “they are all correct.”

Police had discovered the Takahiro’s “house of horrors” on Halloween’s day in 2017 when they were investing the case of a 23 year old girl who went missing and had tweeted about killing herself. 

The police discovered 9 dismembered bodies and bones in coolers and toolboxes in his home. Takahiro Shiraishi is currently facing the death penalty which is carried out by hanging in Japan. 

CEO of Twitter Jack Dorsey said that the case was “extremely sad” when it had come to light earlier. Twitter amended its rules stating users should not “promote or encourage suicide or self-harm.”

Japan has the highest suicide rate among the industrialized nations however the numbers have decreased drastically after strict preventive measures were put into place.