The Murder of Junko Furuta

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Junko Furuta was a 17 year old student at Yashio-Minami High School. She was a good student who had high hopes for the future as she was saving for a trip post graduation and had a job lined up. On the night of November 25, 1988, Furuta was on her way home from work when she was kicked off her bike by and unknown teenaged boy. A few seconds later, another teenaged boy appeared and helped her. He offered to walk her home. Unbeknownst to Furuta, both boys (Hiroshi Miyano and Shinji Minato) were friends who planned this out. Miyano lead Furuta to a warehouse, where she was beaten and raped. She was held captive at Misato's home for 40 days. Miyano, Minato and two of their friends, Jō Ogura and Yasushi Watanabe beat, tortured and raped Furuta. Minato's family never reported the crimes as they feared their son and his friends. Furuta succumbed to her injuries on January 4, 1989. Fearing the consequences, the boys wrapped Furuta's body in blankets and placed her in a metal drum, which was then filled with wet concrete. Over the next four months, the boys continued to commit more violent crimes. After being arrested for an unrelated crime, Miyano confessed to killing Furuta and dumping her body after thinking Ogura confessed as well. The four boys were arrested and charged with murder. They all served anywhere from 5 to 20 years in prison. Furuta's family and the public believed the sentences were too light. Once they got out, most of them continued to commit crimes.