A Japanese high school student was apprehended on suspicion of trying to murder his uncle by adding extracts from a toxic oleander plant to his miso soup.
Oleander is highly poisonous to both humans and animals, with all its parts, such as leaves, stems, roots, flowers, and fruit, containing deadly toxins.
The 18-year-old from Ichihara City, Chiba Prefecture, allegedly attempted to eliminate his uncle by mixing chopped oleander leaves into his food around midday on July 17.
Although the miso soup contained a fatal amount of the oleander plant, the uncle detected an unusual flavor and immediately spat it out.
Fortunately, the uncle, who resides with the teenager and his mother, survived and only experienced mild symptoms after seeking immediate medical attention.
The motive behind the attempted poisoning, as per Nippon TV, was reportedly the suspect’s irritation with his uncle’s loud snoring.
During interrogation, the student confessed to the charges, stating, “I couldn’t tolerate his snoring any longer, so I opted to end his life.”
Oleander, an evergreen shrub commonly found along roadsides and in gardens, produces red or white flowers but is extremely toxic, containing poisonous compounds throughout the plant.
Roughly six hours after the poisoning incident, the same student was arrested at JR Chiba Station for assaulting two women in a nearby restroom with a hammer. The victims were reportedly in their 40s and 50s.
Police reported that the teenager used a 24-centimeter hammer to strike the shoulders of the victims consecutively in the women’s restroom at the station. Fortunately, the women sustained non-serious injuries.
Allegedly, the student told investigators, “I aimed to harm a vulnerable woman—anyone would suffice—and cause harm.”
Authorities are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the student’s actions. Prosecutors are considering formal charges of attempted murder against the teenager, who is currently in custody.