Tsutomu Miyazaki

Between August 1988 and June 1989, Tsutomu Miyazaki abducted and killed four girls, aged four to seven, in the Saitama and Tokyo areas of Japan. He was arrested in July 1989 after being caught attempting to photograph another potential victim.

Investigation and media coverage

A large collection of anime, manga, and horror videos found in Miyazaki's room led Japanese media to dub him the "Otaku Murderer," a label that drew wide criticism for stigmatizing anime and manga fans broadly based on the actions of one individual; his psychiatric evaluations pointed to more specific factors in his background and mental state.

Trial

Miyazaki's trial lasted years, partly due to conflicting psychiatric evaluations of his mental state. He was ultimately found legally sane and convicted, and sentenced to death in 1997, with the sentence upheld on appeal in 2006.

Execution

Miyazaki was executed in June 2008.