A jury has found 44-year-old Yui Inoue guilty of murdering her two children, 9-year-old Mia Inoue and 7-year-old Kai Inoue, in Tempe, Arizona, in 2021. She used a meat cleaver, designed to cut through bones, to attack them while they were sleeping, according to prosecutors.
Tragic Incident in 2021
The horrific crime took place on May 15, 2021. That morning, police arrived at Inoue’s apartment and discovered the two children dead. Officers described the scene as deeply disturbing, with a large amount of blood on the floor. The children’s bodies were found under a blanket, showing severe injuries, including deep cuts and defensive wounds.
A medical examiner later confirmed that the children died from “sharp force and chopping injuries.” Prosecutors believe Inoue was motivated by anger over a family issue. At the time, she was also under investigation for child neglect.
Courtroom Details and Verdict
During the trial, prosecutors detailed the brutal attack. They explained that Mia and Kai were peacefully sleeping when their mother entered the room with a knife and meat cleaver. She then attacked them, showing clear intent and awareness of her actions.
On Monday, a jury in Maricopa County found Inoue guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of child abuse.
Possible Motive Behind the Crime
Prosecutors argued that Inoue killed her children out of revenge against her husband. Reports indicate that she was angry over a financial dispute during their divorce and had demanded money from him. After the argument, her husband left the home, and the tragic events followed.
Later that day, Inoue drove to a Tempe Police station, where she told an officer that she had heard voices instructing her to kill her children. Authorities also found that she was carrying a meat cleaver when she arrived at the station.
Defense Arguments
Inoue’s defense team claimed that she lacked the physical strength to commit the crime and highlighted that no one had witnessed the murders. However, prosecutors countered that the brutal nature of the attack and Inoue’s own statements showed that she had planned the killings.
With the guilty verdict now in place, Inoue awaits sentencing, while the community continues to mourn the tragic loss of two innocent children.
