Family ‘believed mummified relative was alive for months’

An inquest was held to determine that the family of a woman who was partially mummified was still believing she was alive months after her death.

Rina Yasutake was 49 years old and found dead at her Helmsley home, North Yorkshire, where she lived with her mother, siblings, and other family members.

In September 2018, suspicions were raised by the local chemist when Takahiro (51), and Yoshika (56) repeatedly purchased bottles of surgical spirit over a span of days.

Despite extensive police investigations, no cause of death was established.

The emergency services had been called to the family’s address in Bondgate, where paramedics found Yasutake’s dead body under a duvet on a mattress on the floor.

Craig Hassall KC, representing the family, asked detective inspector Nichola Holden, who led the police investigation, if the family was “utterly convinced” she was alive when the emergency services attended.

The detective replied: “They were at the time and for many months after.”

Home Office pathologist Dr Jennifer Bolton said it was hard to determine how long Ms Yasutake had been dead, given the extent of mummification, but the level to which it had developed took “some weeks”.

Michiko Yasutake (80), their brother, sister, and mother were charged with preventing lawful and proper burial. But the prosecution was stopped when it was revealed that Michiko Yasutake had a rare mental disorder.

Jon Heath, the Coroner, was informed that there was no evidence to suggest any third-party involvement in her passing. There was also no evidence of injury or other toxicological causes.

Rina Yasutake, a Japanese student, won a scholarship at Cambridge University to study classics and linguistics.

After university, she didn’t work and her family lived in Helmsley together for 20 years. The inquest was concluded.

According to statements made to a psychiatrist by the brother and sister, Rina Yasutake stopped eating and became weaker over the course of 2018. She then began moving less and less.

In fact, Ms Yasutake, at 4ft 11in, weighed only six stone six pounds.

Yoshika Yasutake told the psychiatrist: “She didn’t say much so we said to her to eat and drink more.

“She looked like she was being nourished by eating her soul.”

Mr Hassall described his clients as “a very insular and isolated family” and Ms Holden agreed that even when using a Japanese interpreter, communication was difficult, as they spoke their own dialect.

Ms. Holden stated during inquiries that they found no way to communicate with the outside world. They also did not have a TV or radio.

Mr Heath recorded an open conclusion, saying: “I am unable from the evidence available to determine how she died.”

Although the family was unable to attend the inquest, Mr Heath stated that they would listen later.