A man who works at a zoo has been taken into custody for allegedly placing his spouse in an animal incinerator. Authorities suspect that Tatsuya Suzuki moved his wife’s body to the wildlife park in Asahikawa, Japan, where he then burned it in the animal crematorium. The 33-year-old Suzuki was apprehended on Wednesday under suspicion of mutilating a corpse.

The woman, identified as Yui Suzuki, was reported missing by her family on April 23 after losing contact with her in late March. Upon receiving the missing person report, the police reached out to the zoo and requested to speak with Suzuki, who agreed to be interviewed voluntarily.

Subsequently, parts of the 33-year-old woman’s remains were located after Suzuki allegedly confessed to disposing of her body in the incinerator. Suzuki and his wife resided together in Asahikawa, Japan, where he had reportedly made threatening remarks to her prior to the tragic incident.

Law enforcement is currently conducting an investigation to determine if Suzuki was responsible for his wife’s death and to establish a motive behind the alleged crime. During questioning, Suzuki hinted at his involvement in her demise, prompting authorities to consider pressing potential murder charges.

Following his arrest, a local resident described Suzuki as reserved, mentioning that he and his wife appeared to have a close relationship as they often walked their dog together. Asahiyama Zoo, a popular tourist destination in Japan, temporarily closed in anticipation of the summer season and postponed its reopening from April 29 to May 1 due to the ongoing police inquiry.

A statement posted on the zoo’s website expressed regret over the situation and assured cooperation with the police investigation. The park’s management apologized for any inconvenience caused and announced the temporary closure on April 29 and 30, with plans to resume operations on May 1 to welcome visitors as usual.