CASE CRACKED: Glico-Morinaga
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March 18th 1984, 42 year old Katsuhisa Ezaki is abducted naked from his home by three masked men.
Katsuhisa is president of Japanese food company, Ezaki Glico.
Katsuhisa is taken to a little used warehouse where criminals took Polaroid photos of the company president naked then dressed him in a black overcoat, a ski hat and handcuffed him.
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Google Map location of the Warehouse used to hold Katsuhisa Ezaki:
https://goo.gl/maps/fWDLYXX96UWKbod87
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Suspect A is described as approximately 170cm tall. About 40 years old. He wore a white mask, white gloves, dark clothes, dark shoes. He had a low voice, and carried a rifle that looked to be made of plastic. Suspect A is thought to be the leader.
Suspect B is described as approximately 160 cm tall. Medium build. About 35 years old. He wore a white mask with one opening for both eyes and a mouth opening, white gloves, dark clothes, and dark shoes with no laces. He carried a handgun.
Suspect C is the driver of the vehicle used to transport Mr. Ezaki from his home. He is described as approximately 165 cm tall, about 20 Years old. He wore a black mask, and had acne.
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At 1:15 AM, on March 19th 1984, at the Home of Glico Director of Human Resources, Fujie Hirotake, a phone call comes in directing Fujie to a phone box where he finds a ransom letter at 1:40 am.
In part it reads:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I am holding a hostage. Prepare 1 billion yen in cash and 100 kilograms of gold.
Tell anything to the police, I will definitely kill the hostage.
I have friends at the Police and I will know immediately if you try to trace me.
Don’t try trick me with cash or gold. Don’t try to trace me, it is pointless. I won’t negotiate. Just listen to what I say.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
See the letter here:
https://www.themonsterwith21faces.com/letter-3-19-84
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March 19th 1984, a phone call is received of a taped recording of Katsuhisa Ezaki. In the recording Katsuhisa reads directions for Glico to bring the ransom money to a restaurant.
Police in cooperation with Glico traveled to the restaurant awaiting contact with the criminals but received no further instruction forcing the operation to end.
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News articles from this point in the case:
https://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/20/world/abduction-of-businessman-alarms-japanese.html
https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/03/19/Candy-tycoon-kidnapped-naked-from-bath/6214448520400/
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At about 10 pm on March 20th 1984 Katsuhisa was abandoned by his captors after being redressed and loosely tied.
Nearly 14 hours later Katsuhisa managed to escape his bindings and seek help, contacting police at 2:22 pm.
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News articles from this point in the case:
https://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/22/world/around-the-world-kidnapped-executive-in-japan-manages-to-flee.html
https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/03/21/Kidnapped-executive-escapes/8748448693200/
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Photos from this point in the case:
https://www.themonsterwith21faces.com/episode-1-photo-archive
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April 2nd 1984, a letter accompanied by a bottle of eye drops filled with Hydrochloric Acid arrives at Katushisa Ezaki's residence.
In part it reads:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Dear Katsuhisa,
How dare you break our promise and run away from us. I’m giving you one more chance.
It’s going to be 10 million yen per person in your family, so for 6 people it’s going to be 60million yen. At 7pm on the 8th of April, I’ll call the number at your house. I’ll forgive the six of you once I get the money. I will never do anything to you again. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
See the letter here:
https://www.themonsterwith21faces.com/letter-4-2-84
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Police moved forward with the plans to meet for a money hand off at 7 pm on the 8th of April however, no suspicious activity was noted and the operation was called off around 9 pm.
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April 10th 1984, fire at Ezaki Glico Headquarters breaks out on the west side, starting in the prototype department then spreading to the trial area and worker changing room.
The source of the fire was a gasoline soaked cushion.
166 square meters burned to the ground.
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9:10pm, 20 minutes after the initial arson at Glico Headquarters, Glico Nutrition, a division of Glico sees fire at it's headquarters.
Gasoline, and strips of cloth in a plastic container were used to ignite the interior of a company vehicle located in the parking garage on the first floor.
The flames were quickly put out having done damage only to the vehicles ceiling.
Immediately after the arson attempt, it was observed that an approximately 170cm tall man wearing a golf cap, a white mask, work clothes, jeans, and carrying a Boston bag was seen running away.
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The relationship between the Ezaki abduction and intimidation cases as well as the Glico Arson events was considered to be extremely high. The National Police Agency of Japan designated the series of events as Nationwide Case 114 on April 12th 1984.
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On April 22nd a letter arrived to Kiriko Fujisawa, Corporate Auditor of Glico.
In part it reads:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Dear Katsuhisa,
I’m proud of you for making a decision.
We will call Fujie’s house at 7:30pm on Tuesday, April 24th.
Kato should wait at the restaurant called Downhill in Kozushima, Toyonaka city. Have the money ready there.
Monster with 21 faces.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
See the letter here:
https://www.themonsterwith21faces.com/letter-4-22-84
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This was the first time the criminal group signed off on a letter with the name "Monster with 21 Faces. Inspired by "The Fiend with Twenty Faces", a children's book.
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On May 10th 1984 a letter arrived to newspapers.
In part it reads:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
To the poor policemen
Glico is annoying so I injected 2 with 0.05 grams of hydrogen cyanide in the stores in the area between Nagoya and Okayama. It’s not enough to kill but the target will be hospitalized. After eating Glico let’s go the the hospital. Eat Glico and end up in the grave.
Monster with 21 faces.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
See the letter here:
https://www.themonsterwith21faces.com/episode-2-letter-archive-may-10th-1984
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After much debate, and out of concern for public safety, the media shares only a portion of the letter in newspapers and TV reports.
Major supermarket companies such as Daiei, Jusco, Nichii and Ito-Yokado held emergency meetings and decided to remove Ezaki Glico products that day despite Katsuhisa Ezakis objections.
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The reaction by the public caused the Tokyo Stock Market on the morning of the 11th to end with the price of Glico stock falling to 500 yen, 50 yen lower than the closing price the day before. Over the following 2 weeks this would drop to a new low of 485 yen.
A few days later, Ezaki Glico is forced to reduce production at Osaka, Tokyo and Kyushu plants as well as parts of eleven subsidiary plants nationwide.
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News article from this point in the case:
https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/14553536/
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On May 20th 1984, the president of Nagaoka Perfumery, a major supplier of various flavorings to Ezaki Glico, received a letter.
In part it reads:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Dear Harada,
Give this to the President or one of the executives at Glico. If you don’t do as we say, you are going to face the same situation as Glico did. We could easily make your company vanish just by using 100 sticks of dynamite.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
In the envelope addressed to Nagaoka Perfumery, there was another envelope, type written on the outside were the words "To Katsuhisa Ezaki".
In part it reads:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Dear Dummy’s at Glico,
Are you guys really business men? Business men don’t usually lose money like that. I have an abundance of sodium prussiate. For right before next Valentine’s day, I’ll use cyanide instead. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
See the letter here:
https://www.themonsterwith21faces.com/letter-5-20-84
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Determined to survive it's own destruction, Ezaki Glico requested stores resume sales of their products as thoughts of Katsuhisa stepping down as president of the company were tossed around.
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On May 31st, 1984, another instructional letter was received by Nagaoka Perfumery.
In part it reads:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Dear Katsuhisa,
Prepare 300 million yen like before. On June 2nd at 8:30pm, have two of your employees over the age of 45 wear a white jacket and white pants, and have them drive a white corolla to the Barbecue restaurant "Daidomon" in Ward 1, Torikainaka, Settsu-city. Be in the restaurant by 8pm.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
See the letter here:
https://www.themonsterwith21faces.com/letter-5-31-84
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Suspicious of their activities over the past ten days investigators went to Ezaki Glico headquarters and convinced President Katsuhisa Ezaki to reveal the details of the letters sent to Nagaoka Perfumery as well as the upcoming money drop.
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Photos from this point in the case:
https://www.themonsterwith21faces.com/episode-2-photo-archive
June 2nd 1984, the Corolla loaded with cash sits in Daidomons parking lot at 7:57 PM. Daidomon was a BBQ Restaurant in Settsu City, Osaka, located about 2 kilometers from the flood control warehouse used to hold Katsuhisa Ezaki and that evening was surrounded by an elite team of 30 undercover officers from Osakas Special Crimes Squad.
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The white Corolla was modified with a kill switch, located in the trunk, designed for use by an investigator hidden within.
The plan was to coerce the soon to be stolen Corolla onto a side street where officers would arrest the driver and find their destination, sending in its place an identical replacement corolla driven by an undercover officer. There at the destination police would be able to apprehend the remaining members of the criminal gang.
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At 8 pm investigation HQ called for radio silence.
The monster instructed that they would call Nagaoka Perfumery at 8:30 pm. However, at 8:45 PM, a young man walks into the restaurant Daidomon, and up to the seat of the Glico Manager.
After silently exchanging several notes the man retrieves the car key and exits the restaurant. The man forces the second Glico Manager out of the Corolla and drives north away from Daidomon.
Radio communication with the investigator in the trunk of the stolen Corolla was lost causing the kill switch to be flipped on the main street. It safely came to a stop at a red light and the driver was arrested. However this 22 year old man would soon be found to have been the victim of a carjacking and abduction by the criminals along with his 18 year old date who was held captive for a short time before being released while the man was forced to steal the cash filled vehicle for the Monster.
Shortly after the mans arrest the Corolla is restarted and driven by an investigator toward the destination described as the criminals meeting location.
On the way the investigator encounters a suspicious white Toyota that overtakes the Corolla on a side street near the destination. The investigator decides to pursue the suspicious vehicle at high speeds before loosing it in heavy traffic at a red light. The investigator returns to the meeting location but no criminals showed up and the operation was called off after 10 pm.
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On the morning of June 3rd 1984 the abducted man's stolen Toyota was found on the approach of the Tomorogi Shrine in Neyagawa.
It would seem that the criminals abandoned the stolen car here shortly after eluding the investigator driving the Corolla.
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The suspects who abducted the man and woman wore black masks and white gloves.
Suspect A is around 45 years old, 168cm tall, had a low voice and carried a rifle.
Suspect B is around 30 years old and 173 cm tall.
Suspect C who abducted and held the woman captive was described as around 25 to 30 YO, he carried a fruit knife.
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News article from this point in the case:
https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19840609-1.2.48.2
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On June 11th 1984 Police began a search of 800,000 homes. Asking door to door for any information on the crimes, criminals or associated evidence.
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On the 22nd of June a letter arrives at the Takatsuki home of another Japanese food company president. Takashi Haga, president of Marudai Food.
In part it reads:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Dear Haga,
I hope you know about us. Give us 50 million yen with used 10,000 yen bills. On Thursday, June 28th at 8pm, I’ll tell you where the letter is. It’s super easy to put potassium cyanide in things, just get a syringe and we can put it in ham, sausage, and anything else.
Monster with 21 faces.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
See the letter here:
https://www.themonsterwith21faces.com/letter-6-22-84
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June 26th 1984 a letter arrives at Mainichi, Sankei, and Yomiuri Newspapers. In the envelope of Sankei's letter is a copy of Katsuhisas tape.
In part it reads:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
To our fans throughout Japan:
We're satisfied. The president of Glico has already gone around with his head hanging down long enough. We would like to forgive him.
Monster with 21 Faces
I will be back next year in January.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
See the letter here:
https://www.themonsterwith21faces.com/letter-6-26-84
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June 28th 1984, at 8:03 pm the Monster calls. A voice recording of a woman directs Marudai and Police to find an envelope taped to the back of a bus stop guide board at 8:16pm.
In part it reads:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
To Yamada
Take the 8:19 Kyoto bound train that stops at every station
Get on the second car from the back and sit on the left side
marked with the circle. Either circle is fine.
If the seats in the circled area are not available, say that you feel sick and have someone give up their seat.
Sit on the side with the tracks and open the window so that you can throw out the bag
Once you see the 1-meter square, white flag,
throw the bag out the window
Go to Kyoto, and if there is no flag, then do it again
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
See the letter here:
https://www.themonsterwith21faces.com/letter-6-26-84
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In the envelope, along with the letter the Monster provided a ticket for the 340 yen section.
The investigator carrying the money bag boarded the train at 8:35 surrounded by undercover officers.
After noticing several suspicious passengers on the train the investigators zeroed in on one of them.
There was a man 35 to 45 years old, about 175-178 cm in height, he had a thin lip, thin eyebrows and was well built, wearing a gray suit and clear glasses with silver rims and short permed hair. He carried a black umbrella with a handle, and a newspaper folded in four.
The most striking thing to investigators however was his silent gaze, hunting, with eyes like those of a fox.
Investigators named this suspect the "Fox-Eyed Man".
The Fox-Eyed Man followed the officer carrying the money back and forth between train stations. The tailing undercover officers were kept from detaining the very suspicious man by direct order of the operation headquarters. Though the man was suspicious, HQ wanted an arrest made only when the money was taken to avoid any mistakes. This plan however would lead to the escape of the Fox-Eyed Man and the operation ending with no other contact with the criminals.
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News article from this point in the case:
https://www.nytimes.com/1984/07/02/world/the-great-candy-caper-leaves-all-japan-atwitter.html
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Photos from this point in the case:
https://www.themonsterwith21faces.com/episode-3-photo-archive
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The criminal gang attempts to extort Marudai Foods of 600 million yen one last time on July 6th 1984. However after once again not showing up to retrieve the money, the Monster sent a letter declaring an end to the extortion of Marudai Foods.
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Two months later the Monster found their next target in Japanese candymaker, Morinaga.
On September 12th 1984, a letter arrived at Morinaga accompanied by three tablets of industrial sodium hypochlorite totaling 30 grams, and 3 poisoned Morinaga food products.
In part the letter reads:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
You probably know my name. Your company is doing well because of Glico's loss, so if you feel bad about it give us 100 million yen. If you don’t follow what we say to you, we’re going to place 50 snacks each, for 10 different types of snacks that contain potassium cyanide all over the place. I will receive the money on Tuesday, 18th of September. No matter where you are, we’re watching you.
Monster with 21 faces
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
See the letter here:
https://www.themonsterwith21faces.com/episode-4-letter-archive-september-12th-1984
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Because the Monsters intimidation of Marudai Foods had not yet reached the media, the reporting of Morinaga as the next target behind Glico led to the case being widely referred to as the Glico-Morinaga case as opposed to the Glico-Marudai case, cementing Morinagas name alongside Glico and the Monster with 21 Faces forever.
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September 18th 1984, Morinaga attempted to deal with the Monster for the first time. The 100 million yen in cash that the company had prepared was never collected that evening and the operation was called off.
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At 11:23 am Sunday October 7th, a man in his 20's or 30's wearing a Yomiuri Giants baseball hat, metal frame glasses, and light tan business casual jacket with a white button up shirt and no tie entered the FamilyMart store of Nishinomiya.
The man is approximately 170 cm tall and has a solid, muscular physique. His hair, under his hat, was permed.
Upon entering the store and turning right, he picked up a weekly magazine from a shelf by the window.
Heading toward the sweets section the man scoped out back of the store, appearing to be on the look out for security cameras.
He was being recorded by 4 of them. Investigators will name this suspect, "The Video-Taped Man".
The Video-taped man approaches the confectionery display shelf. Here he placed what appeared to security cameras to be a square shaped object.
The Video-taped man then stops by the register to purchase the magazine before exiting the store.
The can of Morinaga Fruit Drops the man had quietly placed on the shelf were found to contain 0.18 grams of Sodium Cyanide.
A lethal dose of sodium cyanide is 0.1 grams per 50 kilograms of body weight. The average adult human weight is 62kg. This single candy drop had enough cyanide to kill nearly 15 people.
Attached to the can with a piece of cellophane tape, and typed onto a piece of paper 2x5 centimeters in size, a note read:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This has poison in it. If you eat it you will die.
Monster with 21 faces.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
That same day on October 7th convenience stores and super markets in Hyogo, Osaka and Kyoto also find poisoned Morinaga products on their shelves. All of the cyanide laced sweets were identified by the note attached to each of them. "This has poison in it. If you eat it you will die. Monster with 21 faces".
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The morning of October 8th saw the discovery of more cyanide laced products as well as 2 separate letters sent to various newspapers and food companies.
In part one reads:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
To all mothers in Japan
In autumn appetite is huge. Candy is great. When you think sweets - no matter what you say - it's Morinaga right?. We added some special flavor to it. The flavor of Potassium Cyanide is a little bitter. Tell children not to get cavities and buy it for them.
We placed 20 pieces between Hakata and Tokyo.
There are 2 flavors with 0.2 grams and 0.5 grams of acid.
After 10 days. We will place 30 of them, without any sign across Japan. We are preparing a lot more for later. Look forward to it!
Monster with 21 faces
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
See the letter here:
https://www.themonsterwith21faces.com/episode-4-letter-archive-october-8th-1984
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By the evening of October 8th 1984, shops where poisoned snacks were discovered had removed their entire stock of Morinaga products out of caution.
The next day on the 9th, more poisoned products were found as the supermarket chain Daiei removed Morinaga from 158 stores nationwide. Department stores such as Isetan, Matsuzakaya, Tenmaya and Jusco among others did the same.
Like an avalanche, 3,500 shops across the country including those at National Railway Stations dumped the tainted brand.
Due to the massive cuts in production and delivery, Morinaga halted 450 part-time jobs and employees were sent home.
On the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Morinaga shares reached a high price of 670 yen at the end of July. On October 8th the company's stock price plummeted to 580 yen. It would fall to 450 yen by the end of the month and down to 380 yen by the end of the year. A fall much more devastating than that of Glico.
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News article from this point in the case:
https://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/09/world/poisoned-candy-found-on-japanese-store-shelves.html
https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/10/10/Extortionists-who-laced-candies-with-deadly-cyanide-have-threatened/2060466228800/
https://www.themonsterwith21faces.com/episode-4-article-october-8th-1984
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Photos from this point in the case:
https://www.themonsterwith21faces.com/episode-4-photo-archive
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Wikipedia information on the case:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Monster_with_21_Faces
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glico_Morinaga_case
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POST 2 COMING SOON
This post contains a summary of events from March 18th 1984 to October 10th 1984. Post 2 will contain a summary of events from October 11th 1984 to August 12th 1985, the end of the case.
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TLDR: Criminal gang kidnaps Japanese candy company president from his home and holds him for ransom for 3 days in a warehouse. The criminal gang names itself "Monster with 21 Faces" as it continues an extortion campaign again several Japanese food companies. After having failed to capture a "Fox-Eyed Man" suspect stores in Japan begin discovering cyanide laced candy products on their shelves. All the while, the criminal gang has been sending taunting letters to police, newspapers and food companies. (Post 2 coming soon)
The information gathered is presented in an 8 episode podcast on all major podcast platforms and at www.TheMonsterWith21Faces.com as well as the website www.DarqArt.com.
The RSS feed is: https://feeds.fireside.fm/themonsterwith21faces/rss
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmcv1rfK39psLiYWxlTtlWg
Twitter - @Monster21Faces
Instagram - monster21faces - https://www.instagram.com/monster21faces/
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Or send any questions or info to me at 21monsterfaces@gmail.com