Curitiba police investigate deaths of family found in apartment

The Civil Police of Paraná are investigating the deaths of three family members found in an apartment in the Água Verde neighborhood of Curitiba. The victims have been identified as pediatrician Claudia Hitomi Shimada Furuyama, 57; engineer Marcos Alberto Furuyama, 58; and their son, Rafael Furuyama, 23.

The bodies were discovered on Tuesday, August 25, after a condominium representative used a locksmith to enter the unit, which had been locked from the inside. Investigators found the victims with stab wounds from sharp weapons. Two knives were recovered at the scene and sent for forensic analysis to determine if the blood belongs to the victims or a third party.

Police are examining several hypotheses, including the possibility that Marcos Furuyama killed his family before taking his own life. There were no signs of forced entry or a struggle in the common areas of the home. A key piece of evidence is a message sent by Claudia to a friend on Sunday afternoon, which confirms she was still alive at that time.

Reports indicate the family may have been facing financial difficulties, as the apartment had been listed for auction following a long-standing legal dispute involving a construction company where Marcos worked.