Woman Escapes Roommate’s ‘Cult-Like’ Home After Her Lips Were Allegedly Sewn Shut

A woman in Japan has been arrested after police say she allegedly sewed her roommate’s lips shut with a needle and thread, leaving the victim so terrified and unable to speak that she escaped and wrote a desperate “help me” note to a shop employee.

Masae Sakurai, 49, of Koga, Japan, was taken into custody on Monday, July 6, on suspicion of injuring a 42-year-old woman who had reportedly been living with her for about a year.

Police say the horrifying incident happened around 1:30 p.m. on June 29 inside the residence the two women shared. According to authorities, a needle and thread were allegedly pushed repeatedly through the victim’s upper and lower lips, stitching her mouth shut.

The woman may have been trapped that way for nearly 24 hours.

On June 30, the victim finally managed to flee the home. But because her mouth had been sewn so tightly, she reportedly could not speak. Wearing a face mask to hide her injuries from people outside, she made her way to a nearby shop and scribbled a chilling message to an employee.

“Help me.”

Authorities later questioned the victim about why she had not escaped sooner. According to Japanese outlet TNN, she told police she was too frightened of Sakurai to run.

“I was afraid of Sakurai, so I couldn’t escape right away,” the woman reportedly said, according to Japan Today.

The full extent of the victim’s injuries has not been released, though authorities said her life is not believed to be in danger.

As investigators dig deeper into the case, disturbing questions are emerging about what may have been happening inside Sakurai’s home. Police believe other people may have been living at the residence along with the two women, and several individuals have already been interviewed.

Local reports suggest the home may have operated as a kind of communal living space or makeshift safe house. People familiar with Sakurai told Asahi TV that she had been sheltering individuals who had fled their own homes.

To some, Sakurai reportedly had a reputation as a woman who helped vulnerable people during difficult periods. She allegedly gave people places to stay and even helped some find work.

But neighbors have painted a far stranger picture, with some suggesting the home felt more like a cult than a normal residence.

Neighbors also claimed Sakurai first moved into the area with a husband described as a foreigner, though he had reportedly not been seen for a long time.

A former restaurant colleague who worked with Sakurai until February of last year described her as someone who knew how to pull people into her orbit.

“She was skilled at drawing people to her side,” the former colleague reportedly said.

Authorities are continuing to investigate what happened inside the home and whether any other people may have been caught up in Sakurai’s circle.