A man who police believe may be the suspect in the disappearance of Lucie Blackman apparently telephoned the local fire department in the city of Zushi, Kanagawa Prefecture, on the day of her disappearance asking for information about medical institutions nearby that would accept emergency patients, sources close to the case said Saturday.
Businessman Joji Obara, 48, who has been charged with a total of six cases of drugging and raping women, is believed to be involved in Blackman's disappearance. Authorities, however, have not yet charged him in connection with her case.
According to investigative sources, police have confiscated a tape recording of the phone conversation between a man and the Zushi Fire Department during a search of Obara's apartment.