Ep. 397: Mouri investigates a hanging death involving embezzlement and a complex ice-based murder method.

397

Fumie Ozawa is discovered dead in her bathroom, appearing to have hanged herself with a thin wire. Her friend Etsuko Aikawa insists it was murder, while the medical examiner places the time of death between 6 and 8 pm the previous night. Mouri notices a scheduled dentist appointment for the day of the incident. Conan identifies a powdered substance as katakuri starch. Police uncover a 30 million yen deficit in Ozawa’s company finances, suspecting embezzlement by her superior, Ryota Shimizu. Shimizu received an email from Ozawa at 5:45 pm, and his alibi is questioned when a delivery man sees Aikawa earlier than claimed. Although authorities suspect Aikawa is framing Shimizu, Conan tranquilizes Kogorou to reveal the truth. Shimizu used melting ice to hang Ozawa and manipulated her phone to create an alibi. He confesses, stating he committed the crime to prevent her from serving a life sentence for the embezzlement.