Tempe Mother Gets Life Terms For Killing Children

Yui Inoue, a Tempe mother, has been sentenced to two consecutive life terms for the murders of her children, 9-year-old Mia and 7-year-old Kai, in 2021. Inoue killed the children with a meat cleaver while they slept, and their bodies were later found covered with trash, boxes, and a mattress. She claimed to have heard voices instructing her to commit the murders and exhibited signs of mental distress, but jurors rejected arguments of diminished responsibility. The killings followed a domestic dispute that led Inoue’s husband to leave the apartment, and child safety authorities had previously investigated the family but did not remove the children. Prosecutors chose not to seek the death penalty, instead highlighting the brutality and emotional toll of the crime. The severity of the case deeply affected first responders and the surrounding community.