Harbouring shimmering hope in her eyes, an Australian model, Carita Simone Ridgway arrived in Tokyo. All she wanted was to build a better life for herself and was willing to put in the hard work. As chronicled by Netflix’s latest documentary series, Missing: The Lucie Blackman Case, Carita was one of the hundreds of victims. Though the documentary primarily focuses on yet another immigrant, Lucie, it highlights Carita’s case, too. While Blackman’s case is indeed flabbergasting, Carita’s backstory is equally nerve-chilling if not more.
Ridgway’s story is an eye-opener and a lesson everyone should be inspired by. She trusted an anonymous person who turned out to be a vulture. Her naivete led her to a coffin. But exactly how did Carita Ridgway die? If you wish to learn more about this model turned-hostess, here’s your chance!
How Did Carita Ridgway Die?
Born on March 3, 1970, Ridgway has always been naturally flamboyant. She was a struggling Australian model with aspirations to become an actress. In the early 1990s, Carita migrated from Australia to Tokyo, Japan, along with her sister. She harboured a passion for acting and wanted to enrol into an acting school. But due to the school’s expensive fees, she had to resort to being a bar hostess. Carita reportedly saved for acting school. She couldn’t accumulate enough money until it was too late.
Ridgway was taken to a hospital on an unfateful night due to alleged food poisoning. The doctors quickly started operating on her and tried their best to save Carita. However, Carita couldn’t be saved. She passed away due to excessive chloroform poisoning. This overdose resulted in liver failure and ultimately Carita was declared brain dead. What began as a simple food-poisoning case turned out to be a lot more complex and nerve-wracking over time.
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Carita Became A Victim Of Joji Obara
Carita’s family often alleged the police of being neglectful in the investigation. Similarly, Blackman’s father had the same issue with the government but soon, the federal officers proved their dedication to the case. Though Carita died on February 9, 1992, it wasn’t until the early 2000s that her predator was caught. To everybody, Ridgway was yet another aspiring model who passed away due to food poisoning. The real reason for her death wasn’t known until the early 2000s due to her family’s no-post-mortem rule.
Japan’s federal system was put under tight scrutiny and high criticism by Blackman’s father, Tim. The federal officers were investigating Lucie’s case when they stumbled upon the evidence that proved Carita’s death was in fact, a murder.
A real-estate mogul, Joji Obara, is the atrocious murderer of the then-twenty-one-year-old Carita. He offered Carita a lift and being the naive woman she was, she couldn’t gauge his true intentions. He drugged and assaulted her but panicked due to a chloroform overdose. Joji rushed Ridgway into a hospital with the help of an alibi but she was long dead by then. The police officers found a journal entitled, “Carita Ridgway, too much chloroform” in his apartment along with a videotape that proved Obara’s involvement in her death.
Carita Is Buried In Australia
The federal officers found over four hundred videotapes along with notes that helped them put Obara behind bars. He’s convicted of several assaults, murders and kidnappings. Ridgway’s family members, similar to hundreds of other victims’ families, remain brokenhearted despite the judgement. They lost Carita to a serial killer who preyed upon young and innocent women.
After the doctors proclaimed Carita to be brain dead in 1992, her family members urged the government to let them take away her corpse. The government accepted the request soon but didn’t support the investigation of her suspicious death. Carita is cremated in an Australian graveyard and is still missed by the Ridgways.
How Did Carita Ridgway Die?–FAQs
She was an Australian model, aspiring actress and bar hostess in Tokyo, Japan.
She moved to Japan with her sister to enrol into acting school and become an actress.
She passed away due to a chloroform overdose that lead to liver issues and brain failure.
Yes, Obara killed Carita Ridgway by drugging her with excessive Chloroform.
Ridgway is cremated in an Australian graveyard, close to her family.
Yes, Obara was arrested for assault, kidnapping and murder in 2007. He’s currently imprisoned in Tokyo.
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