The tragic death of 3-year-old Molly Kanda on December 13, 1931, in Los Angeles, California, is a story marked by betrayal and heartbreak. Molly was born to Rinzaburo Kanda, a businessman, and Ayako Kanda, née Hagikawa, in 1928. The family resided in West Los Angeles. Ayako, unhappy in her marriage, began an affair with Koji Hatamoto, a 36-year-old man. On December 11, 1931, Ayako decided to leave her husband, taking Molly with her.
She eloped with Hatamoto to Torrance, where they moved into a small cottage on a ranch.
Rinzaburo, upon discovering his wife and daughter missing, searched for them for six months with the help of his brother, Takato. On June 6, 1932, they located Ayako and Hatamoto in Torrance, but Molly was not with them. When confronted, Ayako and Hatamoto initially claimed that Molly had disappeared during a shopping trip in San Pedro. However, under further questioning by the Los Angeles County sheriffs, they confessed that Molly had died the previous December. Ayako revealed that they had buried Molly in the chicken yard outside their cottage.
The investigation revealed that Ayako and Hatamoto had buried Molly's body shortly after her death. The exact circumstances of Molly's death remain unclear, but the confession and subsequent discovery of her body led to the arrest of both Ayako and Hatamoto. They were charged with murder and stood trial for their actions. Ayako Kanda was sentenced to life in prison for her role in the murder of her daughter, while Koji Hatamoto also faced severe legal consequences for his involvement.
The case of Molly Kanda's death is a poignant reminder of the devastating impact of personal betrayals and the lengths to which individuals might go to conceal their actions. The legal proceedings and the eventual sentencing of Ayako and Hatamoto brought some measure of justice for Molly, but the tragedy of her untimely death continues to resonate as a somber chapter in the history of Los Angeles.
