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The apartment where Yukari Ogino was found dead in Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture, on Saturday. (Mainichi)

MATSUDO, Chiba -- Police say that a Chiba University student found dead following a fire in her apartment here last week died from several fatal stab wounds to the chest, and are investigating the case as murder and arson.

The body of Yukari Ogino, 21, a senior student at the university, was found naked in the ruins of her second-floor apartment which was destroyed in a fire on Thursday night. As her wallet was found in the room, police believe that theft was not the motive.

According to investigators, there were multiple stab wounds to Ogino's neck and chest, as well as a ligature and strangulation marks found around her neck. However, there were no signs of suffocation or defense wounds, leading police to believe that she was taken by surprise and died from the stab wounds.

Neighbors said they didn't hear anything suspicious between late Tuesday night and Thursday night last week.

Ogino's mobile phone was also discovered in her room, and police are investigating it and her workplace, a restaurant in Tokyo, for leads.