Jailed suspect commits suicide

A Japanese businessman accused of conspiring to have his wife murdered 27 years ago in Los Angeles hanged himself in his jail cell overnight, a few hours after he arrived in the United States to face charges, police said Saturday morning.

Kazuyoshi Miura, 61, was found in his cell about 9:45 p.m. Friday by a jail officer during a routine inspection, Deputy Chief Charlie Beck of the Los Angeles Police Department said at a news conference.

“It was apparent that the murder suspect, alone in his cell, had used a piece of his shirt as a makeshift ligature around his neck,” Beck said.

Miura’s case has long been a high-profile saga in Japan, where Miura was dubbed “the Japanese O.J. Simpson.” His extradition had drawn journalists to Los Angeles from dozens of foreign media outlets, some from as far away as Bangkok, Thailand, Tokyo and Saipan, the U.S. territory Miura had been visiting when he was taken into custody in February.

Asheville, N.C.

Fall over dog sends Graham to hospital

Evangelist Billy Graham was released from the hospital Saturday, sore and bruised but not seriously injured, after he tripped and fell over one of his dogs at his North Carolina home, hospital officials said.

The 89-year-old Graham stayed overnight at Mission Hospital in Asheville with discomfort and bruising. X-rays showed no broken bones.

The Southern Baptist minister fell late Friday at his home in Montreat, N.C.

Dennis, Mass.

Manatee rescued from Cape Cod

A wayward manatee is headed home to Florida after being pulled from frigid Cape Cod waters in an early morning rescue.

The juvenile male manatee wandered into Sesuit Harbor near Dennis, Mass., last week. Wildlife officials decided to pull him out Saturday, fearing for his health in the chilly water.

Manatees are normally found off Florida and Georgia and stop feeding if they get too cold.

Workers will keep the manatee wet during the 20-hour drive to Sea World in Florida.

Once he’s rehabilitated there, he’ll be released into the wild.