U.S. Marine indicted on murder charge over woman’s killing in Japan

October 26, 2026 / 6:25 AM EDT / CBS/AFP

Japanese prosecutors have indicted a U.S. Marine on suspicion of murdering a woman on Okinawa, a court spokesman told AFP on Monday, in a case that prompted public outrage.

The alleged killing of the 39-year-old Japanese woman caused Japan's premier to slam the "heinous crime" and reignited controversy over the heavy U.S. military presence on the southern island.

"The case was indicted on October 25," said the spokesman for the court in Naha, confirming media reports that the suspect had been indicted on charges of murder and robbery.

Okinawa prefectural police said they arrested Lance Cpl. Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, who is stationed at Futenma Air Station, on suspicion of strangling Anna Yagi, 39, at a hotel in the island's capital city of Naha.

The Yomiuri Shimbun reported that, according to the indictment document, the suspect allegedly strangled the woman from Naha in a hotel with a telephone cord on October 3.

He is also accused of stealing a backpack containing the woman's wallet and other belongings, the newspaper said.

The Marine denied the allegations at the time of his arrest but has now made statements that imply some involvement in…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/world/