U.S. Marine arrested in Japan, accused of killing Japanese woman in Okinawa

October 4, 2026 / 9:43 AM EDT / CBS/AFP

A U.S. Marine stationed in Japan's southern island of Okinawa was arrested following the death of a Japanese woman, local police said on Sunday. Japan lodged a strong protest with the U.S. and demanded maximum cooperation with the investigation.

A local police spokesman told the AFP that the suspect, a 20-year-old man, allegedly "killed the 39-year-old woman at a hotel in Naha and stole her wallet on Saturday." The supsect has denied the allegations.

Public broadcaster NHK and other Japanese media outlets, citing investigation sources, reported that CCTV footage from near the scene showed a foreign man entering a room with a woman and later leaving with her belongings.

Police then found a 20-year-old man who matched the description of the suspect seen in the footage and asked him to accompany them voluntarily to a local police station, where he was arrested, NHK reported.

"The case deals a major shock and adds fear to the Okinawans who have already been forced to live next to U.S. bases," newly elected Okinawa Gov. Genta Koja told reporters, the Associated Press reported. "It is absolutely unforgivable and we are outraged."

"We have lost a…

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