A 20-year-old U.S. Marine stationed in Okinawa, Japan, has been indicted on costs stemming from the death last month of a lady discovered strangled in a lodge, authorities mentioned on Sunday.
LCpl. Devin Jacob Ballard, who’s stationed on the Futenma Air Base in Okinawa, was indicted on costs of theft and homicide, in response to NHK, Japan’s public broadcaster, citing the Naha District Public Prosecutors Workplace and different sources,
Ballard is accused of strangling a 39-year-old resident of Naha Metropolis by wrapping a phone receiver wire round her neck at a lodge in Naha Metropolis on Oct. 3 and likewise allegedly stealing a backpack containing her pockets and different belongings, in response to NHK.
Marine Lance Corporal Devin Jacob Ballard leaves a police station to be despatched to prosecutors over the killing of a Japanese girl in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, October 5, 2026 on this picture taken by Kyodo.
Kyodo by way of Reuters
The incident has ignited protests on Okinawa and on the mainland of Japan in Tokyo. It additionally prompted the Japanese authorities to lodge a protest with the US.
“The incidence of such an especially brutal and heinous incident is a matter of profound remorse, and because the Authorities of Japan, we now have lodged a robust protest with the U.S. aspect,” Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi mentioned in a social media statement final month, partially.
Police recognized the sufferer as 39-year-old Anna Yagi, in response to NHK.
Ballard is assigned to the III Marine Expeditionary Power, a spokesperson beforehand advised ABC Information, including that the power wouldn’t launch additional private or administrative particulars “to guard the integrity of the continued investigation and cling to privateness rules.”
Safety footage allegedly locations Ballard on the lodge across the time of the murder. The safety footage confirmed an individual who “gave the impression to be overseas getting into the lodge with a lady and later leaving along with her belongings,” investigators mentioned, in response to NHK.
Helicopters and V-22 Ospreys are seen parked on the tarmac close to buildings at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan, Okinawa prefecture, October 9, 2026. Lawmakers in Okinawa adopted a decision on October 9 calling for revisions to a pact seen as giving the US navy preferential therapy in Japan, following a homicide allegedly dedicated by an American Marine.
Andrew Caballero-reynolds/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
The person seen within the safety movies resembled Ballard, together with having an analogous coiffure and tattoos, police mentioned, according to NHK.
A number of the sufferer’s belongings had been discovered deserted close to the lodge, NHK additional reported, citing native police.
The prosecution has not disclosed whether or not the suspect has made incriminating statements within the case.
In response to the police, Ballard denied the allegations throughout questioning on the time of his arrest, allegedly saying, “I do not know something about it,” NHK has reported. Throughout subsequent questioning, Ballard made statements that partially hinted at his involvement within the incident, investigators mentioned, in response to NHK.
