US Marine indicted in alleged Okinawa robbery homicide
A 20-year-old U.S. Marine stationed in Okinawa, Japan, has been indicted on charges stemming from the death last month of a woman found strangled in a hotel, authorities said on Sunday.
LCpl. Devin Jacob Ballard, who is stationed at the Futenma Air Base in Okinawa, was indicted on charges of robbery and murder, according to NHK, Japan's public broadcaster, citing the Naha District Public Prosecutors Office and other sources,
Ballard is accused of strangling a 39-year-old resident of Naha City by wrapping a telephone receiver cord around her neck at a hotel in Naha City on Oct. 3 and also allegedly stealing a backpack containing her wallet and other belongings, according to NHK.
The incident has ignited protests on Okinawa and on the mainland of Japan in Tokyo. It also prompted the Japanese government to lodge a protest with the United States.
"The occurrence of such an extremely brutal and heinous incident is a matter of profound regret, and as the Government of Japan, we have lodged a strong protest with the U.S. side," Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in a social media statement last month, in part.
Police identified the victim as 39-year-old Anna Yagi, according to NHK.
Ballard is assigned to the III Marine Expeditionary Force, a spokesperson previously told ABC News, adding that the force would not release further personal or administrative details "to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation and adhere to privacy regulations."
Security footage allegedly places Ballard at the hotel around the time of the homicide. The security footage showed a person who "appeared to be foreign entering the hotel with a woman and later leaving with her belongings," investigators said, according to NHK.
The man seen in the security videos resembled Ballard, including having a similar hairstyle and tattoos, police said, according to NHK.
Some of the victim's belongings were found abandoned near the hotel, NHK further reported, citing local police.
The prosecution has not disclosed whether the suspect has made incriminating statements in the case.
According to the police, Ballard denied the allegations during questioning at the time of his arrest, allegedly saying, "I don't know anything about it," NHK has reported. During subsequent questioning, Ballard made statements that partially hinted at his involvement in the incident, investigators said, according to NHK.
