Japanese police arrested a 20-year-old U.S. Marine on suspicion of killing a 39-year-old woman in an Okinawa hotel, and he denies it. Police say Lance Cpl. Devin Jacob Ballard took her wallet and a backpack, and they have not given any other reason. Japan’s government has protested to the United States.
Story Snapshot
- Police arrested Ballard on Sunday, October 4, on suspicion of robbery and murder. He has not been charged.
- The killing happened early Saturday, October 3, in a hotel in Naha, the capital of Okinawa. The victim was Anna Yagi, 39.
- Ballard denies the allegations, police say.
- Japan’s prime minister said the government “strongly protests to the US side.” The Marine Corps says it is cooperating.
What Police Say Happened in Naha
Police say the killing took place between 2:10 a.m. and 4:17 a.m. Saturday at the Naminoue Crystal Hotel. They say security cameras show Yagi and Ballard going in together and Ballard leaving alone. A hotel worker later found her unconscious and called emergency services. Police say the wallet and backpack were taken from her.
Ballard was arrested early Sunday. Police have not released a motive beyond the alleged theft. Arrested on suspicion means police believe he did it, but no court has heard the case and no charge has been filed. Reports say police are expected to send the case to the Naha Public Prosecutors Office within 48 hours of the arrest. Prosecutors decide whether to file charges. As of Sunday, October 4, no charge has been reported.
Japan Protests, Marines Respond
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called the case “extremely brutal and heinous.” She said Japan “strongly protests to the US side.” On Sunday, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi called in U.S. Ambassador George Glass and asked for full help with the investigation and tighter discipline among U.S. troops.
The Marine Corps said it is “actively cooperating with Japanese authorities in response to allegations of serious criminal actions by a Marine assigned to the III Marine Expeditionary Force.” It also said it “takes these allegations very seriously and expects every Marine to adhere to the highest standards of behavior.” Ballard is based at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on Okinawa and remains in Japanese custody.
Why Okinawa Feels Every Case So Deeply
About 18,000 Marines are stationed in Japan, most of them on Okinawa, a small island with a large share of the U.S. military presence in the country. Crimes by American troops there have long been a sore point. A 1995 rape case involving U.S. troops brought mass protests, and each new case brings those memories back. It can also make it harder to move Marines out of Futenma, the base Okinawans have long wanted closed.
The case also touches the Status of Forces Agreement, the pact that sets legal rules for U.S. troops stationed in Japan. In this case, Japanese police made the arrest and the Marine Corps says Ballard remains in Japanese custody.
What to Watch Next
The next step is the decision by prosecutors on whether to charge Ballard. Police have not released the video, and no cause of death has been given publicly. Officials in Tokyo and Washington have both said they will work together on the investigation.
Sources:
cnn.com, straitstimes.com, nippon.com, thewest.com.au
