A U.S. marine stationed on Okinawa’s southern island has been arrested on suspicion of murder, Japanese police announced on Sunday.
The suspect, Lance Cpl Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, is accused of killing 39‑year‑old Anna Yagi at a hotel in Naha and stealing her wallet and backpack, police said.
Ballard denied the allegations, police said. CCTV footage captured a foreign man entering a room with a woman and later leaving with her belongings, sources said.
U.S. Ambassador George Glass posted condolences and pledged cooperation with the investigation. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called the crime “exceptionally brutal and vicious” and urged the U.S. to enforce stricter discipline among its personnel.
Okinawa hosts about 70% of Japan’s U.S. military facilities and has seen a long history of incidents involving U.S. personnel, including assault, rape and vehicular accidents. In 2024, 80 arrests were recorded, the highest in two decades, reflecting ongoing tensions between the allies.
