What charges does the U.S. Marine face in the Okinawa case?

The Marine was indicted on suspicion of murdering the woman and on robbery charges over the alleged theft of her backpack, which contained her wallet and other belongings.

What does the indictment allege happened to the woman in Naha?

The indictment alleges that the 20-year-old suspect strangled the 39-year-old woman with a telephone cord in a hotel on Oct. 3, then took her backpack. The woman was from Naha.

Why has the Okinawa case renewed controversy over U.S. troops on the island?

Crimes involving U.S. military personnel, including rapes, assaults, hit-and-runs and drunk driving, have long prompted protests on Okinawa. The island has also urged other regions in Japan to share the burden of hosting U.S. troops.

Japan indicts US Marine on murder charge in Okinawa: reports

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Summary

Japanese prosecutors indicted a U.S. Marine in Okinawa on suspicion of murdering a woman and robbing her, reports said Monday. The indictment alleges that the 20-year-old strangled a 39-year-old woman from Naha with a telephone cord in a hotel on Oct. 3 and stole her backpack. The case has prompted public outrage and renewed controversy over the U.S. military presence on the island. Japan’s premier called the crime heinous.

Key Facts

The woman’s backpack allegedly contained her wallet and other belongings.
The Marine denied the allegations when arrested but has since made statements that imply some involvement, media reports said, citing investigative sources.
Crimes attributed to U.S. military personnel on Okinawa have included rapes, assaults, hit-and-runs and drunk driving.
Okinawa has for years urged other regions in Japan to share the burden of hosting U.S. troops.

By AFP

Published Oct 26, 2026 10:04 am KST

U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Devin Jacob Ballard leaves a police station to be sent to prosecutors over the killing of a Japanese woman in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, Oct. 5. Reuters-Yonhap

TOKYO — Japanese prosecutors have indicted a U.S. Marine on suspicion of murdering a woman in Okinawa, reports said Monday.

The case has prompted public outrage, caused Japan's premier to slam the "heinous crime" and reignited controversy over the heavy U.S. military presence on the southern island.

According to the indictment document, the 20-year-old suspect allegedly strangled a 39-year-old woman from Naha in a hotel with a telephone cord on Oct. 3, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported.

He is also accused of stealing a backpack containing the woman's wallet and other belongings, the newspaper said, and has been indicted on robbery charges.

The Marine denied the allegations at the time of his arrest but has now made statements that imply some involvement in the case, the Yomiuri and other media said, citing investigative sources.

Prosecutors were not immediately reachable when contacted by AFP.

Crimes including rapes, assaults, hit-and-runs and drunk driving by U.S. military personnel have long triggered protests on the southern Japanese island, which has for years urged other regions in the country to share the burden of hosting U.S. troops.

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