US Marine arrested in Okinawa over woman's death

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 11 Oct, 02:13 · Archive

A 20-year-old US Marine has been arrested in Okinawa on suspicion of murdering a Japanese woman in a hotel.

Lance Corporal Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, was arrested on suspicion of murder and robbery after police were called to a hotel in Naha, Okinawa on a Saturday morning. A hotel employee found 39-year-old Anna Yagi unconscious in her room after she failed to check out. Paramedics were unable to save her, and a post-mortem determined she died of suffocation and had been strangled between 2am and 4am.

CCTV footage showed a foreign man with a shaved head and tattoos entering the hotel with the woman and later leaving alone, carrying her wallet and backpack. Police arrested the suspect less than 24 hours later as he walked through the city, recognizing him from his tattoos.

The arrest has prompted dozens of protests in Tokyo. The case is the latest in a string of incidents going back years involving US servicemen in Okinawa. According to the Daily Mail, crimes by American servicemen in the prefecture, especially rape, have caused tension for decades and are only growing according to local police.

How it is being reported

• A horrific murder allegation has left furious Japanese locals protesting US marines in their country... but for a greater good, things will likely not be allowed to changeThe problem of American servicemen committing crimes in Okinawa, especially rape, has caused tension for decades but is only growing according to local police.Daily Mail · 11 Oct, 01:53
• Dozens protest in Tokyo after U.S. Marine accused of murder in OkinawaThe case is the latest in a string of incidents going back years that have fueled unease over the large U.S. troop presence in Okinawa Prefecture.The Japan Times · 9 Oct, 03:55

In this story: Devin Jacob Ballard · Anna Yagi · Okinawa · Naha · Tokyo · US Marines

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem