US Marine Arrested in Japan for Alleged Murder, Robbery
A 20-year-old Marine stationed in Okinawa is suspected of killing a local woman and stealing her belongings.
A U.S. Marine has been arrested in Japan in connection with the alleged murder and robbery of a local woman. Lance Cpl. Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, is accused by the Okinawa prefectural police of robbing and killing 39-year-old Anna Yagi in a hotel room in Naha, the island's capital.
Ballard was taken into custody around 1 a.m. Sunday, according to police. Investigators believe he entered the hotel with Yagi and was later seen leaving alone. Security footage is reported to have captured a man matching Ballard's description entering the hotel with the victim. Yagi's body was discovered in the hotel room, with initial reports suggesting she was strangled to death.
Ballard, who is stationed at Futenma Air Station on Okinawa, was arrested by an officer who observed him walking alone in the city's entertainment district late Saturday night. He has reportedly denied the allegations against him.