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 U.S. Marine accused of killing woman in Japan, drawing official protest from Tokyo
10/04/26 08:36 AM
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Devin Jacob Ballard was arrested in the killing and robbing of Anna Yagi, police told Japan’s public broadcaster. He denied the allegations, a spokesman said.
October 4, 2026 at 6:49
By Chie Tanaka and Aoife Walsh
TOKYO — A U.S. Marine has been arrested on suspicion of killing and robbing a Japanese woman in Okinawa, officials say, prompting Tokyo to lodge a protest with the United States on Sunday.
Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, is accused of killing Anna Yagi, 39, in a hotel Saturday, police told Japan’s public broadcaster, NHK. Ballard has denied the allegations, a spokesman said.
The III Marine Expeditionary Force, based in Okinawa, said it was cooperating with authorities “in response to allegations of serious criminal actions.”
“The Marine Corps takes these allegations very seriously and expects every Marine to adhere to the highest standards of behavior. The Marine is in custody of local authorities while investigations proceed,” it added.
Surveillance footage showed a man entering the hotel with a woman and later leaving with her belongings, NHK reported.
Yagi was pronounced dead at the scene, police said, and some of her belongings were found abandoned near the hotel. Police did not respond to a request for comment Sunday. Japan’s defense minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, said the arrested Marine is a lance corporal.
In a statement on X, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called the incident “extremely brutal and heinous.” She said her government has “lodged a strong protest with the U.S. side, while firmly demanding maximum cooperation with the investigation, strict discipline among U.S. military personnel, and thorough measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents and accidents.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/10/04/us-marine-accused-murder-japan-drawing-official-protest-tokyo/
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