U.S. Marine accused of robbery-murder after woman found strangled in Okinawa hotel

Tokyo Reporter2026-10-06 07:49查看原文 ↗

OKINAWA (TR) – Okinawa Prefectural Police have arrested a 20-year-old U.S. Marine after a 39-year-old woman was found strangled to death inside a hotel room in Naha City over the weekend, reports Nippon News Network (Oct. 5).

Devin Jacob Ballard, a Private First Class stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, is accused of killing Anna Yagi and making off with her wallet.

Upon his arrest on suspicion of robbery and murder, Ballard denied the allegations, reportedly telling investigators, “I don’t know.”

The discovery was made early on October 3. Hotel staff entered the room after the occupants failed to emerge past checkout time, only to find Yagi collapsed lifelessly.

Police confirmed the cause of death as asphyxiation due to strangulation. Her wallet and other belongings were missing from the scene.

Devin Jacob Ballard (X)

An acquaintance of the victim reported seeing Yagi with a foreign man the night before she died. “I was paying at the entrance of a club when she called my name. I turned around and saw Anna. I can confirm she was walking with a single foreign male,” the witness said.

Security camera footage later captured a foreign-looking man exiting the hotel alone, clutching an object in his hands. Following a police manhunt, Ballard was located and apprehended that same night in a nightlife district in Okinawa City, approximately 20 kilometers from the crime scene. The nature of his relationship with the victim remains under investigation.

The crime has ignited fierce outrage in Okinawa, a prefecture repeatedly plagued by violent incidents involving U.S. military personnel.

Okinawa Governor Genta Koja summoned top U.S. military officials to the prefectural office to deliver a stern protest. “This causes a tremendous shock and brings renewed anxiety to the residents of this prefecture, who are forced to live side-by-side with the bases,” Koja said. “It is absolutely unforgivable, and I feel extreme indignation.”

“Extremely regrettable”

The fallout has reached the highest levels of the national government. Prime Minister Takaichi condemned the incident as “extremely regrettable,” stating that the government has lodged a strong protest with the U.S. and demanded strict disciplinary action and preventative measures.

Defense Minister Koizumi also summoned the commander of U.S. Forces Japan to formally protest, emphasizing that Japan takes the matter “extremely seriously.”

Police are continuing to investigate the exact circumstances leading up to the fatal encounter.

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冲绳（TR）——据日本新闻网（10月5日）报道，冲绳县警方逮捕了一名20岁的美国海军陆战队员，此前一名39岁的女子于周末在那霸市一家酒店房间内被发现遭勒死。

驻扎在普天间海军陆战队航空站的一等兵德文·雅各布·巴拉德被指控杀害了安娜·八木并抢走了她的钱包。

巴拉德因涉嫌抢劫和谋杀被捕后，否认了这些指控，据报道他告诉调查人员：“我不知道。”

10 月 3 日清晨，酒店工作人员发现房客过了退房时间仍未离开房间，于是进入房间，发现 Yagi 已经倒地不起，没有了生命迹象。

警方确认死因是窒息，系勒颈所致。她的钱包和其他物品在现场不见踪影。

德文·雅各布·巴拉德（X）

受害者的一位熟人称，在她去世前一晚看到八木和一个外国男子在一起。“我当时正在一家俱乐部门口付钱，她叫了我的名字。我转过身，看到了安娜。我可以确认她当时和一个外国男子单独走在一起，”这位目击者说。

监控录像随后拍到一名外籍男子独自一人走出酒店，手中紧握着一个物体。警方展开搜捕，当晚在冲绳市一处夜生活区将巴拉德抓获，该地点距离案发现场约20公里。他与受害者之间的关系仍在调查中。

这起罪行在冲绳引发了强烈愤慨，冲绳县长期以来饱受涉及美军人员的暴力事件困扰。

冲绳县知事古屋源太召见美军高级官员到县政府，表达了严厉的抗议。古屋表示：“这给被迫与军事基地毗邻而居的本县居民带来了巨大的冲击和焦虑。这是绝对不可原谅的，我感到无比愤慨。”

“极其遗憾”

事件的影响已经波及到日本政府最高层。首相高市伸夫谴责此次事件“极其令人遗憾”，并表示政府已向美国提出强烈抗议，要求美方采取严厉的纪律处分和预防措施。