US marine, 20, arrested on suspicion of murder after woman’s body found in Japanese hotel

DAILYMAIL.COM • 1h ago

By JAMES GORDON, US NEWS REPORTER 01:54 04 Oct 2026, updated 04:28 04 Oct 2026

A US marine has been arrested on suspicion of murder and robbery after a woman was found dead inside a hotel room on the Japanese island of Okinawa.

The 20-year-old, named by Japanese news outlet Asahi as Devin Jacob Ballard, is reportedly stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.

He was taken into custody after the body of 39-year-old Anna Yagi was discovered in Naha early Saturday.

Police suspect the young marine killed Yagi sometime between 2 and 4am before stealing her wallet and other belongings.

The disturbing discovery was made after Yagi failed to leave the room by the hotel’s designated checkout time.

A concerned hotel employee unlocked the door and entered the room, where Yagi was found unconscious.

Emergency services were alerted at around 4.20am, but Yagi was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police initially launched an urgent hunt for a mystery man after reviewing surveillance footage from the hotel.

Investigators said cameras showed a man and woman entering the hotel together before the man later emerged from the building alone.

According to the police, security camera footage showed the suspect leaving the hotel entrance with the woman’s belongings in his hand.

He had a shaved head, was wearing a black tank top and three-quarter length pants, and white sneakers. The belongings were later found around the hotel.

Authorities believed the unidentified man could have information about what happened inside the room and began searching for him.

Police eventually arrested Ballard on suspicion of robbery and murder.

The exact circumstances surrounding Yagi’s death have not yet been disclosed. It is also unclear how Ballard and Yagi knew one another.

A Marines spokesperson based in Okinawa, Japan said they were cooperating with local law enforcement.

‘We are actively cooperating with Japanese authorities in response to allegations of serious criminal actions by a Marine assigned to the III Marine Expeditionary Force. We extend our deepest condolences to the victim’s family and friends.

‘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 the investigation proceeds,’ the spokesperson told the Daily Mail.

Ballard was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, a major American military installation on Okinawa.

The sprawling air station is located in Ginowan, north of Naha, and serves as a strategically important hub for US Marine Corps operations in the Indo-Pacific.

The Marine Corps says Futenma’s mission includes supporting Marine forces and American, joint and allied forces while maintaining readiness to respond to crises and contingency operations across the region.

Okinawa itself has an enormous American military presence and is home to III Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Corps Installations Pacific, along with a network of Marine Corps installations.

The US military presence on the island means thousands of American service personnel are stationed in the region.

The Daily Mail has contacted the Marines and the Department of War for comment.

The Okinawa Prefectural Police have also been contacted for further details.

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