Okinawa prosecutors indict US Marine on charge of robbery causing death

A U.S. Marine has been formally charged with killing and robbing a Japanese woman at a hotel in Okinawa’s capital. Lance Cpl. Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, far right, has been indicted on a charge of robbery causing death in the killing of Anna Yagi, 39, on Oct. 3, 2026, in Naha, Okinawa. (Threads) A U.S. Marine has been formally charged with killing and robbing a Japanese woman at a hotel in Okinawa’s capital, three weeks after his arrest prompted calls for changes to the status of forces agreement governing American military personnel in Japan. Lance Cpl. Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, was indicted Sunday on a charge of robbery causing death in the killing of Anna Yagi, 39, according to a copy of the indictment provided by the Naha Public Prosecutors Office.

They allege Ballard wrapped a telephone handset cord around Yagi’s neck in the early hours of Oct. 3 “with intent to kill,” strangled her and stole her backpack containing a wallet and other belongings. Ballard, who was arrested the next day, has denied the allegations, according to Okinawa Prefectural Police. If convicted, he faces the death penalty or life imprisonment under Japan’s penal code. Anna Yagi is pictured March 6, 2019, in this screenshot from her Facebook page. (Facebook) III Marine Expeditionary Force continues to cooperate with the investigation,