Devin Ballard, 20, who is stationed at Futenma Air Base, was indicted amid growing public anger in Okinawa over the presence of US military installations, Anadolu Agency reported.
According to the report, Ballard is accused of killing the woman by wrapping a phone cord around her neck at a hotel in Naha, the prefectural capital, on Oct. 3.
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Police found Ballard walking alone in Okinawa city late that day and arrested him the following day on suspicion of robbery and murder.
The case prompted Okinawa Gov. Genta Koja to renew calls for the Japanese central government to take preventive measures. Local residents have previously raised concerns over crimes involving US service members, including offenses against women and girls, as well as noise and pollution associated with military installations.
The Japanese government lodged a strong protest with Washington over the incident, while Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi described the case as a “heinous crime.”
Tokyo also called on the US to fully cooperate with the investigation and ensure strict discipline among its military personnel stationed in Japan.
Following Ballard’s arrest, the US military in Okinawa imposed a 30-day curfew on Oct. 9, restricting personnel from leaving their bases between midnight and 5 a.m.
Washington and Tokyo have also begun discussions on preventive measures, including reviewing the effectiveness of the US military’s “liberty policy,” which governs personnel conduct off base in Japan, and considering joint patrols involving American forces and Japanese police.
