Tokyo, Japan
A US Marine was arrested on Sunday on suspicion of murder and robbery after a woman’s body was found in a hotel room in Japan, local police told CNN.
A 39-year-old woman was found unconscious in her hotel room in Naha, on the island of Okinawa, and was pronounced dead at the scene early Saturday, Okinawa police said.
Police also told CNN that based on the condition of the woman’s body, she appeared to have been murdered, but did not provide further details.
The 20-year-old Marine was stationed at Futenma Air Base, also on the island, police added.
CCTV footage allegedly showed a man, believed to be a foreign national, with a shaved head, entering the hotel room with the woman and then leaving the building with his belongings in hand, police said.
The US embassy in Tokyo said on X that it was “aware that a US service member is in custody following the death of a Japanese national in Okinawa”.
“While an investigation is underway to determine the facts of the case, the United States is communicating and cooperating with the Japanese government and local authorities,” the embassy added.
CNN has contacted the Pentagon and the United States Marine Corps for comment.
The woman’s body was discovered around 4:30 a.m. local time on Saturday, and the US marine was arrested less than 24 hours later, at 1 a.m. local time, while walking in the city, the force added.
Police said an investigation was underway.
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