A United States service member is in custody on suspicion of killing a Japanese woman on the island of Okinawa.

Lance Corporal Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, is suspected of killing Anna Yagi, 39, in a hotel in Naha, the capital of the southernmost prefecture, on Saturday and taking her wallet and backpack, local police said.

The Marine was stationed at Air Station Futenma on Okinawa and denies the allegations, police said.