U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Olsen and his wife, Jessica “Jesse” Arguinzoni Olsen, pose together in this undated photo. (Arguinzoni family)
A U.S. Navy officer is scheduled to face a court-martial in October on accusations that he strangled and beat his wife to death in Japan, then attempted to obstruct the investigation, according to service officials and the sailor’s attorney.
Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Olsen was arraigned Wednesday at Naval Base San Diego, Naval Forces Japan spokesman Cmdr. Paul Macapagal confirmed by email Monday. Olsen is charged with unpremeditated murder and obstruction of justice in the death of Jessica “Jesse” Arguinzoni Olsen.
Olsen’s trial is set to begin Oct. 20 and is expected to last three weeks, his defense attorney, Lt. Cmdr. Daniel Phipps of the Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps, said by phone Monday.
It will take place at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, Macapagal said.
Olsen did not enter a plea at the arraignment, Phipps said.
“That’s pretty commonplace; the plea is always reserved for a later date,” he said before declining further comment on the case.
Jesse Olsen, 37, was found dead in a hotel room in Fukuoka, about 80 miles northeast of Sasebo Naval Base, on the morning of Oct. 28.
Christopher Olsen, who was then assigned to the USS New Orleans at Sasebo, allegedly killed his wife “on or about Oct. 26” by “strangulation and blunt force trauma to the head,” according to a charge sheet released May 13.
The following day, “on or about Oct. 27,” Olsen allegedly extended his stay at Hotel SOL, and gave staff false information about his wife’s condition, the charge sheet states. He also reportedly instructed hotel staff not to enter the room — actions prosecutors say were intended “to impede and obstruct the due administration of justice.”
Fukuoka police discovered Jesse Olsen after hotel staff raised concerns. Authorities confirmed the location as a hotel in the city’s Chuo district. While police did not name the hotel, the address provided at the time matched Hotel SOL.
Jesse Olsen’s body was returned to her family on Nov. 16, her sister, Dominque Arguinzoni, told Stars and Stripes last month. She said the family was informed Jesse had suffered injuries to her head and face and that her jaw and hyoid bones were broken.
Jessica “Jesse” Arguinzoni Olsen poses in this undated photo. (Arguinzoni family)
