MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan — Japanese police are questioning a staff sergeant with the 35th Maintenance Squadron about the murder of Naomi Kimura, a local Japanese woman found dead in the trunk of a burned car on a Hachinohe railroad in July.
Japanese newspaper Too Nippo reported Friday that police believe the airman knows something about the disposal of Kimura’s body and have been questioning him on a voluntary basis.
Base officials at Misawa on Friday said that Staff Sgt. Charles Johnson has been restricted to the base since earlier this month and will continue to be until the Japanese National Police completes its investigation.
“The Japanese National Police are the lead agency in this investigation and we are working closely with them to assist them in their efforts,” said Capt. Teresa Sullivan, base spokeswoman, in a written statement.
A Hachinohe police spokesman said Friday he was not aware of the investigation.
Too Nippo reported that the airman being questioned is a male friend of William Scott Omari McAllister, a former airman assigned to Misawa. McAllister was arrested March 2 on suspicion of “damaging and disposing” Kimura’s body. McAllister, 25, worked at Misawa until December 2005.
Base officials would not comment on McAllister’s case since he no longer is in the military.
Kimura owned the Purple Haze bar in downtown Misawa. The bar has since closed.
McAllister and Kimura were married briefly, according to local news reports.
