By JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER
Associated Press
HONOLULU — Honolulu police on Friday released a Japan-based Marine arrested in connection with the murder of an Oregon tourist.
Master Sgt. Nathaniel L. Cosby walked out of police headquarters Friday as detectives continued to investigate. Cosby “isn’t going to be charged at this time” in the death of Ivanice “Ivy” Harris, said Dave Koga, spokesman for the prosecuting attorney’s office. He said charges are pending test results.
The medical examiner’s office is awaiting test results before determining a cause of death.
Cosby, 38, was arrested Wednesday at Honolulu International Airport on suspicion of murdering Harris, who was living in Las Vegas, but was planning to move back home to Portland. She was vacationing with her boyfriend and friend to celebrate her 29th birthday. She was last seen outside a Waikiki bar and her body was later found on Oahu’s leeward coast.
Prosecutors have up to 48 hours to charge a suspect once an arrest is made.
Harris’ family hadn’t been told Cosby would be released, said Andre Miller, a childhood friend serving as the family’s spokesman. “They’re disappointed,” he said. “They’re really confused about the whole situation.”
The Marine Corps said Cosby is an explosive ordnance disposal technician, assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron-171 in the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing based in Iwakuni, Japan. He was on temporary duty assignment in Hawaii.
“The U.S. Marine released today by the Honolulu Police Department has been temporarily reassigned to a unit on Marine Corps Base Hawaii,” Lt. Col. David Griesmer, a spokesman for III Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa, Japan, said in an email Friday. “The Marine Corps and its commanders take all allegations of criminal misconduct involving Marines seriously and are fully cooperating with the investigation.”
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service continues to assist Honolulu police in the investigation.
A woman who identified herself as Cosby’s wife declined to comment. “I know my husband didn’t do this,” she said.
