The military has placed a Marine sergeant in the Pearl Harbor brig while it investigates the death of an Oregon woman in May.
The Marine Corps and city prosecutor’s office said the military would take over the investigation of Sgt. Nathaniel L. Cosby, 38, who was arrested in the death of Ivanice "Ivy" Harris, whose body was found near Yokohama Bay after being missing for four days.
Dr. William Goodhue Jr. of the Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Harris’ death a homicide, the office said Friday. He also found the presence of marijuana in her system.
The Medical Examiner’s Office said the cause of death was injury to the neck.
Cosby has been administratively transferred to U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific at Camp Smith, according to a joint statement from city Prosector Keith Kaneshiro and Marines at Camp Smith. Cosby is being detained in pretrial confinement at the Joint Brig Miramar-Detachment Pearl Harbor Brig on Ford Island during the criminal investigation.
No charges have been filed.
In the statement, Kaneshiro said he concurs with the change in jurisdiction, adding, "What is important is not who prosecutes the case, but that justice is achieved. I have full confidence in U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific and my office is prepared to offer any assistance if needed."
Honolulu police said Friday they were transferring the case to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Police released Cosby on June 7. He had been arrested a few days earlier at Honolulu Airport on suspicion of murder in the Harris’ death.
At the time of his release, the Marine Corps on Okinawa assigned Cosby to Kaneohe Bay during the criminal investigation.
Cosby, of Jefferson, Ala., is an explosive-ordnance disposal specialist who was in Hawaii on temporary duty. Navy officials said he was assigned to Joint Prisoners of War, Missing in Action Accounting Command at Hickam. Cosby enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1998.
He was stationed at Iwakuni Marine Corps Air Station in Japan, where he is assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron-171, which is a part of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.
Harris was last seen outside a Waikiki bar at 2:15 a.m. May 16, police said. Her body was found four days later on the Leeward Coast.
Harris, who grew up in Portland, Ore., and was living in Las Vegas, was vacationing in Hawaii with her boyfriend and a friend to celebrate her 29th birthday.
Friends said Harris worked as a prostitute. She was listed with an online escort service.
Star-Advertiser reporter Leila Fujimori contributed to this report.
