Marine facing murder charges in Oregon woman’s death
Marine Master Sgt. Nathaniel L. Cosby, 38, suspected of killing a Las Vegas prostitute last month, was released by police today. (Courtesy HPD)
A 38 year-old Marine has been charged with the murder of a prostitute in May on Oahu.
Master Sgt. Nathaniel L. Cosby was charged with the unpremeditated murder of Ivanice "Ivy" Harris. He also faces charges of murder while engaging in an inherently dangerous act, voluntary manslaughter, obstructing justice, and patronizing a prostitute.
Cosby will go before an Article 32 hearing, the military equivalent of a preliminary hearing on Sept. 25 at Kaneohe’s Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Cosby, who was assigned to a Marine Corps unit in Okinawa, was reassigned to Camp Smith when the case was transferred to the military.
The purpose of the Article 32 hearing is to determine if Cosby will face a court martial on the murder and other charges.
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.
Cosby was arrested June 3 at Honolulu Airport by Honolulu detectives. Cosby was seen on surveillance video entering a Waikiki hotel with Harris.
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Cosby, of Jefferson, Ala., was released June 7 while the Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office investigated Harris’ cause of death which was later determined to be homicide. The cause of Harris’ death was injury to her neck. An autopsy also found the presence of marijuana in her system.
On June 23, the Marines and city prosecutor’s office said the military would take over the investigation of the case.
Cosby, an explosive-ordnance disposal specialist who was in Hawaii on temporary duty, was administratively transferred to U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, at Camp Smith during the criminal investigation.
Navy officials said that while in Hawaii on temporary duty, Cosby 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 Iwa-kuni 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 worked as an escort. She grew up in Portland, Ore., and was living in Las Vegas. Harris was vacationing in Hawaii with her boyfriend and a friend to celebrate her 29th birthday.
