A 38-year-old Marine has been charged with the murder of a prostitute in May.

Master Sgt. Nathaniel L. Cosby was charged Monday with the unpremeditated murder of Ivanice "Ivy" Harris, who was vacationing on Oahu at the time of her death. Cosby was also charged with obstructing justice and patronizing a prostitute.

On Wednesday, Cosby will go before an Article 32 hearing, the military equivalent of a preliminary hearing, at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe. 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 whether 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.

Andre Miller, a childhood friend serving as the family’s spokes­man, said Monday that Harris made a living as a prostitute.

"She was definitely there for her birthday," he said. "I wouldn’t doubt she set up a couple of customers when she was there. That’s what she did as a lifestyle."

It was a lifestyle she was planning to leave, Miller said, describing how she enrolled in community college and was planning to move from Las Vegas back to her native Portland, Ore.

Harris’ parents plan to be in Hawaii for this week’s hearing, which they expect to be graphic, Miller said.

"The family is real conscious and confident things will work out in their favor," he said. "They’ll get justice for their daughter being killed."

Cosby was arrested June 3 at Hono­lulu Airport by Hono­lulu detectives. Cosby was seen on surveillance video entering a Waikiki hotel with Harris.

Cosby, of Jefferson, Ala., was released June 7 while the Hono­lulu Medical Examiner’s Office investigated Harris’ cause of death, later determined to be a neck injury. 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 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 Joint Base Pearl Harbor-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, part of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.

Harris worked as an escort. She grew up in Portland and was living in Las Vegas. Harris was vacationing in Hawaii with her boyfriend and a friend to celebrate her 29th birthday.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.