A U.S. Navy officer was charged with second-degree murder on Wednesday in the death of his wife, Jessica “Jesse” Arguinzoni Olsen, whose body was discovered in a hotel room in Japan in October.
Lieutenant Commander Christopher Olsen was also charged with obstruction of justice at a preliminary hearing at Naval Base San Diego on Wednesday.
Why It Matters
Jesse’s family is calling on the Navy for more transparency as the case proceeds. Dominique Arguinzoni, Jesse’s sister, said the family is still searching for answers after Christopher was charged.
“LCDR Christopher Olsen has finally been charged—five months later. And still, we wait. No timeline. No answers to our questions about the next legal steps. No clear communication. No respect,” Dominique told Newsweek.
Dominique confirmed to Newsweek that Olsen was charged with Article 118, which is second degree murder, and Article 131B, which is obstruction of justice, under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. She noted that the United States Navy is handling the court proceedings.
Dominique Arguinzoni
What To Know
Christopher joined the Navy in 2014 and became a surface officer last July. He was stationed at Sasebo Naval Base in Japan from November 2022 to December 2023. He is now assigned to Naval Surface Group Southwest in San Diego.
Police found Jesse, 37, dead in a hotel room in Fukoka on October 28. She suffered injuries to her head, including her jaw and hyoid bones, Stars and Stripes reported.
Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Naval Forces Japan for comment.
Dominique said her family has been treated like an “afterthought” ever since they were informed of Jesse’s death over the phone.
“There was no in-person visit, no support team, no effort to ensure they were physically or emotionally able to process the news,” Dominique said. “We were simply told that Jesse was dead—and that her husband, LCDR Christopher Olsen, was a person of interest.”
She said the family was promised a liaison officer to help them navigate the process of settling Jesse’s affairs and navigating legal proceedings.
“First, we were told that the liaison had retired. Then, we were told my parents were not eligible for a liaison at all, because the legal next of kin—the person of interest in her murder—was her husband,” Dominique said.
The family is still awaiting the return of Jesse’s personal belongings .Dominique said they were asked to provide a list of items, so Christopher can decide whether to release them.
“What kind of system prioritizes the accused over the grieving? How can we accept a system where the family of a murdered woman must beg for updates and plead for the return of her belongings?” Dominique said.
The family is calling for justice for Jesse and wants to ensure that “no other family is ever treated this way again.”
A Facebook group has been started called “Justice for Jesse Olsen” and a GoFundMe for the family has raised over $8,000.
What People Are Saying
Dominique, in a statement to Newsweek: “The silence from the Navy is not just inhumane—it is part of the injustice. This lack of accountability and communication must be exposed. Jesse was a daughter, a sister, and a beloved human being. She mattered. And she deserves better than to have her life and death swept under the rug.”
Commander Paul Macapagal, spokesperson for Naval Forces Japan, in comments to Stars and Stripes: “We are unable to comment further at this time due to the ongoing litigation. The Navy is committed to ensuring the military justice system is fair and impartial, and the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty.”
What Happens Next
The hearing officer is expected to make a recommendation to the Navy’s Office of Special Trial Counsel, which decides whether to refer the case to trial.
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