The US Military base in Okinawa was established in Japan not only to project American force in the region but also to serve as a strategic location for the USA government, perfectly positioned to monitor potential threats to Japan and the wider Asia.

To efficiently operate the base, approximately 26,000 Marines work there, and one of them was Ali Abulaban.

This case has been reported on before, but this time, the trial is over, and all the facts from both sides have been laid bare.

A Long-Distance Love Story

Ali was reportedly deployed to Japan after enlisting at 17. Born and raised in Virginia, his parents were from the Middle East.

While in Okinawa, Ali met the Filipina, Anna Marie Macedonio, the daughter of a soldier also stationed in Japan.

The two became inseparable, separating only when Anna’s Filipino father decided to retire and move back to the Philippines.

The couple agreed to stay strong despite the long-distance relationship. Anna lived with her family in their home in Angeles, Pampanga.

However, they quickly sought a way to reunite when Anna discovered she was pregnant.

Ali immediately applied for a visa to bring his family to the US, but due to the length of the process, their daughter, Amira, was born and baptized in Angeles City.

Their separation proved difficult, and when Anna and Amira finally arrived in America, video footage showed their immense joy at finally being together.

In 2017, the couple married at a courthouse and settled in their own home in Bristow, Virginia, near Ali’s family.

The Rise of “JinnKid”

Two years later, Ali began creating videos, sharing them across platforms like Instagram and YouTube, calling himself “JinnKid.”

His initial videos were skits with friends, but his content evolved when TikTok gained popularity.

He started uploading videos that initially garnered only a few hundred views, but he persevered, eventually gaining fame for his impressions of video game characters, such as those from Skyrim.

To keep his audience entertained, Ali impersonated various characters and personalities, including Tekashi 6ix9ine and John Wick, but his favorite was Tony Montana, or Scarface.

With Anna frequently appearing in Ali’s videos, viewers began requesting her presence, fueling his success.

As his fame grew, reaching millions of views, Ali also received substantial income from sponsors, significantly improving their life in Virginia.

To those around them, the beautiful Anna and the creative Ali seemed like a match made in heaven. However, their passionate love story would not have a happy ending.

The Seeds of Control and Narcissism

Court documents revealed that the couple’s happy union began to deteriorate as Ali’s online fame grew. According to the prosecutor, his soaring popularity prompted him to pressure his wife to be more active online.

To please Ali, Anna, who was previously a self-described nerd fond of video games, transformed herself, learning makeup, wearing stylish clothes, and smiling for the camera.

However, Anna’s friends in San Diego testified at the trial that when the camera was off, Anna was often enveloped in sadness.

She felt isolated in Virginia, far from her friends and family, and felt she had no ally during disagreements with Ali.

She felt stuck, far removed from her old life. To cheer her up and alleviate her loneliness, Anna’s friends from Okinawa often called her and invited her to San Diego.

Witnessing his wife’s unhappiness, Ali consented, and in 2020, videos showed Anna happily spending time with her friends at the beach, restaurants, and clubs.

This joy led Anna to express her desire to move to San Diego. Ali did not object; he realized the move would not only make Anna happy but also offer him a chance to increase his fame by collaborating with other influencers there.

The Move and The Addiction

In February 2021, the Abulaban family moved into an apartment building in Downtown San Diego, settling into their unit on the 35th floor.

The location was perfect, close to the beach with beautiful sunsets and a vibrant nightlife.

After the move, their followers witnessed their happiness. They often took Amira out, Anna was more diligent in posting on her social media, and Ali was fully committed to his dream of becoming a comedy and movie star.

According to the prosecutor, as his views and followers surged, Ali became addicted to fame, to the point where he called himself a “TikTok star.”

However, like many who experience sudden fame, Ali slowly changed, and his success went to his head, leading to arrogance.

Those around him noted that when speaking with Ali, there was little chance to interject, as he constantly talked about himself, a behavior a clinical psychologist would classify as narcissism.

People also observed that the abrasive persona he adopted in his videos seemed to bleed into reality, as his demeanor remained coarse even when the camera was off.

At parties, Ali frequently boasted about his follower count and shamelessly claimed to have more money than other Americans.

Controlling Behavior and Substance Abuse

The trial revealed that Anna’s happiness gradually gave way to sadness as Ali became controlling.

For women seeking a life partner, the early warning signs of Ali’s problematic behavior were rooted in his controlling nature.

Anna’s friends testified that despite being in the same city, they rarely saw her because she could only meet them with Ali’s permission.

Like many in their late 20s or early 30s in San Diego, Ali and Anna often went out to clubs to party.

However, a friend testified that Ali frequently used cocaine, not just in the club but also shamelessly in restaurants, during his live streams, and wherever he pleased.

In Ali’s mind, he was untouchable because of his popularity.

Initially, Anna tolerated this behavior, hoping the move to San Diego would make Ali comfortable. But as time went on, he openly used drugs even during live streams.

The growing fame of Ali coincided with the steady deterioration of their marriage.

His addiction was destroying his control over his online persona and his wife.

However, Anna, who had long endured, cried, or sulked in private, grew bolder, leaning on her friends for support during their frequent arguments.

The Fracture

A psychologist suggested that Anna’s frequent outings fueled Ali’s insecurities. Although Ali had many followers, none of them were true friends.

Instead of communicating with his wife or seeking professional help for his worsening mental health issues, Ali chose to use drugs to temporarily forget their problems.

To avoid conflict, Anna often went out to relax. People noticed that as Anna’s life improved, Ali’s temper worsened.

The expert opinion suggested that Ali became insecure and enraged because he could no longer control his wife, who had previously been submissive.

Around that time, Anna’s own follower count grew, and she received constant compliments about her beauty.

Ali’s cousin testified in court that Ali’s desire for control might stem from his Middle Eastern background, where the father is traditionally expected to dictate all matters inside and outside the home.

The cousin added that although Ali was born and raised in America, he observed how his father treated his mother.

Escalation of Violence

In the spring of 2021, one of Anna’s friends witnessed Ali’s violent temper.

In a sworn testimony, the friend recounted that after a gym session, she accompanied Anna back to the apartment to pick up Amira.

She was shocked when Ali suddenly grabbed Anna and dragged her into the bedroom.

When she peeked in, she was horrified to see Ali throwing things at Anna. Anna quickly grabbed Amira and ran out of the apartment, terrified of what Ali might do.

While in the car, Anna showed her friend texts from Ali: “Give me back my daughter and I will take all the money from the bank account.”

When asked if Ali often behaved this way, Anna always insisted they could fix their problems through deep discussion.

The couple reconciled, but their relationship was never the same, full of suspicion and doubt. Although they lived under the same roof, their relationship was fractured.

The Door is Right There

The trial revealed that besides recording skits, Ali had also begun recording private moments that should have remained off-camera.

Footage showed Ali’s behavior escalating from controlling and narcissistic to paranoid. Ali’s cousin confirmed that whenever Anna left the apartment, Ali suspected she was seeing other men.

His followers, who expected new skits, were instead greeted by frequent live streams where Ali ranted about Anna’s alleged infidelity.

His shameful behavior worsened when he even discussed the last time they were intimate, which was devoured by his viewers.

When Anna’s family watched these videos in court, it was clear that Ali viewed Anna as an object he owned.

This behavior led to constant shouting and fighting, frequently heard by their neighbors.

The Final Separation

The video footage captured Ali proclaiming his sense of ownership: in his mind, he brought Anna to America and gave her the American dream, so she should obey his every demand.

The prosecutor argued that anyone agreeing with Ali had a problem, as Anna deserved appreciation for her dedication and sacrifice to him, Amira, and their family, regardless of whether she earned an income.

Anna’s friends repeatedly advised her to leave the abusive Ali, but like many Filipinas who believe marriage is sacred, divorce was not an option.

Despite the constant humiliation and mocking, Anna endured, hoping Amira would not grow up without a father and believing Ali might change.

A psychologist testified that Anna’s reaction was typical of abused women.

The prosecutor also pointed out that Ali’s recording of these arguments was not just to humiliate Anna but to control the narrative, portraying himself as the victim.

What Ali did not know was that his terrible behavior caused Anna to grow cold and distant.

The scenes captured in Ali’s live streams became routine. After seven years of marriage, Anna decided to leave.

Since Ali was more financially capable of securing a hotel or Airbnb, Anna asked him to leave the apartment, but he refused.

The 911 Call

Despite the toxicity, they remained living under the same roof. In July 2021, Anna realized she had to leave the apartment for her daughter’s safety and well-being.

In a video recorded by Ali, Anna was heard calling 911 for the first time.

According to the police report, Ali had attempted suicide in front of Amira, an action authorities and child services would not take lightly.

Surprisingly, Ali argued that he had to do it because Anna had left the house and refused to return.

The San Diego Police Department quickly responded to Anna’s call. When Ali opened the door, he recorded the conversation with the police, as usual.

No arrests were made that day, as Anna claimed she was safe and had no visible injuries.

Although they continued to argue frequently, they remained in a relationship.

The Breakup and The Obsession

In August 2021, Anna’s friends decided to celebrate her upcoming birthday at Disneyland, bringing their children along.

However, Ali complained constantly and shamelessly used drugs in front of the children.

Because of this behavior, Anna’s friends ignored him, and Ali, feeling unwelcome, slept in the car. After he left, everyone, especially the children, enjoyed the trip.

That evening, they went to a club. Despite the happy photos, everyone knew Ali was sulking because he wasn’t the center of attention.

Before parting ways, Anna’s friends once again urged her to leave Ali, but she remained hopeful that he would change.

However, Ali’s coarse behavior persisted. He continued to mock and belittle her online, blaming her for his lack of fame and miserable life.

His paranoia worsened when a friend, Rayburn Cardenas, approached him at a party and told him how lucky he was to have Anna.

Ali became enraged, his insecurities worsening. He feared Anna would leave him and easily find another man, knowing how attractive she was.

The Final Act of Violence

Ali’s fear became reality when Anna and Amira packed their bags and left him. Anna’s friend revealed that Amira and Anna stayed at her house, where she noticed bruises on Anna’s face.

Anna confessed that Ali had been physically abusive since their time in Virginia.

Supported by her friends, Anna realized she was in an abusive and toxic relationship.

To regain control, she photographed her bruised face and threatened Ali: stop his abusive behavior or she would go to the authorities or post the photos online. This threat enraged Ali, who would do anything to protect his image.

While Anna planned a clean separation and a secure life for Amira, Ali, unable to cope, sought solace in another woman.

Anna, staying with her friend, received a text from the woman confessing she had slept with Ali.

On October 6, 2021, Anna returned to the Spire apartment to retrieve their remaining belongings. Ali, as always, recorded her, posting the video for his followers.

But this time, Anna fought back, telling the camera that Ali was abusing her.

As she left the apartment, she officially ended their relationship. Following the separation, she posted a video on her social media, detailing her seven years of abuse with Ali.

Her revelations further angered her ex, who relentlessly sent her voice messages, belittling, cursing, and insulting her.

The Final Confrontation

Their text exchanges, however, showed Anna remained kind, even in the end. Her friends, knowing Ali’s temper and the fact that he owned a gun, warned her to be careful.

Anna, however, believed that despite their turbulent relationship, Ali would never kill her.

While Anna was searching for her own apartment, Ali texted her, saying he had booked a hotel room and that she and Amira could return to the apartment.

Anna mistakenly thought Ali was being considerate for Amira’s sake and had accepted the breakup.

According to the prosecutor, Ali only did this as a final attempt to reconcile, but Anna refused.

Based on the police report, on October 21, 2021, while Anna was dropping Amira off at school, an enraged Ali entered the apartment.

He had created a copy of the electronic key so he could enter the apartment whenever he pleased.

He destroyed everything inside the unit. To listen to everything happening in the apartment, he downloaded an app on Amira’s iPad.

The prosecutor stated that even after the separation, Ali was obsessed and wanted to know Anna’s every move.

A Double Murder

When Anna returned to her unit at 11:00 AM, she video-called her friend Julia, showing the damage Ali had done.

She asked her friend to pick up Amira after school because she wanted to clean the apartment before the child saw the mess.

Anna also planned to go to the front desk to change the electronic key and obtain a restraining order.

After the call, Anna contacted Rayburn Cardenas to help her clean the apartment. Anna’s friends testified that Anna and Rayburn were strictly platonic friends.

When Ali returned to his hotel room, he heard a man’s voice talking to Anna through the app he placed on Amira’s iPad.

In his interrogation, Ali told detectives that upon hearing the man’s voice, he didn’t care what they were talking about or the context; he was consumed by intense jealousy.

To confront his ex and the man, he quickly drove to the apartment, recording his every move, as usual.

He reached the building and entered the elevator at 2:58 PM, arriving on the 35th floor. Using the electronic key copy, he entered the unit.

The recording captured Rayburn’s surprised voice, followed by the sound of six gunshots. Ali quickly left the apartment but returned moments later, shouting Anna’s name.

Footage showed Ali calling his mother in the hallway, confessing that he had killed Anna.

The Verdict

Paula, who was at school, was shocked to see Ali’s car picking up Amira. Terrified, she quickly called Anna, who didn’t answer. Paula followed Ali’s car to ensure Amira’s safety.

Meanwhile, 911 received a call about the shooting in Anna’s apartment. Authorities quickly arrested Ali in his car, where they found the gun, several shell casings, and Amira, who was safe.

Anna’s friends were emotional upon learning of her fate. Authorities found Rayburn’s lifeless body on the sofa, with Anna’s body beside him.

During the preliminary hearing, Ali remained enraged, still calling Anna promiscuous, as digital forensics proved that Anna and Rayburn’s friendship had turned romantic after her separation.

While awaiting trial for the double murder, Ali granted an interview. He appeared more emotional when discussing the loss of his acting career dreams than expressing remorse for killing two people.

The public was shocked that even while jailed, Ali was desperate for attention, apologizing not to the victims’ families but to his followers for not being able to post.

Life Without Parole

During the trial last year, the defense argued the jury should sympathize with Ali, claiming he committed the crime due to poor parenting, the effects of drugs, and Anna’s provocation.

They presented a photo of Anna and Rayburn, arguing the crime would not have happened if Anna had not angered Ali.

In a final attempt to convince everyone that Ali was the victim, he took the stand, blaming Anna for all the bad things that happened in his life, claiming she failed to help him with his drug and mental health problems.

After a month-long trial, Ali was found guilty of the double murder.

Before handing down the sentence, the judge stated that even though Anna had not filed for divorce, as long as they had an agreement to separate, Ali had no right to interfere with Anna’s life decisions.

The judge was convinced that Ali would kill another woman if given the chance to be free, sentencing him to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

He will die inside the correctional facility.