Kirk Lankford made his initial appearance on Monday in Honolulu District Court on murder charges related to the disappearance of Japanese visitor Masumi Watanabe. Today he was indicted on the murder charge. RICHARD AMBO | The Honolulu Advertiser   The body of Japanese visitor Masumi Watanabe still has not been found. She was last seen on April 12 in Pupukea. Advertiser library photo | April 2007

Kirk Lankford is charged with murdering Masumi Watanabe on the day she disappeared by either killing her or failing to get her help knowing that she was seriously harmed.

If convicted of the second-degree murder charge, Lankford would face a mandatory life term with parole.

Circuit Judge Derrick Chan confirmed Lankford's bail of $1 million.

In asking that the bail amount be confirmed, city Deputy Prosecutor Vickie Kapp told the judge that Watanabe was last seen getting into Lankford's company truck on April 12 and is presumed to be dead.

Despite an extensive search, her body has not been recovered, Kapp said.

Kapp also said the victim's eyeglasses and blood that matched her DNA were recovered from Lankford's company truck.

He has since been fired from his pest control job with Hauoli Termite and Pest Control, Kapp said.

The deputy prosecutor also said there is evidence Lankford lived on the Mainland and is a possible flight risk.

Lankford, who was arrested last week, remains in custody unable to post bail.