Marine About to Testify Goes Missing

[Havok]

Perhaps I am missing it, but in which article does it say that she is dead? They haven't found a body so how do they know?

Link

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. - Authorities said Friday that they believe they found the shallow grave of a pregnant Marine in the back yard of a comrade she accused of rape and that they found evidence inside his house that she had been killed.

Investigators are treating the case as a homicide, said Onslow County Sheriff Ed Brown. But the prime suspect left a note insisting Lance Cpl. Maria Frances Lauterbach had killed herself, Brown said.

After some slight digging in a fire pit discovered in the yard of Marine Cpl. Cesar Armando Laurean, detectives found what "appeared to be burnt human remains," Onslow County District Attorney Dewey Hudson said Friday night.

They think they have her burnt remains. Not 100% for sure yet.

Thanks Cpl.

[Darth Wong]

So the fucker killed her, buried her in his backyard, and then told the cops she killed herself? Does he seriously expect anyone to buy that line of bullshit?

[CaptainChewbacca]

So the fucker killed her, buried her in his backyard, and then told the cops she killed herself? Does he seriously expect anyone to buy that line of bullshit?

That's right up there with Robert Blake's "I went to get my gun, and when I came back someone had shot my wife".

[LadyTevar]

And the Plot Thickens.

The Prime Suspect, Cpl. Cesar Armando Laurean was ratted out by his WIFE.

Investigators told CNN that Laurean vanished four hours before his wife, Christina, approached Sheriff Ed Brown with a note from her husband claiming that Lauterbach had committed suicide and he buried the body.

Of course, that's one big fuckin' lie:

Brown said Friday that blood spatter evidence was found inside Laurean's home, even on a ceiling, and investigators were treating the case as a murder. There was evidence of "an attempted clean-up," including an attempt to paint over the blood spatter, he said.

"Evidence now is saying what he's claiming happened did not happen like he said it happened," Brown said of Laurean.

Question is now how much did Christina Laurean know about her husband's actions.

[Alyrium Denryle]

How else are they going to try to get rid of the DNA that could link him to the rape other than burning her corpse?

You can get DNA from a burnt corpse...

[Darth Wong]

It sounds like they have more than evidence to nail his ass to the wall even without DNA anyway.

[LadyTevar]

I knew it would be a long-shot, but I had held out hope for the baby.

JACKSONVILLE, North Carolina (CNN) -- The remains of an adult and a fetus were found Saturday in a shallow grave in the backyard of the primary suspect in the death of a pregnant Marine, Onslow County Sheriff Ed Brown announced.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Cpl. Cesar Armando Laurean in the death of Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach.

He is charged with first-degree murder, although authorities have not positively identified the body as hers.

"This is consistent with what we were looking for: A pregnant lady who is the victim Maria Lauterbach and her unborn child," Brown said.

The body was charred, and the fetus was in the victim's abdomen, Brown said, describing the scene in gruesome detail.

The fetus was developed enough that the "little hand was about the size of my thumb. The little fingers were rolled up," he said.

[Oni Koneko Damien]

So he's claiming she somehow committed suicide then burned and buried herself? Or does he somehow believe that BURNING AND BURYING a supposed suicide victim doesn't look at all suspicious?

Either way... what the hell was going through his mind that made this seem like even a remotely good or believable plan?

[Alex Moon]

So he's claiming she somehow committed suicide then burned and buried herself? Or does he somehow believe that BURNING AND BURYING a supposed suicide victim doesn't look at all suspicious?

Either way... what the hell was going through his mind that made this seem like even a remotely good or believable plan?

The lawyer will probably claim that he was panicking; they had an affair, that the child was his, and that the victim wanted him to leave his wife. The victim was mentally unstable, claimed rape, and later killed herself when he refused to choose her over his wife.

[Sidewinder]

The lawyer will probably claim that he was panicking; they had an affair, that the child was his, and that the victim wanted him to leave his wife. The victim was mentally unstable, claimed rape, and later killed herself when he refused to choose her over his wife.

Hopefully, the judge will be someone more competent than Lance Ito-- someone who'll prevent the trial from becoming a media circus by telling the defense lawyer, "We are here to determine the suspect's guilt or innocence, NOT to pass judgment on the victim's life. Stop making such unproven claims regarding the victim, or you'll be held in contempt of this court."

[Wyrm]

They can at least hit him with improper disposal of a corpse and not calling the fire martial before burning a body.

They probably got him on the murder, but they definitely got him on that.

[Sephirius]

They can at least hit him with improper disposal of a corpse and not calling the fire martial before burning a body.

They probably got him on the murder, but they definitely got him on that.

Aaaand now the FBI says he's in Mexico.


Way to drop the ball, Marines.

[TimothyC]

I just realized a yesterday, that I knew the young woman in question, that is to say we went to the same high school for two =years, and we talked at my ex girlfriend's graduation party. I've science sent my condolences to the family.

[FSTargetDrone]

Bit of an update on this, the prime suspect has been indicted:

Suspected Pregnant Marine Killer Indicted

Prosecutors Won't Seek Death Penalty Against Marine Cpl. Cesar Laurean If Caught In Mexico

JACKSONVILLE, N.C., Jan. 24, 2008

(CBS/AP) Prosecutors said Thursday they will not seek the death penalty against a Marine corporal suspected of killing a 20-year-old pregnant colleague - but only if he is arrested in Mexico.

A grand jury handed up an indictment against Marine Cpl. Cesar Laurean on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach, who had once accused him of rape. Her remains, along with the remains of her unborn child, were found in a fire pit in Laurean's back yard.

Authorities believe Laurean has fled to his native Mexico, which refuses to send anyone back to the United States unless provided assurances they won't face the death penalty.

"This agreement to not seek the death penalty applies only if he is arrested in and extradited from Mexico," said Onslow County District Attorney Dewey Hudson.

Earlier this week, a man identified as his cousin said Laurean walked into his liquor store in Guadalajara last week, but left without saying where he was headed.

Hudson said the grand jury also indicted Laurean with robbery with a dangerous weapon and a charge involving an unauthorized financial transaction involving card theft.

But because authorities have determined that Lauterbach's child had not been born at the time of her death, Hudson said, prosecutors are only allowed under North Carolina to charge Laurean with a single count of murder.

"In North Carolina, the killing of a viable, but unborn, child does not constitute murder," Hudson said, reports CBS News affiliate WRAL-TV in Raleigh.

Before Laurean fled from Jacksonville in early January, he left a note for his wife, Christina, that said Lauterbach slit her own throat with a knife, and he then buried her in the woods near their home. Detective have rejected that claim, and an autopsy found that Lauterbach died of blunt force trauma to the head.

Interesting about the state of the unborn child and the decision not to charge a second murder. If this clown is smart, he'll turn himself over to the Mexican police. But I don't think he's that smart.

[Alyrium Denryle]

The only reason they wont seel the DP if he is caught in Mexico is because IIRC mexico will not extradite for DP cases.

[FSTargetDrone]

The only reason they wont seel the DP if he is caught in Mexico is because IIRC mexico will not extradite for DP cases.

Correct.