thedrifter
04-10-08, 06:50 AM
Turner: Marines put Lauterbach at risk
By Jessica Wehrman
Staff Writer
Thursday, April 10, 2008
WASHINGTON — Marine Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach told Marine brass in May 2007 that she had two sexual encounters with Cpl. Cesar Laurean — one consensual, one a rape.
But "at no time during meetings with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, military prosecutors, victim advocates or members of her command did Lance Cpl. Lauterbach allege any danger or threat of danger from Cpl. Laurean," Marine Corps Lt. Gen. R.S. Kramlich wrote Wednesday, April 9, responding to a list of 29 questions from Rep. Mike Turner, R-Centerville, on behalf of the Lauterbach family.
The pregnant 20-year-old Vandalia native's body was found Jan. 11 in Laurean's yard. Laurean, who has been accused of killing her, has since disappeared.
After Lauterbach accused Laurean of raping her, the Marines issued a military protective order ordering Laurean to stay a minimum of 1,000 feet from Lauterbach, assigned Laurean to a different work station across the base, about two miles from Laurean, and gave her a uniformed victim advocate.
But it was Lauterbach, not Laurean who repeatedly told her command she could not attend certain formations or events because she might encounter Laurean, according to Kramlich. Kramlich does not report Laurean ever changing his behavior to avoid Lauterbach. Lauterbach, however, was repeatedly asked by fellow Marines whether she felt threatened or in danger from Laurean.
"She specifically stated to her command, her uniformed victim advocate, her civilian victim advocate, the NCIS investigative agent and the military prosecutor that she did not," the response read.
Not good enough, said Turner, who said the Marine investigation of her rape accusation lacked urgency.
"The whole tone of their response to me is that they had no idea that she would be at risk to be a victim of violence when rape, by its very nature, is inherently violent," he said. "Clearly, they put Maria at risk."
Ellie
By Jessica Wehrman
Staff Writer
Thursday, April 10, 2008
WASHINGTON — Marine Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach told Marine brass in May 2007 that she had two sexual encounters with Cpl. Cesar Laurean — one consensual, one a rape.
But "at no time during meetings with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, military prosecutors, victim advocates or members of her command did Lance Cpl. Lauterbach allege any danger or threat of danger from Cpl. Laurean," Marine Corps Lt. Gen. R.S. Kramlich wrote Wednesday, April 9, responding to a list of 29 questions from Rep. Mike Turner, R-Centerville, on behalf of the Lauterbach family.
The pregnant 20-year-old Vandalia native's body was found Jan. 11 in Laurean's yard. Laurean, who has been accused of killing her, has since disappeared.
After Lauterbach accused Laurean of raping her, the Marines issued a military protective order ordering Laurean to stay a minimum of 1,000 feet from Lauterbach, assigned Laurean to a different work station across the base, about two miles from Laurean, and gave her a uniformed victim advocate.
But it was Lauterbach, not Laurean who repeatedly told her command she could not attend certain formations or events because she might encounter Laurean, according to Kramlich. Kramlich does not report Laurean ever changing his behavior to avoid Lauterbach. Lauterbach, however, was repeatedly asked by fellow Marines whether she felt threatened or in danger from Laurean.
"She specifically stated to her command, her uniformed victim advocate, her civilian victim advocate, the NCIS investigative agent and the military prosecutor that she did not," the response read.
Not good enough, said Turner, who said the Marine investigation of her rape accusation lacked urgency.
"The whole tone of their response to me is that they had no idea that she would be at risk to be a victim of violence when rape, by its very nature, is inherently violent," he said. "Clearly, they put Maria at risk."
Ellie