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thedrifter
04-03-08, 07:13 AM
Laurean case back on TV
‘America’s Most’ Wanted’ to revisit case Saturday night
April 3, 2008 - 1:36AM
LINDELL KAY
THE DAILY NEWS

Cesar Laurean has made "America's Most Wanted" dirty dozen list.

Laurean, a Marine corporal stationed at Camp Lejeune who has been on the run since mid-January, is accused of killing a fellow female Marine and burying her body behind his Half Moon community home.

The manhunt for Laurean - indicted for murder in the death of Marine Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach, who was in the last trimester of a pregnancy and had accused him of rape - will be spotlighted during a special segment of "America's Most Wanted" on Saturday. He was first featured on the show in January.

"The dirty dozen is a list of the worst of the worst," said Diana Nolan, a producer of the show. "The dirty dozen is the group of fugitives we are really passionate about capturing. A spot opened up, and Laurean was our first choice to go on the list."

Local investigators are optimistic the show will lead to more information about Laurean's whereabouts, said Capt. Rick Sutherland of the Onslow County Sheriff's Department.

"New calls will hopefully mean new information," he said.

Federal authorities believe Laurean fled to his native Mexico, and federal officials are working with law-enforcement south of the border to track him down.

"America's Most Wanted" will air information about Laurean's possible location in Mexico, Nolan said. The show will also feature information that has been on the show's Web site but not yet seen on television.

Before fleeing, Laurean left notes with his wife stating that Lauterbach's body was buried behind the house the Laureans shared on Meadow Trail. His wife, Christina Laurean, turned over the notes later that day to the Onslow County Sheriff's Department when she met with investigators on Jan. 11, the same day Lauterbach's body was found charred and buried in the Laureans' backyard.

Cesar Laurean reportedly told his wife that Lauterbach came to their home, acted irrationally and began an argument. At the height of the argument, Lauterbach produced a knife and committed suicide by cutting her own throat, according to Christina Laurean's statement to investigators found in an affidavit attached to a search warrant request for phone records.

Lauterbach's autopsy results indicate she was killed by a blow to the head and a cut to her throat was made post-mortem.

"America's Most Wanted" airs Saturdays at 9 p.m. on Fox.

Contact police reporter Lindell Kay at lkay@freedomenc.com or 910-554-8534.

Ellie

thedrifter
04-05-08, 03:44 AM
FBI releases photo illustration updating Laurean's appearance
April 4, 2008 - 5:08PM
LINDELL KAY

The FBI released a retouched photograph of fugitive Cesar Laurean on Friday, showing him with darker skin and a beard.

Laurean, a Camp Lejeune Marine corporal, has been on the lam since Jan. 11, the same date the body of a female colleague was found buried the backyard of his Half Moon community home.

The manhunt for Laurean - indicted for murder in the death of Marine Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach, who was in the last trimester of a pregnancy and had accused him of rape - is stretching into its third month.

The Marine Corps has classified Laurean as a deserter, retroactive to Jan. 11, said Lt. Col. Curtis Hill, spokesman for the II Marine Expeditionary Force.

Federal authorities would not comment on how their investigation led them to update Laurean's appearance on the FBI's wanted poster.

"We have released this new picture, and that is all we are going to say right now," said Amy Thoreson, a public affairs specialist with the FBI Charlotte division office.

Federal investigators have said in the past they believe Laurean fled to his native Mexico and have said nothing recently to dissuade that notion.

Local prosecutors sent extradition papers through government channels almost immediately after Laurean fled Onslow County, and Mexican authorities issued a provisional arrest warrant for Laurean in late-January.

Laurean and his flight to Mexico will be featured on "America's Most Wanted" Saturday at 9 p.m. on Fox.

He has recently been added to the show's dirty dozen, a list of the "worst of the worst," according to the show's producers.

Before fleeing his Meadow Trail home Jan. 11, Laurean left notes with his wife stating that Lauterbach's body was buried behind the house the Laureans shared. His wife, Christina Laurean, turned over the notes later that day to the Onslow County Sheriff's Department when she met with investigators. Lauterbach's body and that of her unborn child were found charred and buried in the Laureans' backyard that afternoon.

Although Lauterbach's autopsy results indicate she was killed by a blow to the head and a cut to her throat was made post-mortem, Cesar Laurean reportedly told his wife that Lauterbach came to their home, acted irrationally and began an argument. Cesar Laurean claimed that at the height of the argument, Lauterbach produced a knife and committed suicide by cutting her own throat, according to Christina Laurean's statement to investigators found in an affidavit attached to a search warrant request for phone records.

The reward for Laurean's capture is close to $50,000 when official and public contributions are tallied.

The FBI would like anyone with information about Laurean's whereabouts to contact the Charlotte division office at 704-377-9200.

Contact police reporter Lindell Kay at lkay@freedomenc.com or 910-554-8534.

http://images.onset.freedom.com/jdn/medium/jyu0ok-45a1goatbeard.jpg

Ellie