Pregnant Marine is missing

[thedrifter]

Search For Marine Suspect Expands
JACKSONVILLE, N.C., Jan. 14, 2008
(AP) Federal authorities planned to post billboards nationwide with the picture of a Marine wanted in the slaying of a pregnant colleague, and the sheriff announced a $25,000 reward Monday for information leading to his arrest.

Authorities are looking for Marine Cpl. Cesar Armando Laurean, wanted in the death of Marine Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach, who had accused him of rape. FBI officials said the first billboards with Laurean's photo would appear in Tampa, Fla., Columbus, Ohio, and Las Vegas.

"The search for Laurean is Earthwide," Onslow County Sheriff Ed Brown said at a news conference.

"You're never gone for good when law enforcement is after you," Brown said. "It may be two days or two weeks, ten days or ten years, but you're never gone for good."

Authorities recovered what they believe to be the burned remains of Lauterbach and her unborn child from a fire pit in Laurean's backyard over the weekend. Detectives believe Laurean, 21, of the Las Vegas area, fled Jacksonville before dawn Friday, and have said he left behind a note in which he admitted burying her body but claimed she cut her own throat in a suicide.

North Carolina is one of 15 states without a fetal homicide law, but Onslow County District Attorney Dewey Hudson said he has no plans to step aside in favor of a military prosecution. Georgetown University law professor Gary Solis said local authorities have primary jurisdiction in the case.

"They have the crime scene and they have the physical evidence," Solis said. "The military would have secondary jurisdiction if the DA decided not to pursue the case."

That makes it unlikely that Laurean would be prosecuted under the federal fetal homicide law passed in 2004 during the height of attention on the California trial of Scott Peterson, who was accused of murdering his pregnant wife, Laci.

The federal law makes it a crime to harm a fetus during an assault on a pregnant woman, but the anti-abortion activists who pushed for it believe it has never been used _ in part because murder cases are typically prosecuted in state courts.

The military could technically seek charges at the same time as civilian authorities, said Scott Silliman, a former military lawyer who is now director of the Center on Law, Ethics and National Security at Duke University. But a joint prosecution is not recommended by the military's manual for courts martial, Silliman said.

"As a matter of law, the military could prosecute him separately," Silliman said. "But as a matter of policy, it rarely happens and only in a very unusual set of circumstances."

In Lauterbach's hometown near Dayton, Ohio, hundreds of people were expected Monday evening at a prayer service for her. Many remembered her participation in youth theater and other activities, including softball and soccer. She was a standout in both sports.

Some in the community recalled her drive to follow in her father's footsteps and join the Marines. Her father, Victor Lauterbach, is an Air Force Reserve master sergeant in the 87th Aerial Port Squadron, which is part of the 445th Airlift Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.

"Her goal was to be a Marine and wear the uniform," said neighbor Kent Zimmerman.

Ellie

[thedrifter]

Posted on Mon, Jan. 14, 2008
Search for Marine suspect expands
By MIKE BAKER
Federal authorities plan to post billboards nationwide with the picture of a Marine wanted in the slaying of a pregnant colleague, and the sheriff announced a $25,000 reward Monday for information leading to his arrest.

Authorities are looking for Marine Cpl. Cesar Armando Laurean, wanted in the death of Marine Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach, who had accused him of rape. FBI officials said the first billboards with Laurean's photo would appear in Tampa, Fla., Columbus, Ohio, and Las Vegas.

"The search for Laurean is Earthwide," Onslow County Sheriff Ed Brown said at a news conference.

"You're never gone for good when law enforcement is after you," Brown said. "It may be two days or two weeks, 10 days or 10 years, but you're never gone for good."

Authorities recovered what they believe to be the burned remains of Lauterbach and her fetus from a fire pit in Laurean's backyard over the weekend. Detectives believe Laurean, 21, of the Las Vegas area, fled Jacksonville before dawn Friday, and have said he left behind a note in which he admitted burying her body but claimed she cut her own throat in a suicide.

North Carolina is one of 15 states without a fetal homicide law, but Onslow County District Attorney Dewey Hudson said he has no plans to step aside in favor of a military prosecution. Georgetown University law professor Gary Solis said local authorities have primary jurisdiction in the case.

"They have the crime scene and they have the physical evidence," Solis said. "The military would have secondary jurisdiction if the DA decided not to pursue the case."

That makes it unlikely that Laurean would be prosecuted under the federal fetal homicide law passed in 2004 during the height of attention to the California trial of Scott Peterson, who was accused of murdering his pregnant wife, Laci.

The federal law makes it a crime to harm a fetus during an assault on a pregnant woman, but the anti-abortion activists who pushed for it believe it has never been used - in part because murder cases are typically prosecuted in state courts.

The military could technically seek charges at the same time as civilian authorities, said Scott Silliman, a former military lawyer who is now director of the Center on Law, Ethics and National Security at Duke University. But a joint prosecution is not recommended by the military's manual for courts martial, Silliman said.

"As a matter of law, the military could prosecute him separately," Silliman said. "But as a matter of policy, it rarely happens and only in a very unusual set of circumstances."

In Lauterbach's hometown near Dayton, Ohio, hundreds of friends and neighbors offered prayers for her Monday evening. Relatives filed into a church for a prayer service and sat in the front row.

"This evening, we are suffering," the Rev. Francis Keferl told a spillover crowd of more than 800 at St. Christopher Catholic Church.

Lauterbach's mother, Mary, dabbed at her eyes with a tissue during the 40-minute service. A congregant gave her a pink rose.

Members of the congregation will remember Lauterbach for her strength, vitality, independent spirit, athletic talents and service as a Marine, said Elise Wahle, youth ministry coordinator for the church.

Lauterbach's father, Victor Lauterbach, is an Air Force Reserve master sergeant in the 87th Aerial Port Squadron, which is part of the 445th Airlift Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.

"Her goal was to be a Marine and wear the uniform," said neighbor Kent Zimmerman.

Ellie

[thedrifter]

Attorney appointed for fugitive
LINDELL KAY
January 15, 2008 - 12:32AM
DAILY NEWS STAFF
In a move District Attorney Dewey Hudson described as "highly unusual," a state office has assigned a defense attorney for Marine Cpl. Cesar Laurean though Laurean has yet to be arrested to face a first-degree murder charge.

Laurean is accused of killing 20-year-old Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach and burning her body in the back yard of his home in the Half Moon community.

Hudson said he received a fax from the Office of Indigent Defense Services on Monday informing him that Jacksonville attorney Wally Paramore had been assigned to Laurean as a capital defender.

"I don't understand why they would do this," Hudson said. "I have never even heard of it happening before."

Messages left with the IDS were not returned.

The IDS Office was created by the Indigent Defense Services Act of 2000. IDS provides legal representation to indigent defendants and others entitled to counsel under North Carolina law.

Hudson said he did not understand why Laurean had been assigned a defender because he has not appeared before a judge to sign the necessary paperwork to receive a court-appointed lawyer.

Paramore confirmed the assignment but declined further comment.

This is just the latest twist in Laurean's legal representation.

Laurean had set an appointment to talk to investigators early last week but cancelled it. As the Sheriff's Department zeroed in on Laurean as the main suspect in Lauterbach's disappearance, he fled from the area on Friday morning.

Later Friday, when Onslow County Sheriff Ed Brown gave a press conference to announce that Laurean was the main suspect in Lauterbach's death, he said at least one of the three attorneys retained by Laurean had been present at a press conference the day before to listen to what he was going to tell the media about Laurean.

"I watched (him) standing with reporters and listening to me very carefully to (see) exactly what I planned to do," Brown said.

Brown said Laurean's three attorneys - identified independently as Jacksonville lawyers Mark Raynor, Paul Castle and Ed Bailey - were "preventing my people from talking to Laurean."

Bailey could not be reached at his office. Raynor and Castle declined comment.



Mike McHugh contributed to this report. Contact police reporter Lindell Kay at lkay@freedomenc.com or 910-554-8534. To comment on this story or to read others' comments go to jdnews.com.

Ellie

[thedrifter]

FBI offers reward in manhunt
LINDELL KAY
January 15, 2008 - 12:32AM
DAILY NEWS STAFF
As investigators continued to piece together the puzzle of a pregnant Camp Lejeune Marine's death, the suspect in her alleged slaying, Cpl. Cesar Armando Laurean, was still on the run late Monday

What Onslow County Sheriff Ed Brown described as an "Earth-wide" search was under way as federal law enforcement officials threw their resources into locating Laurean.

Laurean, 21, is accused of killing Marine Lance Cpl. Maria Frances Lauterbach, 20, and burying her in the backyard of the Half Moon area home where he lived with his wife, Christina Smith Laurean, also a Marine.

Federal officials announced a $25,000 reward for information leading to Cesar Laurean's arrest.

The information about the reward is being advertised on electronic billboards across the country, Brown said. FBI officials said the first billboards with Laurean's photo would appear in Tampa, Fla.; Columbus, Ohio; and Las Vegas.

Onslow County Sheriff Ed Brown said Laurean is considered dangerous, and he cautioned that $25,000 is not worth getting hurt over. "And he will hurt you," Brown said.

He is described as a Mexican national, 5 feet 9 inches tall, with black hair and brown eyes. He weighs about 160 pounds.

Brown confirmed Lauterbach's missing debit card was recovered at a Durham bus station last week. Laurean's black 2004 quad cab Dodge pickup, North Carolina license plate number TRR1522, was also seen in Durham. Over the weekend, there were reports, still unconfirmed, that Laurean was spotted in Louisiana, possibly headed toward Texas. Early Friday, Christina Laurean informed base officials that her husband had fled after leaving a note. Brown on Monday repeated his description of Christina Laurean as a "cooperating witness."

Law enforcement officials have said Cesar Laurean admitted in the note to burning and burying Lauterbach's body, but he claimed she committed suicide by cutting her own throat - a version of events that Brown has said doesn't square with the evidence.

The sheriff said investigators found blood spatters on the ceiling and a massive amount of blood on the wall at the Laureans' residence, indicating a violent struggle. Brown said there was evidence of an attempt to cover up blood stains with paint.

A neighbor, Wanda Alander, said she visited the Laureans in their home before Christmas and noticed that the living room had been recently painted.

"She told me that they planned to paint the garage next," Alander said.

County investigators say Christina Laurean told them she woke up after her husband had fled. However, Christina Laurean's parents, Bruce and Debby Shifflet, told CBS's "The Early Show" on Monday that their daughter had confronted her husband Friday morning and tried to get him to turn himself in.

"I can't comment on the involvement of the wife," Hudson told CNN's Nancy Grace on Monday.

Sources who say they know Cesar Laurean through his work have said that he had been telling people for several months that his wife was pregnant. Investigators say they have no reason to believe that Christina Laurean is pregnant.

"I have been able to confirm that the suspect does have an 18-month-old child with his wife," Brown said. "(That) child is safe and is with family members."

Lauterbach disappeared sometime after Dec. 14, not long after she met with military prosecutors to talk about her allegation, made in April, that Laurean raped her.

In a timeline of events the sheriff provided Monday, Brown noted that the Marine Corps was made aware of Lauterbach's disappearance on Dec. 15, four days before civilian investigators were notified by law enforcement in Ohio that her mother had reported her missing.

The Marine Corps has made no official statement to the press about the situation other than an e-mailed statement on Sunday that said the Marine Corps would hold off on discussion of events until a review is completed.

Brown has said civilian authorities investigating Lauterbach's disappearance were unaware of the existence of a military protection order - similar to a civilian restraining order - requiring that Laurean not come within 1,000 feet of Lauterbach.

Reporters also continue to pepper Brown with questions about when county investigators learned from military officials that Laurean had been named in the rape allegation made by Lauterbach. Brown has said that he did not hear Laurean's name until Jan. 7, and Laurean resisted investigators' attempts for a meeting after that.

Charred remains believed to be that of Lauterbach were found in the back yard of the Laureans' home on Meadow Trial, near Jacksonville in the Half Moon area on Friday. After they were recovered on Saturday, Brown said the remains "appeared to be the bodies of an adult female with a fetus located near the abdomen region of the female."

Brown told the Associated Press authorities had received late Monday a preliminary autopsy report on the remains recovered from Laurean's backyard. He declined to discuss details, other than to say a gun was not used. North Carolina's Southeast Regional Medical Examiner Charles Garrett said he had not seen the report Monday night.

Under North Carolina law, a suspect cannot be charged with murder for the death of a child unless the baby was born before it was killed, Hudson said.

North Carolina is one of 15 states without a fetal homicide law. The possibility exists that if the local authorities allowed the Marine Corps to prosecute Laurean he could be tried under the federal fetal homicide law passed in 2004, but Hudson said he has no plans to step aside in favor of military prosecution.

In Lauterbach's hometown near Dayton, Ohio, hundreds of friends and neighbors offered prayers for her Monday evening. Relatives filed into a church for a prayer service and sat in the front row.

"This evening, we are suffering," the Rev. Francis Keferl told a spillover crowd of more than 800 at St. Christopher Catholic Church.

Lauterbach's mother, Mary, dabbed at her eyes with a tissue during the 40-minute service. A congregant gave her a pink rose.

Members of the congregation will remember Lauterbach for her strength, vitality, independent spirit, athletic talents and service as a Marine, said Elise Wahle, youth ministry coordinator for the church.

Lauterbach's father, Victor Lauterbach, is an Air Force Reserve master sergeant in the 87th Aerial Port Squadron, which is part of the 445th Airlift Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.

"Her goal was to be a Marine and wear the uniform," said neighbor Kent Zimmerman.



The Associated Press contributed to this report. Contact police reporter Lindell Kay at lkay@freedomenc.com or 910-554-8534.

Ellie

[thedrifter]

CBS: Did military do enough to protect murdered Marine?
01/14/2008 @ 9:39 am
Filed by David Edwards and Muriel Kane


CBS News is raising questions about the Marine Corps' handling of the case of Maria Lauterbach, the pregnant Marine who vanished and was then found buried in the backyard of a fellow Marine she had accused of rape.

"What did the Marines do to protect her and when did they do it?" asked CBS's Julie Chen. The military has been accused for years of mishandling reports of sexual assault, and though new policies are now in place, it appears that the system failed in Lauterbach's case.

When Lauterbach accused fellow Marine Corporal Cesar Laurean of raping her last April, commanders at Camp Lejeune followed the standard procedure of assigning the two to work in different building and ordering Laurean not to have any contact with Lauterbach.

However, they apparently took no additional measures to protect her. According to Paul Chiccarelli, the special agent in charge of Naval Criminal Investigative Service at Camp Lejeune, investigators didn't consider Laurean a threat because they believed he and Lauterbach were on friendly terms.

Lauterbach's uncle, Pete Steiner, denies that his niece had any kind of relationship with Laurean and has said to reporters, "She was raped. The Marines, unfortunately, did not protect her, and now she's dead." He told CBS that "the Marines appeared to be actively encouraging her to drop this case."

The Marine Corps has declined to comment until their investigations are complete.

Laurean fled on Friday, leaving a note in which he admitted burying Lauterbach but said she had cut her own throat. A nationwide manhunt is now underway and a reward has been posted for information leading to his arrest.


This video is from CBS's Early Show, broadcast January 14, 2008.

http://rawstory.com//printstory.php?story=8869

Ellie

[thedrifter]

Pregnant Marine died of head injury: autopsy
By Mike Baker - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Jan 15, 2008 12:06:22 EST

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — A 20-year-old pregnant Marine who disappeared in December died from a head injury, authorities said Tuesday, formally rejecting the claims of the key suspect in her death that she committed suicide.

Dr. Charles Garrett, the Onslow County medical examiner, said Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach died from “traumatic head injury due to blunt force trauma.”

Authorities recovered her burned remains, along with those of her unborn child, over the weekend from a fire pit in the backyard of Marine Cpl. Cesar Armando Laurean, a fellow personnel clerk at Camp Lejeune whom she had accused of rape.

Authorities believe Laurean fled Jacksonville early Friday morning, after leaving a note in which he admitted burying Lauterbach’s body. But Tuesday, they said he is believed to have gone into hiding, and no longer needs to move at great speed or travel a long distance to avoid capture.

“We believe it’s certainly possible, based on him being out there for this long, and not having any sightings, that he is getting help,” said Onslow County Sheriff’s Capt. Rick Sutherland. “We think we have a handle on all his contacts, but there could be someone else out there helping.”

Authorities received reports from several witnesses Sunday who said they saw Laurean at a bus station in Shreveport, La., but Onslow County Sheriff Ed Brown has said detectives have been unable to confirm their validity.

In his note, Laurean alleged that Lauterbach committed suicide by cutting her own throat. Brown has consistently rejected that idea, citing blood spatters on the ceiling and a massive amount of blood on the wall found inside Laurean’s home as signs of a violent confrontation.

But the autopsy didn’t answer all the questions authorities have about the circumstances of Lauterbach’s death, said county prosecutor Dewey Hudson. Lauterbach was eight months pregnant, and detectives are still are not sure if she gave birth before her slaying, he said.

They have also not been able to confirm the identity of the father, he said, although Lauterbach’s family has previously said the man who raped her fathered the child.

Authorities believe Lauterbach was slain around Dec. 15, not long after she met with military prosecutors to talk about her April allegation that Laurean raped her. That case was progressing, naval investigators have said, adding that a military protective order was in place against Laurean, and commanders had assigned the pair to different buildings on base.

Lauterbach was reported missing Dec. 19 by her mother, who attended a prayer service Monday night for her daughter at St. Christopher Catholic Church in Vandalia, Ohio.

“This evening, we are suffering,” the Rev. Francis Keferl told a spillover crowd of more than 800 people.

The FBI and U.S. Marshals are involved in the search for Laurean, 21, of the Las Vegas area, and officials have offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to Lauterbach’s arrest and posted billboards with his picture nationwide. He’s wanted on both a state arrest warrant on murder charges and a federal warrant charging him with to unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

“Mr. Laurean, if you’re watching, I urge you to surrender yourself to law enforcement officers,” Brown said.

Ellie

[thedrifter]

Marines: Slain pregnant Marine didn't feel threatened by suspect





Associated Press - January 15, 2008 7:25 PM ET

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (AP) - Officials say a 20-year-old pregnant Marine who disappeared in December told victims' advocates she didn't feel threatened by the man now sought in her death.

A Marine Corps spokesman says Cpl. Cesar Armando Laurean never violated the military protective order directing him to stay away from Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach. The spokesman says he denied having any kind of sexual contact with her, and continued to report for work on time in the weeks after her disappearance.

Authorities confirmed today that remains found over weekend in a fire pit in Laurean's backyard were those of Lauterbach and her child. Onslow County's medical examiner said Lauterbach, who was in the late stages of pregnancy when she vanished, died of blunt force trauma to the head.

Also today, authorities had Laurean's black pickup towed back to Jacksonville after finding it at abandoned at a motel parking lot in Morrisville, not far from where it was seen by witnesses in Durham.

Ellie

[thedrifter]

Affable sheriff leads slain Marine case

By MIKE BAKER, Associated Press Writer
36 minutes ago

In the middle of a nationwide manhunt during the most watched case of his career, Ed Brown sneaked away from detectives and reporters alike to teach Sunday school. The lesson: "Facing Opposition."

"It really blesses you when you step back to think, 'This came up right at the time it was relevant,'" Brown said Tuesday. "My nature is not to enjoy confrontation. In fact, I despise conflict."

Brown, 63, has led the search for Cesar Armando Laurean, a Marine corporal suspected of murder in the death of Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach. Lauterbach had accused Laurean of raping her, and her body was found late last week in the fellow personnel clerk's backyard fire pit.

Brown is so affable that he ended one news conference by giving out his cell phone number on national TV. He's quick to apologize when a reporter's question triggers his temper, and has cut off several network anchors in order to thank them for devoting so much air time to the case.

For all the time Brown has spent on camera talking about the case, investigators say he's spent much more working it, chasing leads by cell phone and pulling 20-hour days to track Laurean down.

"He comes across as just a nice Southern boy, but he's very good at his job," said Onslow County District Attorney Dewey Hudson.

Lauterbach's family and others have criticized how the sheriff's department and the Marines have handled the case. The 20-year-old disappeared sometime after Dec. 14, soon after talking to military prosecutors about the rape case, but sheriff's investigators did little searching until last week. Laurean, 21, had refused to talk to investigators, and fled as they closed in on the body.

Brown, the sheriff since 1990, says his department acted as best it could on the facts available.

He said he had promised himself he wouldn't appear on the shows of cable news personalities who criticized his department, but gave in because he felt the need to be fair.

"As passive as I am, I ain't going to get run over," Brown said. "The behavior of people like (CNN's) Nancy Grace and (Fox News') Geraldo (Rivera) are not who they really are. I think they're just like that for ratings."

Still, Brown said he could do without all the attention. Courted by both Democrats and Republicans to run for a seat in the state Legislature, his interaction with reporters since Lauterbach disappeared has led him to decide against it.

Doing so would require Brown to leave his humble country home, frequently filled by his two grandchildren and his parents, who live across the street. He can't imagine leaving his church, filled each Sunday by dozens of "kinfolk" who live in an area where he was raised as the oldest of six children by a tenant farmer.

Brown is at the church every morning, in a small chapel with just six pews, praying under its cozy cathedral ceiling. A placard in the lobby of the sheriff's office tells visitors that the department is "serving God and Onslow County," and Brown bemoans the difficulty of keeping the priorities in that order.

Locals greet Brown as "Mr. Ed" at his favorite diner, where he favors sweet tea with extra ice, and are quick to recognize "Ol' Betty," his boat-sized 1990 Chevrolet.

Onslow County is dominated by the massive Camp Lejeune, the Marine Corps' main base on the Atlantic coast. The base and surrounding community are home to nearly 150,000 people with ties to the base, active duty and retired Marines, their family, and civilian base employees.

Ellie

[thedrifter]

Radical church group seizes upon Lauterbach case
Cyndi Brown
January 16, 2008 - 12:53AM
THE DAILY NEWS
Richard Cover had probably the most understated response to news about Westboro Baptist Church and its members’ plans to picket Camp Lejeune on Saturday.

“They’re a little bit misguided,” said Cover, a retired Marine master sergeant who lives in Hubert.

“Misguided” is one of the milder terms area residents were applying to the Topeka, Kan., church — comprised mainly of Fred Phelps and members of his extended family. The church pickets the funerals of service members and proclaims on its Web site that “God is america’s enemy, dashing your soldiers to pieces.”

And while the rest of the country struggles to understand why Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach and her unborn baby are dead, Westboro Baptist Church members say they know why: retribution from God.

Cover, whose son is an active-duty Marine stationed in Japan, said church members — or as Cover referred to them, “these knuckleheads” — spread a message of hate.
“If they are a God-fearing church group …(why are) they preaching and living a life of hatred, of violence?” he asked.

The church sent a release by fax to The Daily News on Sunday night, announcing its intentions to “picket the filthy, lawless Marine Corps” at noon Jan. 19 at Camp Lejeune.
Plans for a response surfaced quickly.

Charity Woolverton of Hubert is one of many residents who said they will be at Lejeune Boulevard and Hargett Street on Saturday morning to counter the members of Westboro Baptist Church.

“It’s just a few crazies out there that have a tendency to be the loudest,” Woolverton said. “We’re interested in providing an opposite view.”

Woolverton, an Army brat married to a retired sailor, said she considers the church’s message disgusting.

“Anyone that can use the word of God to preach hate, that’s wrong,” Woolverton said. “I don’t think they speak for the religious community at all.”

On Saturday, they may not be able to picket at all.

The protest cannot take place legally this weekend because the Jacksonville Police Department has decided not to waive the 10-day waiting period for a public-assembly permit required in the city’s ordinance.

Jacksonville police Chief Mike Yaniero confirmed that the organization filed an application at 5 p.m. Monday and asked for a wavier of the waiting period, which Yaniero said is designed to allow police adequate time to ensure public safety.

JPD has not denied the request, he said, but it would not waive the waiting period.
The church’s Web site listed Jan. 19 and 24 as dates for its protest at Camp Lejeune, causing some in the community to wonder whether Westboro members were still coming Saturday.
Tuesday morning, only two members of that church were scheduled to be in Jacksonville — Shirley Phelps-Roper and her daughter, Phelps-Roper said.

Phelps-Roper, a member of the church and its attorney, spoke by phone from Washington, D.C., where she said she was picketing outside the White House.

“When you listen to these Marines talk, it’s a scary picture,” Phelps-Roper said, referring to them “as rebellious, disobedient people who don’t obey the command of God ….
“The Lord God is fixing his wrath upon the Marines.”

Jacksonville resident Laura Lowe is astounded by the group.

“I’ve actually been following them for a few years, and it’s absolutely outrageous,” said Lowe, who is married to a Marine. “The way that they talk, they really believe this.”
Garry Anderson, senior project manager for Wild Building Contractors, has an added concern with the group’s planned visit.

The company is renovating family housing at Camp Lejeune and Cherry Point. His company’s logo is its acronym: WBC — and he was worried that some might confuse it with the Westboro Baptist Church.

“We don’t want to be associated with those folks,” said Anderson, noting that his company is headquartered in Morristown, Tenn., not Kansas.

Ellie

[thedrifter]

Marines: Slain pregnant Marine didn't feel threatened by suspect

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. -- A 20-year-old pregnant Marine who disappeared in December told victims' advocates at Camp Lejeune she didn't feel unsafe in the presence of the colleague now wanted in her death, Marine Corps officials said Tuesday.

Marine Cpl. Cesar Armando Laurean never violated the military protective order directing him to stay away from Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach, denied having any kind of sexual contact with her, and continued to report for work on time in the weeks after her disappearance, said Col. Gary Sokoloski, the judge advocate general officer for the II Marine Expeditionary Force.

"At no time did she indicate that she was threatened by Cpl. Laurean," Sokoloski said. "When she was asked if she felt threatened by Cpl. Laurean, she said she did not feel threatened."

Authorities confirmed Tuesday that remains found over weekend in a fire pit in Laurean's backyard were those of Lauterbach and her child. Dr. Charles Garrett, the Onslow County medical examiner, said Lauterbach, who was in the late stages of pregnancy when she vanished, died of "traumatic head injury due to blunt force trauma."

The autopsy did not answer all the questions about the circumstances of Lauterbach's death, said county prosecutor Dewey Hudson. Detectives are still not sure if she gave birth before her slaying, he said, or the identity of the father of her child.

Marine officials said Tuesday that Lauterbach met with prosecutors in November and said she no longer believed Laurean was the father. A pregnancy test performed in May, when she alleged Laurean had raped her in March and April, was negative. A later test performed in June was positive, and doctors estimated her date of conception as May 14.

Naval investigators concluded the sexual encounter in March was not criminal, said NCIS agent Paul Ciccarelli. In a second incident about two weeks later, Ciccarelli said, the pair had a sexual encounter that didn't include any threats, force, violence or coercion.

"She asked him to stop, and he did stop," Ciccarelli said, saying that was the account Lauterbach gave to officials.

He said she still considered both to be incidents rape, and Lauterbach's regimental commander treated her allegations seriously. Her commander was intent on taking the case to an Article 32 hearing _ the military equivalent of a grand jury proceeding.

Authorities believe Lauterbach was killed around Dec. 15. Lt. Col. Curtis Hill, a spokesman for the II MEF, said Lauterbach's supervisors attempted to find her after she failed to report to work on Dec. 17, calling her cell phone and sending someone to her home.

But he said there was evidence _ including a note left for her roommate in which she wrote she was tired of the Marine Corps lifestyle _ that led them to believe she left on her own.

"We all thought, all of us, that she had left on her own free will and was going to be found," Hill said.

Authorities believe Laurean fled Jacksonville early Friday morning, after leaving a note in which he admitted burying Lauterbach's body. But Tuesday, they said he is believed to have gone into hiding, and no longer needs to move at great speed or travel a long distance to avoid capture.

"We believe it's certainly possible, based on him being out there for this long, and not having any sightings, that he is getting help," said Onslow County Sheriff's Capt. Rick Sutherland. "We think we have a handle on all his contacts, but there could be someone else out there helping."

Authorities towed Laurean's black pickup truck on Tuesday after finding it abandoned at a motel parking lot in Morrisville, not far from where it was seen by witnesses in Durham, about 150 miles north west of Jacksonville. It will be brought back to Onslow County to be processed by the State Bureau of Investigation, Ciccarelli said.

It was unclear how long the truck had been at the Microtel Inn. Sherrie Joyner, who works the front desk, said Laurean never checked in.

Lauterbach's ATM card was found at a bus station in Durham, and authorities received reports from several witnesses Sunday who said they saw Laurean at a bus station in Shreveport, La. Onslow County Sheriff Ed Brown has said detectives have been unable to confirm the validity of the Louisiana sightings.

In his note, Laurean alleged that Lauterbach committed suicide by cutting her own throat. Brown rejected that idea even before the medical examiner weighed in, citing blood spatters on the ceiling and a massive amount of blood on the wall found inside Laurean's home as signs of a violent confrontation.

Officials have offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to Laurean's arrest and have posted or plan to post billboards with his picture in cities nationwide, including Columbus, Ohio, Tampa, Fla., and Las Vegas.

Ellie

[thedrifter]

FBI: Marine suspect may be in Mexico

By MIKE BAKER, Associated Press Writer
2 minutes ago

A Marine suspected of killing a pregnant comrade told friends he would flee to Mexico to avoid being convicted of raping her, and investigators said Wednesday they are working with Mexican authorities to track him down.

A wide-ranging manhunt for Cpl. Cesar Armando Laurean began last week, after authorities said he fled North Carolina and left a note in which he admitted burying the body of Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach, but said she committed suicide. The 20-year-old had accused him of rape.

Investigators found Lauterbach's burned remains, and those of her child, in a fire pit in Laurean's backyard and concluded she did not kill herself.

Court documents filed this week by the FBI state Laurean, 21, told members of his Marine Corps unit he would flee to Mexico if it appeared he would be found guilty of rape. Laurean's wife also told authorities she believed he would head to Mexico if he was in trouble.

"We strongly suspect, but have not confirmed, that Laurean may be in Mexico," FBI spokesman Richard Kolko said in Washington. "We have a strong working relationship with law enforcement partners in Mexico and we're working with them to locate and apprehend him."

Laurean, 21, of Las Vegas, is a naturalized U.S. citizen. The federal documents — a criminal complaint charging him with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution — state that his family resides in Nevada, but he has ties to Mexico. Laurean is also wanted in North Carolina on a state arrest warrant for murder.

Laurean appears to have mailed letters back to his wife in North Carolina, according to two law enforcement officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation. It was not immediately clear what the letters said or how many of them were sent, or where they were sent from.

Authorities have said his wife, Christina Laurean, is cooperating with authorities and provided them with the note her husband left before skipping town.

Lauterbach died of "traumatic head injury due to blunt force trauma," according to autopsy results released Tuesday. But authorities said the exam failed to answer all the questions detectives have about Lauterbach's death, including whether she gave birth before her death and of the identity of the father.

Authorities believe Lauterbach was killed around Dec. 15. Marine officials have they attempted to find her after she failed to report to work on Dec. 17, but had evidence — including a note left for her roommate in which she wrote she was tired of the Marine Corps lifestyle — that led them to believe she left on her own.

___

Associated Press writer Lara Jakes Jordan in Washington contributed to this report.

Ellie

[thedrifter]

Camp Lejeune's Statement re: LCpl Lauterbach
Onslow - 1/16/2008

Here is a copy of the statement released by Camp Lejeune concerning the

murder of Lance Corporal Maria Lauterbach.

OPENING STATEMENT

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, my name is Lieutenant Colonel
Curtis Hill and I’m the public affairs officer for the 2nd Marine
Expeditionary Force, or II MEF as we refer to it, here at Camp Lejeune.

I’m joined here by Colonel Gary Sokoloski, the Staff Judge Advocate for

II MEF, and Special Agent in Charge Paul Ciccarelli from the Camp
Lejeune field office of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

First, on behalf of the Commanding General of II Marine Expeditionary
Force, we wish to offer our deepest sympathy and our heartfelt sorrow
to
the Lauterbach family and their friends for the loss of their daughter,

Maria, and their grandchild. It is our hope that they will find
strength
during these tragic times. We, her Marine Corps family, miss her and we

join the family in mourning her. Our thoughts and prayers continue to
be
with them.

Second, I want to thank you for your patience as we within II MEF and
our subordinate command, 2d Marine Logistics Group, worked to collect
information and conduct a review to determine what information was
available to commanders and when that information was available in
relation to the tragic events involving Lance Cpl Lauterbach and Cpl
Laurean. Additionally, we collected information and reviewed actions
taken as a result of information becoming available. We are now in a
position to provide information to you that we are confident is
accurate
and will not adversely impact ongoing investigations or possible future

judicial proceedings.

I will provide you a statement that will, within the limitations of
what
I can provide, lay out a timeline for this tragic case. I’d ask that
you
hold questions till the end of the statement. At that time, I’ll open
the floor for questions.

I will begin with some background information on the two Marines:

LCpl Maria Lauterbach was born in Orange City, Florida. Her home of
record when she joined the Marine Corps in July of 2005 was Vandalia,
Ohio. She graduated from Boot Camp in September of 2006 and was trained

as a Personnel Clerk. This was her first duty station after completing
her required training. She had not deployed in support of the Global
War
on Terrorism. She was promoted to Lance Corporal on February 1st, 2007,

and her record indicates she was a solid Marine.

Cpl Cesar Laurean was born in Mexico and is a naturalized American
citizen. His home of record when he joined the Marine Corps was Las
Vegas, Nevada. He graduated from Boot Camp in December of 2004 and was
trained as a Personnel Clerk. This was his first duty station after
completing his required training. He had not deployed in support of the

Global War on Terrorism. He was meritoriously promoted to Corporal on
September 2nd, 2006, and his record indicates he was a stellar Marine.

On May 11th, 2007, LCpl Lauterbach confides in her Officer-in-Charge
two
incidents of a sexual nature with Cpl Laurean. After some initial
discussions, the command’s Uniform Victim Advocate meets with LCpl
Lauterbach and explains the Victim Advocate Program to her. The UVA
takes LCpl Lauterbach to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service
office
aboard Camp Lejeune to file a formal complaint. LCpl Lauterbach reports

to NCIS an alleged sexual encounter with Cpl Laurean on March 26, 2007,

and a second encounter approximately two weeks later. LCpl Lauterbach
alleged she had been raped by Cpl Laurean. The command’s UVA
accompanies
LCpl Lauterbach to the medical department for a medical exam. Due to
the
length of time that elapsed between the alleged assault and the
complaint, a forensic examination, or rape kit, is not performed.
However, a “Well Woman” exam is performed to include a pregnancy test.
The pregnancy test result is negative.

NCIS opens a rape investigation.

On May 12, 2007, the company commander of both LCpl Lauterbach and Cpl
Laurean provides a verbal order to Cpl Laurean not to initiate any
contact or communication with LCpl Lauterbach and stay a minimum of
1000
feet from her. Additionally, LCpl Lauterbach’s UVA accompanies her to
the Family Service Center for victim counseling. Both individual and
group counseling are offered to her.

Also on this date, the regimental commander reassigned LCpl Lauterbach
to a duty office building geographically separated from Cpl Laurean,
basically across the base from each other. The commander deemed it
appropriate to move LCpl Lauterbach as her new duty location co-located

her with her Uniform Victim Advocate.

At this point, there have been no charges preferred, the evidence did
not contain elements of force or threats, and there were no indications

Cpl Laurean was a flight risk. The regimental commander considered
these
factors and Cpl Laurean’s military character and decided pre-trial
restraint was not appropriate.

On May 18th, 2007, NCIS interviews Cpl Laurean and he denies any sexual

contact with LCpl Lauterbach.

On May 24, 2007, the company commander follows up the verbal order of
May 12th, with a written Military Protective Order effective through
June 24th. The MPO was established to preserve the integrity of the
investigation and developing case, it was not based on any perceived
threat towards LCpl Lauterbach.

From June 19th through June 24th, LCpl Lauterbach takes annual leave
to
parents home in Ohio. Upon returning from leave, LCpl Lauterbach
behaves
normally and displays no anxieties or unusual behavior.

On June 25th, 2007, the company commander re-issues a written Military
Protective Order effective through September 24th. Again, the MPO is
renewed to preserve the integrity of the investigation and developing
case, it was not based on any perceived threat towards LCpl Lauterbach.

Additionally, there is no indication LCpl Lauterbach and Cpl Laurean
have been in contact in any way.

On June 27th, 2007, LCpl Lauterbach is ill and seeks medical attention.

She is administered a pregnancy test. The result of the test is
positive
with medical personnel estimating the conception date as 14 May 2007.
LCpl Lauterbach’s UVA calls NCIS to report the pregnancy. LCpl
Lauterbach goes to NCIS to make a statement regarding her pregnancy and

belief that Cpl Laurean is the father as a result of the alleged rape.

From July 11th through July 26th, Cpl Laurean takes annual leave. He
returns as expected and behaves normally afterwards.

During the summer months, both Marines perform their daily jobs;
participated in two long liberty periods, Independence Day and Labor
Day
that both returned from on time, and there are no indications of
contact
between LCpl Lauterbach and Cpl Laurean. Additionally, the NCIS
investigation continues.

On September 17, 2007, LCpl Lauterbach requests permission from her
command to move into off-base housing in order to prepare a home for
her
and her expected child. This is common practice for Marines who are
about to go through a life changing event, for example a marriage or
having a child.

On September 20, 2007, the regimental commander issues a written
Military Protective Order effective through December 23rd. The
regimental commander issues this MPO because the company commander is
on
annual leave and unavailable. Again, the MPO is renewed to preserve the

integrity of the investigation and developing case, it was not based on

any perceived threat towards LCpl Lauterbach. Additionally, there is no

indication LCpl Lauterbach and Cpl Laurean have been in contact in any
way.

From September 26th through October 2nd, LCpl Lauterbach takes annual
leave. She returns as expected and no unusual behavior is observed.

On October 18, 2007, NCIS recommends no disciplinary action be
initiated
on the alleged rape until forensic evidence DNA can be retrieved from
the child. Cpl Laurean denied having any sexual contact with LCpl
Lauterbach and this was believed to be significant evidence.

On October 22, 2007, the regimental commander submits a request for
legal services requesting prosecutors review the investigation and
provide a recommended Course of Action with an eye towards an Article
32
investigation. An Article 32 investigation allows for witnesses to
testify under oath and subject to cross examination. An accused is
present and represented by counsel.

On October 23rd, trial counsel discusses the case with the regimental
commander.

On October 31, 2007, LCpl Lauterbach’s request to move out of the
barracks into off-base housing is approved.

On November 5, 2007, LCpl Lauterbach moves into an off-base house,
renting a room from Sgt Durham who is scheduled to deploy during late
December and was looking for someone to rent his home while he was
deployed. Additionally on this day, trial counsel re-interviews LCpl
Lauterbach who readjusts her statement that her pregnancy is a result
of
the rape. However, she continues to maintain that she was raped by Cpl
Laurean. Trial counsel continues to look at evidence and prepare
recommendations for further actions to the regimental commander. NCIS
continues to look for evidence to corroborate LCpl Lauterbach’s
allegations.

From November 4th through November 13th, Cpl Laurean takes annual
leave
to his home in Las Vegas.

On November 26, 2007, LCpl Lauterbach attends a scheduled OB
appointment
at the Camp Lejeune Naval Hospital.

At this point in the alleged rape investigation, the regimental
commander and trial counsel continue to discuss the evidence and the
possible charges, if any, to prefer against Cpl Laurean. The regimental

commander has not made a decision regarding what charges, if any, to
prefer against Cpl Laurean and has not consulted with his Staff Judge
Advocate. Cpl Laurean has not been detailed government defense counsel
and no Article 32 hearing is scheduled as Cpl Laurean has not been
charged with any offenses.

On Friday, December 14, 2007, LCpl Lauterbach reported to work as
normal. The work day ended at 12 noon as the command was having a
Christmas party. Attendance was not mandatory and LCpl Lauterbach
elected not to attend. That morning Sgt Durham saw her car at the home
when leaving for work.

At this point, we’ll discuss a few things that occurred December 14th
that the command did not know until sometime later. For example, when
Sgt Durham arrives home from work, he finds a note left for him by LCpl

Lauterbach stating, “I could not take this Marine Corps life anymore.
So
I am going away. Sorry for the inconvenience. Maria.” Sgt Durham
notices
that some of her personal items are missing. She does not leave the
house key behind. Sgt Durham calls LCpl Lauterbach’s sister concerning
the note. Shortly after this conversation, LCpl Lauterbach’s Mother
calls Sgt Durham. Sgt Durham text messages a junior member of LCpl
Lauterbach’s work section indicating his belief she was going into an
Unauthorized Absence status, commonly referred to as “going UA.” There
is an ATM withdrawal of $700 from LCpl Lauterbach’s account.
Transaction
occurs in Jacksonville. Video surveillance confirms LCpl Lauterbach
makes the withdrawal. The ATM information is not provided to the
command
until January 9th. Please remember LCpl Lauterbach was at work on
Friday, was not required to attend the Christmas party, and therefore
was not required to be at work until Monday morning.

On Saturday, December 15th, Greyhound bus records reflect a ticket is
purchased in LCpl Lauterbach’s name for one way to El Paso, Texas
departing that evening. Ticket is not redeemed. Command is not notified

of this information until January 9th.

On Monday, December 17, 2007, LCpl Lauterbach failed to report to work.

Her leadership begins to inquire as to her whereabouts by calling her
cell phone. Sgt Durham physically arrives at her work section and
provides the note to her leadership. Sgt Durham also provides
information that LCpl Lauterbach appears to have taken some clothing,
personal hygiene items, and her car with her. The command takes the
extraordinary step of sending representatives to her residence to check

to see if she is there. They knock on the door of Sgt Durham’s
residence
with no response. LCpl Lauterbach’s vehicle is not there. LCpl
Lauterbach is entered into the administrative system in an Unauthorized

Absence status. There is an elevated concern for her welfare because of

the advanced stage of pregnancy. The command requests permission to
list
LCpl Lauterbach as a deserter in order to release a DD553 to apprehend
her. This was an extraordinary step taken in hope of having her
returned
so the command could ensure she was receiving the proper medical care.
Basically, with a DD553, federal resources could be used to assist in
locating her.

On Tuesday, December 18, 2007, the section OIC calls LCpl Lauterbach’s
Mother to notify her of her daughter’s absence. Mother states she spoke

to Sgt Durham on December 14th, at which time he notified her of LCpl
Lauterbach’s absence. Mother also states she last spoke to her daughter

on December 14th. The section OIC asks Mother about LCpl Lauterbach’s
whereabouts and possible reasons for leaving. Mother stated she didn’t
know where she was and didn’t have reasons why she may have left.
Mother
files a Missing Persons Report locally in Ohio. Command receives
information regarding the MPR on December 27th.

Command determines LCpl Lauterbach has voluntarily placed herself in an

Unauthorized Absence status. The determination is based on the note
left
behind and some personal items taken to include her car.

On Wednesday, December 19th, 2007, Ohio authorities contacted local law

enforcement authorities here in Onslow County about the Missing Persons

Report. Onslow County Sheriff’s Office notifies the Naval Criminal
Investigative Service of the MPR. The notification went to the Onslow
County Sheriff’s Office as LCpl Lauterbach’s residence falls within
County jurisdiction. The command is not notified of the MPR until
December 27th.

On Thursday, December 20th, 2007, Sgt Durham contacts section OIC
informing him that he will be leaving on December 28th for training in
California and that access to the residence would be difficult after
that date. LCpl Lauterbach’s cell phone is found along Highway 24 in
Jacksonville, NC. The phone was used to make several calls by stranded
motorist, one of which was LCpl Lauterbach’s sister, who requests that
the individual turn the phone into the police. The command is notified
about the cell phone recovery and the circumstance surrounding the
recovery on January 9th.

On Friday, December 21st, 2007, the Christmas Holiday liberty period
begins.

On Monday, December 24th, 2007, an unidentified male withdraws $400
from
Lauterbach’s account. Location is Western Blvd, Jacksonville. The
command is notified on January 9th.

On Wednesday, December 26th, 2007, LCpl Lauterbach does not attend a
scheduled OB appointment at the Naval Hospital, Camp Lejeune. Command
is
not aware of this until January 9th. The Christmas Holiday liberty
period ends at 6 o’clock in the evening.

On Thursday, December 27th, 2007, LCpl Lauterbach’s leadership contact
mother for any updates she may have on her daughter’s whereabouts.
Mother states she has had no contact with her daughter since December
14th. Mother also states that she has filed a Missing Person Report
(MPR) with Onslow County Sheriff’s Office. Onslow County Sheriff’s
Office contacts LCpl Lauterbach’s OIC and confirms that the MPR exists.

Detective also asks for LCpl Lauterbach’s vehicle description and asks
whether her OIC believed she left of her own free will. This was the
command’s first contact with OCSD concerning LCpl Lauterbach. Command
is
notified by NCIS that authorities from Vandalia, OH contacted Onslow
County Sheriff’s Office concerning MPR that was originally filed by
mother in Ohio.

On December 28, 2007, as Sgt Durham is about to depart for training in
California, and with Sgt Durham’s permission, the command inventories
and boxes LCpl Lauterbach’s personal belongings at the residence in
order to secure her property. The New Year’s Holiday liberty period
begins at noon.

On Wednesday, January 2nd, 2008, the New Year’s Holiday liberty period
expires at 6 o’clock in the evening.

On Thursday, January 3rd, 2008, the command turns in LCpl Lauterbach’s
inventoried gear to the supply warehouse. Supply re-inventories the
gear
and reports no discrepancies from the original inventory sheets.

On January 4th, 2008, the required 10-day letter is sent to LCpl
Lauterbach’s family. The letter is delayed a few days due to the
holiday
period; however, the command has been in previous contact with LCpl
Lauterbach's mother.

LCpl Lauterbach’s Mother contacts Company 1stSgt. The section OIC is
made aware of the phone call to the Company 1stSgt and calls Mrs.
Lauterbach. Mother asks if the command has done anything additional to
find LCpl Lauterbach. According to the section OIC, the mother’s
concern
had clearly intensified. Mother states to the Section OIC that she is
coming to Camp Lejeune on Monday, January 7th, to meet with the command

and will be bringing her brother. The section OIC plans to meet her at
the gate at 9:45 on Monday, January 7th, to assist her with her visit.
Section OIC plans to escort her to the workspaces to meet with the
leadership. The mother gives no indication during this phone call that
outside law enforcement would be involved or that she thought foul play

was the reason for her daughter’s absence. NCIS receives a call from
LCpl Lauterbach’s Mother. NCIS receives specifics from LCpl
Lauterbach’s
Mother they previously did not have. Examples include specifics of LCpl

Lauterbach’s cell phone recovery.

At this point, the commander has no reason to believe LCpl Lauterbach
is
not voluntarily UA. There is no evidence she has been the victim of
foul
play, and though her mother’s concern has intensified, there is still
no
indication that something has happened to LCpl Lauterbach. The command
still has not received any information concerning recovery of her cell
phone, or of the suspicious activity on her ATM account. Cpl Laurean
has
not been implicated in the absence in any way.

On Monday, January 7, 2008, LCpl Lauterbach’s mother and uncle arrive
at
Camp Lejeune earlier than expected accompanied by an Onslow County
Sheriff’s Office Detective and ask for a meeting with NCIS and the
command. Regimental legal officer attends the meeting once the request
was sent via the proper protocol. This is the first indication to the
command that foul play may be suspected in her absence. During the
afternoon, LCpl Lauterbach’s section SNCOIC calls the Camp Lejeune
Naval
Hospital to ask if she had attended her December 26th OB appointment.
Through either a mistake or confusion, the SNCOIC is told she had
attended the appointment. The correct information regarding her
attendance at the November 26th appointment and failure to attend the
December 26th appointment was not received until January 9th.

On Tuesday, January 8, 2008, the company commander re-issues a written
Military Protective Order effective through March 28th. There was a
lapse in MPO coverage between December 24th and January 7th due to an
administrative oversight during the holiday period. At one o’clock, Cpl

Laurean’s OIC accompanies Cpl Laurean to NCIS to speak with Onslow
County Sheriff’s Office. He is questioned as a possible witness, not a
suspect. He was not provided his Miranda warnings. There’s no
information provided to the command to implicate Cpl Laurean in LCpl
Lauterbach’s absence. Cpl Laurean requests time during the workday to
meet with his civilian attorneys at their office. His OIC approves the
request.

On Wednesday, January 9, 2008, Cpl Laurean is out of the office all day

with his civilian attorneys but maintains phone contact with OIC. Cpl
Laurean requests additional time off to meet with his civilian
attorneys. His OIC approves the request. Evidence previously not
provided to the command is available. However, most of this evidence
still points to LCpl Lauterbach going UA. Cpl Laurean’s requests to
meet
with his lawyers does not raise concerns as he is also under
investigation for the alleged rape. Additionally, Cpl Laurean maintains

contact with his OIC throughout the day by phone. There has been no
request from law enforcement agencies to detain or otherwise restrict
Cpl Laurean.

As the situation developed and information was provided by
investigators, all indications led the command to believe LCpl
Lauterbach had voluntarily placed herself in an unauthorized absence
status.

On Thursday, January 10th, 2008, LCpl Lauterbach’s personal possessions

are turned over to NCIS for delivery to Onslow County Sheriff’s Office.

Cpl Laurean is out of his work section all day but maintains phone
contact with his OIC throughout the day. That evening, Cpl Laurean
informs his OIC of a possible appointment with his attorneys on Friday
morning. Cpl Laurean is directed to call at 7:30 in the morning to
confirm the appointment or to be at his work space at 7:30 if he does
not have an appointment.

At two o’clock, the Onslow County Sheriff holds a press conference
where
he, the head of the lead investigating agency, implies anticipation of
a
positive outcome to the case. Additionally, he makes an on-camera plea
for LCpl Lauterbach to return. The Onslow County Sheriff names Sgt
Durham as a “person of interest” and tells the media the Marine Corps
is
returning him from California to Onslow County so he can interview Sgt
Durham.

On Friday, January 11, 2008, Cpl Laurean fails to report to work and
fails to call his OIC. His section makes several attempts to contact
him
by phone with no response. Cpl Laurean is reported UA. The morning
reports in the media indicate there will be an announcement of a
positive break in the case at a noon press conference. The command
receives information regarding a note in the possession of Cpl
Laurean’s
spouse that will have a significant bearing on the case. The
announcement is made that LCpl Lauterbach is believed to be dead and
buried in Onslow County. Cpl Laurean is named a “person of interest”
and
the releasable information on Cpl Laurean is provided to the media to
include a photograph.

At no point prior to Friday morning when information about the note was

provided by Cpl Laurean’s spouse, did the regimental commander or the
NCIS investigators feel that LCpl Lauterbach was anything other than UA

or have information that Cpl Laurean was involved in LCpl Lauterbach’s
absence in any way.

I’d like to discuss briefly some specific information received by the
command and when it was received:

• Information regarding a $700 ATM withdrawal made on December 14th was

provided to the command on January 9th. • Information regarding the
purchase of the Greyhound bus ticket to El Paso on December 15th was
provided to the command on January 9th. • Information regarding LCpl
Lauterbach’s cell phone being recovered and the circumstances of the
recovery was provided to the command on January 9th. • Information
regarding an unidentified male withdrawing $400 from LCpl Lauterbach’s
account on December 24th is provided on January 9th. • Information
regarding LCpl Lauterbach’s vehicle being found near the Greyhound bus
station in Jacksonville on January 7th was provided on January 9th.

At this point, Col Gary Sokoloski will provide a message from LtGen
Keith Stalder, the commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force:

Ladies and Gentlemen, LtGen Stalder, Commanding General of II Marine
Expeditionary Forces is not in the State today.

“I want to extend my deepest sympathies to Maria Lauterbach's family
and
friends. The loss of any Marine or sailor in combat, or garrison, is
tragic and effects us all deeply – it effects members of this command,
the Marine Corps Base, and our friends in the local civilian community
–
we all grieve.

I am satisfied with the actions of the commanders in this case. We
followed applicable regulations and procedures with the information
available to the commander. I am impressed with the level of
cooperation
between our County neighbors, Naval Criminal Investigative Service and
the flow of information during this period of intensive investigative
activity.

As I indicated to Sheriff Brown this past Sunday evening, I continue to

pledge the MEF’s full cooperation with Onslow County Sheriff's Office
and the District Attorney, Mr. Dewey Hudson. Thank you for your
attendance.”

Ellie

[thedrifter]

Friend of Marine on the run: 'He's like MacGyver'


(CNN) -- A woman who once worked with fugitive Marine Cpl. Cesar Laurean and the pregnant Marine he allegedly killed said Wednesday that Laurean has "MacGyver" skills and training that could enable him to adapt to life on the run.

The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, woman requested that she remain anonymous.

Earlier Wednesday, an FBI spokesman said the agency suspects Laurean may have returned to his native Mexico.

The woman, who left the Marines in December, described Laurean as well-trained to adapt to his situation.

He can rig just about anything -- as could the lead character in the "MacGyver" television series of 1985 to 1992 -- is strong, a fast runner and can handle weapons, including an M-16, she said.

She said Laurean is quiet but social, and has many friends. He often spoke to her about his 18-month-old daughter. Watch the friend describe Laurean's personality »

The woman said she has been a friend of Laurean for about four years; they were employed in the Personnel Department at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

She expressed shock that he was being sought in the slaying of Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach, whose charred remains and those of her fetus were found Friday in a pit in Laurean's backyard. Lauterbach, 20, was reported missing December 19, when she was about eight months pregnant.

Laurean has been charged with first-degree murder in her death.

The friend told CNN: "It's an incredibly surreal experience for me to see someone I was personally acquainted with and friends with on a wanted poster. I just can't wrap my mind around the fact he would've brutally murdered someone."

Lauterbach had been set to testify against Laurean at a military hearing after she accused him of raping her.

The friend said Lauterbach confided in her that she had consensual sex with Laurean, but that a verbal argument had occurred, and the alleged rape followed in Laurean's office at Camp Lejeune.

The March encounter was judged to be "not criminal in nature," or consensual, said Col. Gary Sokoloski, staff judge advocate for the II Marine Expeditionary Force. The second encounter, in April, involved no threats or force, Lauterbach said.

The woman said Lauterbach told her she feared Laurean, and sought a protective order, which expired in September.

Officials have indicated that was the only such order, but the woman told CNN Lauterbach came to her a second time and had her prepare a second protective order, which was in force when Lauterbach died.

"She came in September when her original military protective order had expired, asking whether she could have, A, a copy of the original one and, B, a second one put into place," the woman said.

She also said Lauterbach told her she was thinking about withdrawing the rape allegation because she didn't think officials were taking her seriously.

There is no way Lauterbach and Laurean had a relationship after the alleged rape, the friend said, disputing information from authorities who have said the two maintained contact after the alleged rape.

Ellie

[thedrifter]

FBI: Marine wanted in pregnant comrade's death said he would flee to Mexico to dodge rape case

By: MIKE BAKER - Associated Press

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. -- A Marine suspected of killing a pregnant comrade told friends he would flee to Mexico to avoid being convicted of raping her, and investigators said Wednesday they are working with Mexican authorities to track him down.

A wide-ranging manhunt for Cpl. Cesar Armando Laurean began last week, after authorities said he fled North Carolina and left a note in which he admitted burying the body of Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach, but said she committed suicide. The 20-year-old had accused him of rape.

Investigators found Lauterbach's burned remains, and those of her child, in a fire pit in Laurean's backyard and concluded she did not kill herself.


Court documents filed this week by the FBI state that Laurean, 21, told members of his Marine Corps unit he would flee to Mexico if it appeared he would be found guilty of rape. Laurean's wife also told authorities she believed he would head to Mexico if he was in trouble.

"We strongly suspect, but have not confirmed, that Laurean may be in Mexico," FBI spokesman Richard Kolko said in Washington. "We have a strong working relationship with law enforcement partners in Mexico and we're working with them to locate and apprehend him."

Laurean, 21, of Las Vegas, is a naturalized U.S. citizen who was born in Mexico and still has some family there, authorities said.

The court documents are included with an FBI criminal complaint charging Laurean with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. He is also wanted in North Carolina on a state arrest warrant for murder.

Laurean appears to have mailed letters back to his wife in North Carolina, according to two law enforcement officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation.

It was not immediately clear what the letters said, how many of them were sent or where they were sent from, but one of the officials said at least one of the letters was postmarked from Houston.

Authorities have said Laurean's wife, Christina Laurean, is cooperating with authorities and provided them with the note her husband left before skipping town.

Lauterbach died of "traumatic head injury due to blunt force trauma," according to autopsy results released Tuesday. But authorities said the exam failed to answer all the questions detectives have about Lauterbach's death, including whether she gave birth before her death and of the identity of the father.

Authorities believe Lauterbach was killed around Dec. 15. Marine officials have they attempted to find her after she failed to report to work on Dec. 17, but had evidence -- including a note left for her roommate in which she wrote she was tired of the Marine Corps lifestyle -- that led them to believe she left on her own.

Associated Press writer Lara Jakes Jordan in Washington contributed to this report.

Ellie

[thedrifter]

Wife knew of Lauterbach’s death
By Estes Thompson - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Jan 17, 2008 19:45:29 EST

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — The wife of the key suspect in the violent slaying of a 20-year-old pregnant Marine waited almost 24 hours after learning of the woman’s death to go to police, according to court documents released Thursday.

The sheriff’s affidavit, which details the account Cpl. Cesar Armando Laurean’s wife gave to detectives, does not provide an explanation for why she waited. Police have consistently described her as a cooperating witness, and she does not face charges.

Laurean told his wife, Christina, while driving to their attorney’s office last Thursday that Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach visited the couple’s home on Dec. 15, demanded money and told him she planned to leave the area, according the affidavit. Lauterbach had accused Laurean of rape in May, a charged he denied to military investigators.

He told his wife that he and Lauterbach purchased a bus ticket for her to El Paso, Texas, but that she later returned to their home and they began to argue. He claimed Lauterbach produced a knife and slit her own throat. Laurean also told his wife he then buried Lauterbach in the woods near their home, the documents state.

Laurean disappeared the next day, leaving behind a note in which he repeated his claims that Lauterbach killed herself. Investigators later found Lauterbach’s burned remains, and those of her child, in a fire pit in Laurean’s backyard.

An autopsy determined Lauterbach died of blunt force trauma to the head. Authorities have said they don’t believe she committed suicide, citing a large amount of blood found on the walls and ceiling of Laurean’s home. Investigators used a chemical process to identify the blood evidence, finding that some had been disguised by washing and painting.

Authorities said Thursday they may have recovered the weapon used to kill Lauterbach, although they declined to say who gave them the item last weekend and what it was. Prosecutors have said an autopsy failed to answer all the questions about Lauterbach’s death, including whether she gave birth before her death and of the identity of the father.

Authorities believe Lauterbach was killed on or about Dec. 15. Marine officials have said they attempted to find her after she failed to report to work on Dec. 17, but had evidence — including a note left for her roommate in which she wrote she was tired of the Marine Corps lifestyle — that led them to believe she left on her own.

The FBI has said Laurean is believed to have fled to Mexico, and they are working with authorities there to track him down. Laurean, 21, is a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Guadalajara, Mexico, and still has some family in the country, authorities said.

Laurean told members of his Marine Corps unit he would flee to Mexico if it appeared he would be found guilty of rape, according to court documents filed this week by the FBI, and his wife also told authorities she believed he would head to Mexico if he was in trouble.

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Associated Press writer Mike Baker contributed to this report from Raleigh, N.C.

Ellie