Missing (Pregnant) Marine Dead, Authorities Say

KWTX ^ | 1/11/2008 | n/a

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

Yeah. I saw that earlier. I’m hoping to get more info on the family at the press conf.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

As of 10 am, a reward has been offered for info leading to his arrest. $25,000.

Suspect has 18 mo child.

Wife considered a key witness and is cooperating.

Body being transfered to Chapel Hill for autopsy.

Tips coming from Raleigh-Durham. Truck sighting there and Maria’s ATM card found there this weekend.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

When Maria’s mother reported her missing to the Sheriff’s Department, Laurean’s name was not included in mother’s report. Focus in the beginning was possibility that Maria fled on her own. Mother stressed that Maria was a liar and her mental health. Focus was on finding Maria leaving on her own, not that someone else was responsible.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

People need to remember that charges were never filed because investigators were waiting for the evidence to be presented, aka. the birth of the child.

[Sue Perkick]

I figured he would be in Mexico by the weekend. He’s getting some help. Those people should be prosecuted to the fullest extent.

[maggief]

Wanda Alander, who lives next door to the Laureans, said officers escorted Christina Laurean into the house around 1 p.m. Sunday. They left shortly afterward.

Richard Alander, Wanda’s husband, said the two of them had discussed additional recollections about the Laureans with investigators Sunday.

Earlier this week, the Alanders said Cesar Laurean had borrowed a shovel several weeks ago. They said Laurean used to tie his small, poodle-like dog to a tree in the backyard but in recent weeks had been tying the dog to a stake in the front yard.

The tree in back was near a burn pit where authorities Saturday removed human remains they think are those of Lauterbach and her unborn child. Dr. Charles Garrett, Onslow County medical examiner, said the remains would be taken to the Chief Medical Examiner’s office in Chapel Hill for further examination to determine identity and cause of death.

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/crime_safety/story/878836.html

[brityank]

This is from jdnews.com story $25,000 reward offered for info on Laurean:

Other tidbits noted by Brown during a press conference included:
-- Lauterbach was likely killed on or about Dec. 15, the day after she was last in contact with people who knew her and the same day she bought a bus ticket to El Paso, Texas.
-- Laurean and his wife, Christina S. Laurean, have an 18-month-old child who is safe with family members.
-- The bodies recovered Saturday were being transported today to the state Medical Examiner's Office in Chapel Hill for autopsies.
-- Maria Lauterbach's missing ATM card was found in Durham over the weekend after tips came in about Cesar Laurean's truck.
-- Christina Laurean, although considered a key, "cooperating" witness, is free to go wherever she wants.

District Attorney Dewey Hudson said he plans to meet with naval investigators this afternoon to discuss the processes followed during the investigation of the rape of which Lauterbach accused Laurean in April.

If Lauterbach was claiming his wife pregnant, I hope they have a good hold on her and their child.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

The thing about the ATM card...the Sheriff never did say that the truck was found, did he? Yet, he connected the two in his statement.

[Girlene]

Strange that they found her ATM card at the Durham bus station. He must have seen reports that her ATM activity was being monitored and decided to dump it. Wonder why he left it somewhere it could be found? Also from your link:

Lauterbach's family has said authorities did not aggressively investigate her rape allegation against Laurean. Sheriff's officials said the rape had allegedly happened on the Camp Lejuene military base and had not been reported to civilian authorities.

[brityank]

Edit: Should be Laurean not Lauterbach in last sentence.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

Was it at the bus station? I must have missed that part. I wonder if the card was tagged as one to not return back to the user, once it was inserted in an ATM machine? So many questions. I think the authorities are actually on to him, and I’m completely fine with info being withheld if making it public tips him off.

And re: the statement posted...I think that the general public doesn’t understand jurisdiction nor the military chain of command.

[Rte66]

Can’t the bank “grab it” and keep it, as if it got lost in the machine, if they’re watching for it? I think they can - it’s evidence.

But, maybe not, if they want to continue tracking his whereabouts.

[Rte66]

Did Lauterbach’s parents know she was pregnant?

[Girlene]

Can’t the bank “grab it” and keep it, as if it got lost in the machine, if they’re watching for it? I think they can - it’s evidence.

Excellent point. I thought they'd want to keep tracking him with it, if he dared to use it. If he was borrowing a shovel from a neighbor (vs having or buying his own), he may be desperate for cash. They'd be tracking any credit card of his, as well. So, maybe denying him any access to credit/cash will force him in sooner.

[debm29palms]

Doubtful that he was desperate for cash because Marines get paid two times a month. On the 1st and the 15th. They said she was killed the 15th. He got paid the night before at midnight.

I think he borrowed the shovel from the neighbor because he had to bury something fast.

[Girlene]

Thanks for the info. He supposedly used the card on Christmas Eve - one time I heard it was at an ATM connected with a Walmart, another at an ATM connected with Marines (?). Maybe he was just being an opportunist at getting some “free cash”. At some point, he will be desperate for cash being on the run.

[Girlene]

Did Lauterbach’s parents know she was pregnant?

Her mother and uncle knew, at least. Her uncle knew she had filed rape charges and about harrassment that she alleged. Her last conversation with her mother was Dec. 14 in which her mother was strongly suggesting she give the baby up for adoption.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

Lol! I didn’t think of how pay day would play into his short vacation. She was paid too, and if it was automatic, he had access to that.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

Maybe he was planning, just in case.

It always amazes me that people think they can get away with things like murder.

[Sue Perkick]

Good point.