Posted on 01/11/2008 9:43:08 AM PST by Pyro7480
January 11, 2008)--Authorities in North Carolina said late Friday morning pregnant Marine Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach is dead.
They said shes buried in a shallow grave, for which investigators are now searching.
They identified the suspect in the case as a Marine officer whom she accused of sexually assaulting her.
Police earlier were planning to interview a man who lived with her and said he would answer questions that "will shed a lot of light on the case."
Authorities said again Friday Marine Sgt. Daniel Durham isn't a suspect, but police believe he's the last person to speak with the Marine.
She disappeared Dec. 14 ahead of her expected testimony in a military investigation into her claim a senior officer had sexually assaulted her.
Court documents show the investigation went sour amid inconsistencies in the woman's story and allegations that she's bipolar and a compulsive liar.
Search warrants show she was facing a possible discharge from the service.
Lauterbach was eight months pregnant when she disappeared.
Yeah. I saw that earlier. I’m hoping to get more info on the family at the press conf.
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.
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.
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.
I figured he would be in Mexico by the weekend. He’s getting some help. Those people should be prosecuted to the fullest extent.
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
If Lauterbach was claiming his wife pregnant, I hope they have a good hold on her and their child.
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.
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.
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.
Did Lauterbach’s parents know she was pregnant?
I think he borrowed the shovel from the neighbor because he had to bury something fast.
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.
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.
Maybe he was planning, just in case.
It always amazes me that people think they can get away with things like murder.
Good point.
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