Missing (Pregnant) Marine Dead, Authorities Say

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

[Pyro7480]

January 11, 2008)--Authorities in North Carolina said late Friday morning pregnant Marine Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach is dead.

They said she’s 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.

[freema]

I don’t know the answer about how long someone has to wait at Camp Lejeune to have their allegations verified and charges brought forth.

Sorry, some times I just start barking. The answer to that is - in this case - a lifetime.

Check these two links out:

Civilians weren't made aware of protective order for Marine

LINDELL KAY & JENNIFER HLAD

January 13, 2008 - 1:18AM

http://www.jdnews.com/news/weren_54335___article.html/data_made.html

Under Secretary of Defense

March 10, 2004 Memo

Subject: Military Protective Orders

http://www.usmc-mccs.org/victimadv/domestic/MPO%20signed.pdf

That NCIS is trying to weasel out of knowing there was an MPO is, again, beyond low. They just met with Maria about a freaken rape charge, and any idiot would know that in the normal course of human events, one had been issued.

Not to mention she probably told them.

But dead girls tell no tales.

Nothing like walking all over her to save their ass.

[org.whodat]

depending upon who has the facts wrong are right, they are saying he became legal at the age of 15 correct! I thought you had to be older than that to apply?

Actually it may prove to be another case, like the cop that was an illegal, he was using a dead boys papers to claim he was a citizen.

[brityank]

Add me to your list; thanks.

[Sue Perkick]

Can’t argue with that. He’s good!

[Sue Perkick]

I think so too. Sounds like he may have the investigators chasing their tails while he makes his getaway.

[freema]

No matter, he’s a dead man walking if NCIS finds him first.

[NCjim]

From WRAL-TV:

Jacksonville — A Camp Lejeune Marine suspected in the death of a pregnant comrade has been added to the FBI Most Wanted list, and the agency on Monday posted a $25,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.

I hadn't seen the FBI Most Wanted list info before.

[NCjim]

From your mouth to God’s ears...

[freema]

What if there were flyovers and NCIS knew.

[Dante3]

Nancy Grace wondered if his wife possibly delayed handing over the letter to give him a head start. Little has been reported about his background and his family.

[freema]

I want him alive.

[NCjim]

From WITN-TV:

Here is the Marine Corps statement:

"The command is currently collecting information and conducting a review to determine what information was available to commanders and when that information was available in relation to Lance Cpl. Lauterbach.

Additionally, we are collecting information and reviewing actions taken as a result of information becoming available. It is premature to discuss those actions until the review is completed, said Lt. Col Curtis Hill, public affairs officer for II Marine Expeditionary Force.

"We understand the press and public desire to know what happened but want to ensure whatever information we release is accurate and that our release of information would not adversely impact any ongoing investigation and/or future judicial proceeding."

[Girlene]

Re. minimum age required to become a citizen. Here's a link Immigration Law

Eligibility Requirements

2. Minimum age of 18 years. However, many children may become automatic citizens upon naturalization of their parents. See information regarding Child Citizenship Act above.

So if Laurean became a US citizen at 15, it must have been because his parents became naturalized.

[freema]

1/14/2008 11:51:00 AM
Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach wearing her military uniform.
Community reeling from tragedy
Neighbors, friends of murdered Vandalia Marine mourn their loss
By Will E Sanders and Phillip Collins

Brown News Service

http://www.tcnewsnet.com/main.asp?SectionID=6&SubSectionID=6&ArticleID=146356

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

Not sure that I know what you mean by flyovers.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

No kidding.

[org.whodat]

I read that there is as much “if’s” there as there is in the FBI posts about whether he is legal are not. But it does say that he would have had to enter the country legally for the Child act to apply.

[freema]

Airplane or helicopter surveillance. It’s been mentioned in some of the links that Brown thought this was taking place.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

Neighbor’s wife claims she took her dogs outside at 6:30 am the morning Cesar disappeared, and she claims Cesar was still there at that time. When they heard the 4am report on tv, the wife claimed that could not be b/c she saw him at 6:30 am.

[Girlene]

Seems like NCIS and the sheriff’s office didn’t share a whole lot of info prior to the family coming to North Carolina and pushing buttons. Either NCIS mismanaged the connection between Maria Lauterbach and her alleged rapist (along with the MPO), or the sheriff’s office bungled it, or both.

Hindsight is 20/20, but it seems obvious that Laurean would be a major interest to the authorities by Dec. 20 when she was determined to be on Unauthorized Absence. Now that they’ve determined she’s dead, they are throwing everything, including the kitchen sink, into finding her suspected killer.