[sodpoodle]

***Keep in mind, one doesn’t ‘check out’ of the Marine Corps.***

Interesting comment - because that *note* that Maria supposedly wrote - indicated that was precisely what she had in mind. But, if Maria was the child of a Military pilot and knew the protocol it would be more likely that she would have just asked for medical leave, to continue benefits, salary, child care and save her career.

I also thought it strange she would write *I couldn’t take this Marine life* (past tense) rather than *I cannot take*. It’s as if she had already checked out.

[freema]

Good point on the past tense.

If he was telling folks his wife was pregnant, this was very possibly a pre-meditated murder.

We don’t know if Laurean’s wife IS pregnant. She could be. But I doubt it. I want DNA on the toddler, Mommy Dearest, and Laurean’s toothbrush.

Cause of death is listed as blunt force trauma to the head. But if they intended to do one of those sick kill the mother steal the baby, (and the story would be that Maria gave them the baby before going UA in shame) but it was botched and burned....

I’m thinking the ‘bizarre’ part. How would one know, with the body destroyed, if the cause of death were not actually from blunt force trauma to the head, but that all the blood was from trying to take the baby?

Sounds like a case for NCIS, eh? /sarc

[Sue Perkick]

I also thought it strange she would write *I couldn’t take this Marine life* (past tense) rather than *I cannot take*. It’s as if she had already checked out.

It's the little things that give people away. I'm interested in hearing how the handwriting analysis turns out.

[Girlene]

Excellent point. "I could not take this Marine life"...You are right, it is strange. Also she did not leave the house key behind. Now, since she took out $700 from her bank that day (and was seen on video surveillance), she still could have decided to leave. It will be interesting to see what the handwriting experts come up with.

If those experts decide that she didn't write it, then it indicates her demise took place on the 14th since her roommate, Durham, found the note that day after work.