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Reward posted in homicidal marine manhunt { January 14 2008 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/14/us/14cnd-marine.html?hp http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/14/us/14cnd-marine.html?hp January 14, 2008 Reward Posted in Hunt for Marine By JOHN HOLUSHA A “massive fugitive manhunt” was underway on Monday for the Marine corporal who is the principal suspect in the death of a fellow marine who was eight months pregnant when she died. Federal authorities posted a reward of $25,000 for information leading to the arrest of Cpl. Cesar A. Laurean, who fled Camp Lejeune as investigators began to focus on him in the disappearance and subsequent death of Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach. A burned body believed to be hers was found buried in the back yard of Cpl. Laurean’s house near the base. Sheriff Ed Brown of Onslow County, N.C., where the base is located, said in a televised news conference on Monday that it appears she was killed on Dec. 15, four days before she was reported missing to civilian authorities. The body is being turned over to the North Carolina medical examiner for positive identification. Although Corporal Lauterbach filed a charge of rape against Corporal Laurean in April 2007, Marine Corps officials appear to have taken a very relaxed attitude toward the case, with a hearing not scheduled until December. The two continued to work together, Sheriff Brown said, and the top commanders at the base have said they were not aware of the matter. The case broke open when Corporal Laurean’s wife, Christina, reported finding a note written by her husband saying that Corporal Lauterbach had committed suicide and that he had buried her. Although blood-spatter evidence indicated that Corporal Lauterbach was killed in the Laurean family home, Sheriff Brown said Ms. Laurean was considered “a cooperating witness” rather than a suspect. After Corporal Laurean was identified as the subject of the rape charge, civilian investigators were unable to interview him because his lawyer blocked their requests. Dewey Hudson, the local district attorney, said he could not explain why state authorities had appointed a civilian attorney for Corporal Laurean even before he had been charged with a civilian crime. “It’s not normal,” he said. Sheriff Brown said he was unaware of the rape charge when Corporal Lauterbach was reported missing by her mother. “Activities on the base are unknown to us,” he said, adding that military authorities should have notified their civilian counterparts of the charge after she disappeared without an explanation. The F.B.I. and United States Marshals are involved in the search for Corporal Laurean, who is expected to be charged with murder when he is arrested. Copyright 2008 The New York Times Company

One in 5 troops suffering mental problems { March 2008 } Reward posted in homicidal marine manhunt { January 14 2008 } War veterans come to US with urge to kill { June 18 2008 } Files Listed: 3

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