Arrest warrant issued for Marine suspect

[unhappycamper]

Arrest warrant issued for Marine suspect
By John Rice - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Jan 30, 2008 6:14:39 EST

Mexican officials have issued an arrest warrant for a Marine suspected of killing a pregnant colleague who had accused him of rape, a U.S. Embassy official said Tuesday.

A cousin told reporters last week that Marine Cpl. Cesar Laurean visited family in the area of Guadalajara, Mexico, this month, but left without saying where he was headed.

The burned remains of Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach were found with those of her fetus earlier this month in a fire pit in the backyard of Laurean’s house in Jacksonville, N.C., and Laurean is being sought on an indictment charging first-degree murder. Both were stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Laurean was born in Mexico and fled after leaving a note for his wife in North Carolina saying that Lauterbach cut her own throat and that he had buried her body.

Authorities said Lauterbach did not commit suicide, and an autopsy found that she died of blunt force trauma to the head. Prosecutors have pledged not to pursue the death penalty if Laurean is found in Mexico, which refuses to send anyone back to the U.S. unless provided assurances they will not face execution.


Rest of article at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/01/ap_laurean_080129/