Corps defends actions in pregnant Marine case

[unhappycamper]

Corps defends actions in pregnant Marine case
By Trista Talton - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Jan 15, 2008 21:49:32 EST

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — The corporal suspected of killing a fellow Marine and burying her body in his backyard had a “stellar” record and was not considered a threat, Marine officials said Tuesday.

The search continues for Cpl. Cesar Armando Laurean, who left the Camp Lejeune, N.C., area early Friday morning, the same day authorities recovered Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach’s burned body. She was expecting her first child in early- to mid-January.

Evidence investigators obtained — including a note she’s thought to have left behind — led them to believe she was on an unauthorized absence.

During a Tuesday afternoon press conference on base, Lt. Col. Curtis Hill, II Marine Expeditionary Force public affairs officer, provided a detailed timeline of events between the time Lauterbach alleged she’d been raped until her death.

On May 11, the 20 year old reported two sexual encounters with Laurean: one on March 26 and another about two weeks later. It is unclear whether either interaction was consensual, or if both were alleged assaults.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/01/marine_corpsreaction_080115/