Fugitive Marine planned Mexico escape
JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (AP) - May 28, 2008 The documents offer a comprehensive look at the monthslong
search for /*Cpl. Cesar Laurean*/, who is charged in the death of Lance
/*Cpl. Maria Lauterbach*/, 20, of Vandalia, Ohio.
Though he fled to Mexico in January, Laurean's constant contact
with his wife and family eventually led to his arrest in April.
According to motions filed by prosecutors, he frequently logged
into an e-mail account belonging to his wife, Christina, and left
her messages. A person using a computer in Mexico City also
accessed the couple's joint bank account.
The wife refused to help him and has cooperated with
authorities.
Though police had a few close calls tracking Internet cafes
where they believe Laurean went online, they did not catch him
until they used phone records from a calling card that was given to
him by a confidential witness working with authorities. He was
arrested April 10 in San Juan de la Vina in the Mexican
municipality of Tacambaro.
When /*FBI*/ agents searched his home computer shortly after he
fled, prosecutors said they found online research into buying
property and finding a job in Mexico. They also found Laurean was
following online news coverage of the search for Lauterbach before
her burned remains were found buried in his backyard in North
Carolina.
Laurean had told friends that he would flee to Mexico if it
appeared he would be convicted of rape. But Onslow County Sheriff's
Capt. Rick Sutherland said evidence suggests he didn't start
planning to flee until after Lauterbach's disappearance.
Laurean is awaiting extradition, a process that could take a
year or more. His lawyer, W.H. Paramore III, was in court Wednesday
and unavailable for comment, an employee in his office said.
The burned remains of Lauterbach and her fetus were found in a
shallow grave in Laurean's backyard Jan. 11. Investigators said
Lauterbach likely was killed in mid-December.
Few details have been released on exactly how Lauterbach was
killed. But Sutherland said Wednesday that investigators are
confident they know what happened to her, after examining soil
samples taken from the yard and the defendant's vehicle.
One document not released Wednesday is a note Laurean left for
his wife before he fled. Detectives have said Laurean denied
killing Lauterbach in the note, claiming she committed suicide and
he buried her.
Laurean and Lauterbach were assigned to the same logistics unit
at Camp Lejeune, a sprawling base on the North Carolina coast that
is home to about 50,000 Marines. Lauterbach accused Laurean of rape
a year ago, but naval investigators were unable to corroborate the
allegation. She initially claimed that Laurean was the father of
her child but later recanted.
The two were separated on base, even though Lauterbach told
investigators she did not feel Laurean posed a danger or threat to
her. The Marines have said their regimental commander was intent on
taking the case to a hearing that could have led to a trial.