Thread: Capture of cabin dweller in murder of pregnant Marine shocks

Suspect in pregnant Marine arrested in Mexico



Marine Cpl. Cesar Laurean, left, is presented by police in Morelia, Mexico, Thursday. Laurean, who was wanted in the brutal slaying of a pregnant fellow Marine at Camp Lejeune who had accused him of rape, was arrested Thursday night in Mexico after a three-month international manhunt, authorities said.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/index.html

Capture of cabin dweller in murder of pregnant Marine shocks Mexican villagers who knew him

By Traci Carl
ASSOCIATED PRESS

2:06 p.m. April 11, 2008

SAN JUAN DE LA VINA, Mexico – People wondered about the bearded foreigner who moved into a rustic cabin weeks ago in the pine-clad mountains surrounding this picturesque village.
Some thought maybe he was a drug trafficker – something not unheard of in these parts. It was not until Friday when they saw Cpl. Cesar Laurean's photograph in the local newspaper that they learned he was a U.S. Marine suspected of killing a pregnant colleague.

Police arrested Laurean, 21, on Thursday as he was walking along the main street in San Juan de la Vina in the municipality of Tacambaro, ending a three-month manhunt. He is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Marine Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach, 20, who had accused him of rape.
Lauterbach's burned remains were found in January in the backyard of his home near Camp Lejeune, a coastal North Carolina base that is home to roughly 50,000 Marines.

FBI Public Affairs Specialist Amy Thoreson said FBI agents were present at Laurean's arrest in Mexico, but it was unclear what role they played.

Bearded and thin, Laurean told police he survived for months largely by eating avocados from the orchard in the mountains where he lived in Michoacan state.

After his arrest Thursday, a slightly disoriented Laurean spoke briefly with The Associated Press while being held by Mexican police.

“You know my name. You know who I am,â€

Fugitive Marine May Have Talked to Sheriff About Surrender

Posted: Today at 7:58 a.m.

Jacksonville, N.C. — The Onslow County sheriff might have been in contact with Camp Lejeune Marine indicted in the killing of a pregnant comrade about a week before his capture in Mexico, authorities said late Friday.

Mexican authorities arrested Cpl. Cesar Laurean, 21, Thursday in Tacambaro, Michoacan, a small town between Mexico City and Guadalajara. He is charged with murder in the December death of Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach.

Sheriff Ed Brown received an email from a person claiming to Laurean at 12:56 a.m. March 30, Capt. Rick Sutherland said in a statement Friday.

"The sender claimed that they wanted to open a dialogue with Sheriff Brown to possibly arrange his surrender," Sutherland said.

The sender asked if Brown could ensure him immunity from a military trial. "I know they will convict me with no evidence, I cant risk Leavenworth or a chain gang," the email read.

Sutherland said law enforcement has not verified that the email came from Laurean. The sender spelled the fugitive Marine's name as Lauren.

"The email appeared to be sent from Mexico, and the circumstances surrounding the delivery of the message were consistent with messages known to have been sent from Laurean," Sutherland said.

Messages exchanged via a computer owned by Laurean's sister-in-law provided valuable information to narrow the search, Federal Bureau of Investigation agents said.

Authorities focused on Mexico after Laurean fled Jacksonville on Jan. 11, hours before Lauterbach's charred remains were found buried in his back yard. He was born in Mexico before becoming a U.S. citizen and has relatives there.

Brown responded to the email, because it might have been "a legitimate attempt by Laurean to arrange his surrender," and the sheriff urged the sender to do just that, Sutherland said.

"Mr. Lauren, turning yourself in would be a very positive step, the wisest thing you could do," Brown wrote. "My opinon is based on experiences observed through nearly forty years of law enforcement."

Brown wrote that after consultations with Onslow County District Attorney Dewey Hudson, he could not ensure the sender immunity from military prosecution. However, military officials have let civilian authorities take the lead in the case, Brown wrote.

If the Marine Corps wishes to try Laurean, it must file charges before his first extradition hearing. The extradition process could take between two months and a year, depending on if Laurean decides to fight it.

Brown emailed his cell phone number if the sender "desire(d) to have a verbal dialogue." He gave assurances that he was "committed to being honest and straight up with people, even persons in your situation" and would not "lie" or mislead" the sender.

He signed the email "a caring and serving sheriff, Ed Brown."

Brown said Friday that Laurean would be treated like every other inmate in his jail.

"Cesar Laurean is not an animal. He's a human, and he's not a trophy," he said.

Reporter: Mike Charbonneau
Web Editor: Anne Johnson
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http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/2725209/