Suspect's yard may hold Marine's burned remains

[seafan]

Source: CNN

JACKSONVILLE, North Carolina (CNN) -- In a case that the sheriff predicted would have a "bizarre ending," authorities Saturday resumed work at the site where the remains of a pregnant Marine are thought to have been buried. The apparent remains of Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach were found buried in the suspect's backyard and spattered blood was found inside his home, the Onslow County, North Carolina, sheriff said Friday.

The remains appear to have been burned, according to the county district attorney.

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Cpl. Cesar Armando Laurean, whom Lauterbach had accused of rape, is the suspected killer. Police are hunting for him, Onslow County Sheriff Ed Brown said.
Testing showed blood in different locations in Laurean's home, Brown said. Evidence of "an attempted cleanup," including paint applied over blood spatter, was also found, he said.
Laurean has fled the area, Brown said. He said he did not know where Laurean was headed, but "my suspicion would be he's trying to get there quick." Brown also hinted that investigators have uncovered more twists in the case.

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Investigators told CNN that Laurean left a note to his wife saying that Lauterbach had committed suicide and that he buried the body. ..... Brown said a witness came forward Friday morning with a statement and evidence that convinced authorities Lauterbach was dead. A source close to the investigation told CNN the witness is Laurean's wife. ..... Lauterbach disappeared before she was able to testify at an Article 32 hearing -- a kind of military grand jury -- about the sexual assault.

Lauterbach's relatives believe her pregnancy was the result of the alleged rape, Steiner said.

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Earlier Friday, Brown said a Marine who returned to North Carolina from California -- Sgt. Daniel Durham, 20, in whose home Lauterbach had been living for a short time -- was questioned, but does not appear to have any link to the death.
Lauterbach had rented a room in Durham's home, off the base, because she had been subjected to repeated harassment by the Marines after reporting the alleged rape, Steiner said. Her car had been keyed and an anonymous person had "slugged" her in the face, he said.

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Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/01/12/missing.marine/index.html?iref=mpstoryview