Cesar Laurean Wants Wrongful Death Suit Postponed

~Cesar Laurean



In a not so surprising move, Cesar Laurean has filed a motion asking for a postponement of the wrongful death suit filed by Maria Lauterbach's family.

If the civil trial occurred before the criminal trial, Laurean's right to remain silent would be jeopardized and he potentially would be forced to expose defense witnesses to depositions, reveal defense theories which could result in “substantial pre-trial publicity that would taint the jury in the criminal case and deprive me of a fair trial and due process.”

Laurean has been indicted for the December 14, 2007 bludgeoning death of Maria Lauterbach. Onslow County authorities claim Laurean killed Lauterbach with a crowbar and Maria and her near full-term child were then buried under a firepit in Laurean's backyard. Laurean fled to Mexico and eluded authorities for 3 months.

Lauterbach had accused Laurean of rape, however DNA tests have since shown that he was not the father of her child.

The suit is also filed against Laurean's wife, Christina. According to the suit, Christina found Lauterbach's wallet in her house and, "knew or should have known the wallet contained Lauterbach's driver's license." The suit claims Christina not only knew about the crime, but also helped build the firepit and aided Laurean while he was on the run.

Laurean's motion for postponement states that he had no knowledge that Christina ever had Maria Lauterbach's wallet and he states that Christina never helped him after he fled.

Authorities have always stated that Christina was cooperating in hunt for Laurean and was not considered a suspect.

Laurean filed an answer to the December wrongful death suit saying, “Defendant is not liable to the Plaintiff in this action because he did not cause, directly or indirectly, the death of Maria Frances Lauterbach, and did not conceal, or conspire to conceal, evidence concerning her death.”

Laurean's criminal trial is scheduled to begin June 28. He will not face the death penalty due to an extradition treaty with Mexico.

jdnews

Trial Date Set For Cesar Laurean

~Cesar Laurean


At a pretrial hearing today, DA Dewey Hudson and defense lawyer Dick McNeil agreed that a change of venue for the murder trial was necessary due to excessive publicity.

While Judge Charles Henry agreed to the change of venue, no location has been chosen. The trial is scheduled to begin June 18, 2010.

McNeill says the trial should take two to three weeks while Hudson is looking at a month.

Laurean is charged with murdering fellow Marine Maria Lauterbach and her unborn baby.

WITN

ENC Today

Cesar Laurean and Melissa Huckaby in the News

Laurean
In a brief court appearance on Monday, Cesar Laurean entered a plea of not guilty in the death of 20-year-old Maria Lauterbach.

Lauterbach’s charred remains were found by sheriff's deputies under a fire pit in Laurean's backyard in January 2008. She was eight months pregnant.

In 2007, Lauterbach told military officials that she had been raped by Laurean, but later recanted that story. DNA tests have recently ruled out Laurean as the father of Lauterbach’s unborn child.

A judge has set March 15, 2010 for the trial to begin. Laurean’s defense attorney, Dick McNeal says he has eight pending murder cases and wouldn’t be ready for trial before next year.

McNeal said this is a serious case with a lot of issues and it will take some time to review.

District Attorney Dewey Hudson was not happy after Monday's hearing, saying the trial date is too far away, adding the case should be handled expeditiously.

Laurean is being held in isolation in Onslow County, North Carolina.

WRAL
News14

Huckaby
Deputy District Attorney Thomas Testa filed a motion on Tuesday asking the presiding judge to enter a plea of not guilty and to set a preliminary hearing date for 28-year-old Melissa Huckaby.

Huckaby is due to appear in court for the fourth time at 1:20 pm this Friday and Public Defender Sam Behar has yet to enter a plea for Huckaby. The motion filed Tuesday gives the court the ability to file a plea on her behalf.

Huckaby was arrested on April 10 for allegedly raping and killing 8-year-old Sandra Cantu. Later, additional charges were added that she “furnished a harmful substance” to a 36-year-old man named Daniel Plowman and a 7-year-old girl.

Prosecutors are apparently growing impatient and want to get the case moving referencing statute that “All criminal actions in which … a minor … is the victim … shall be given precedence over all other criminal actions in the order of trial.”

Motion To Set Preliminary Hearing Date
Mercury News
Tracy Press

Laurean – Out of the Corps and not the Father

~Cesar Laurean





The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology has issued a report that DNA analysts concluded that Cesar Laurean was not the father of Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach's child.

Camp Lejeune spokesman Maj. Cliff Gilmore acknowledged Laurean was separated from the service Wednesday, but would not release the reason for Laurean's discharge "in accordance with the Privacy Act."

Laurean’s lawyer, Dick McNeil, says you count on hearing lots more from him about relocating Laurean’s trial away from Onslow County due to 16 months of media coverage.

WRAL
WITN
WNCT

Cesar Laurean – Again, No Surprise

So typical of a defective system - the State and defense has agreed to reschedule the Marine’s arraignment until June 8.

Laurean is expected to plead not guilty at his arraignment.

Damn, I believe in defense when it is merited, but to delay for frivolous reasons for someone who more than likely, actually committed the crime – per voluminous evidence - is not only the vehicle to re-harm the victim and their families, but also allows criminals to remain above the law – they enjoy more rights than victims.

What about Maria and her unborn son? Do they deserve delayed justice? Were their lives worth less than the probable perp?

This is what is broken in our legal system – we are more concerned with the criminal’s rights than we are about the victims.

Yeah, I said it; I believe it and I’m mad as hell about it - and we have subverted this way of thinking, not only around our country, but also globally.

Humanity has sunken to a very seditious and dangerous low and I'm scared as hell about it!

WNCT

No Surprise, Stacey Barker – Surprise, Cesar Laurean

Barker
As expected, Stacey Barker briefly appeared in a Lancaster, California court today and pleaded not guilty to murder, assault on a child causing death and child abuse.

Barker has remained jailed since April 23 after being arrested for the death of 18-month-old Emma Barker.

First reporting to law enforcement that baby Emma had been kidnapped, Barker later told investigators Emma had died accidentally; she panicked and dumped the toddler’s body along side of a highway.

She is scheduled to be back in court on June 15, when a date will be scheduled for a hearing to determine if there is sufficient evidence for her to stand trial.

Laurean
Onslow County Superior Court Judge Charles Henry dissolved the gag order he issued in the Cesar Laurean case.

"This court, upon its own motion, has undertaken a review of the constitutionality and validity of the April 30, 2009, consent order entered regulating the relationship between the signatories of the order and the news media."

Henry said that after reviewing his original order, he felt it did not meet North Carolina constitutional standards.

Laurean’s attorney, Dick McNeil, said he was pleased Henry reconsidered his original order, adding, “The Sheriff's Department has not been shy about speaking about the case for the last 18 months, why stop now?"Ok, I admit, McNeil's statement kinda left me baffled!

Laurean is scheduled to appear in court May 18 when he is expected to plead not guilty in the death of Maria Lautenbach and her unborn child.

CBS2
JDNEWS.com

Laurean Murder Case - Gag Order Issued

Onslow County Superior Court Judge Charles Henry has issued a gag order in the Cesar Laurean case that prohibits prosecutors, law enforcement and Laurean's defense attorney are not to release any information to the news media or the public.

That includes information on Laurean's background, the results of any tests or features of any physical evidence, opinions about Laurean's guilt or innocence, and any other information that might prejudice a trial.

Judge Henry acknowledged the significant amount of publicity the case has received since Maria Luatenbach and her unborn baby’s burned bodies were recovered from Laurean’s backyard fire pit and his subsequent escape to Mexico.

Defense attorney Dick McNeil stated he is concerned that the state has talked about the facts in the case for 16 months.

Laurean is scheduled to appear in court May 18. McNeil said his client will enter a plea of not guilty.

enctoday.com

reflector.com

Laurean In Lock Up In North Carolina

~Cesar Laurean
booking photo






At 9 p.m. last evening, Cesar Laurean was booked into the Onslow County Detention Center. He is being held without bail on charges of credit card transaction fraud, obtaining property by false pretenses and first-degree murder in the death of Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach.

Prosecutors contend Laurean killed Lauterbach on December 14. 10 days later he used her ATM card and fled to Mexico. He was arrested in San Juan Vina in the Mexican state of Michoacan. Laurean holds dual citizenship in the United States and Mexico so he could not be immediately deported. He spent the past year fighting the extradition process.

Maj. Cliff Gilmore, Camp Lejeune spokesman, said Laurean would go to the civilian jail in Onslow County and stand trial in a civilian court. Laurean was listed as a deserter after he disappeared, but is still considered an active-duty Marine.

Laurean faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole if convicted. Mexico’s extradition policies prohibit U.S. authorities to seek the death penalty.

Because authorities have determined that Maria's child had not been born at the time of her death, DA Dewey Hudson said, prosecutors are only allowed to charge Laurean with a single count of murder under North Carolina law.

Lauterbach's body was found after Laurean's wife, Christina, provided authorities with a note her husband had written that claimed the 20-year-old Lauterbach slit her own throat during an argument.

A gaping 4-inch wound was found on the left side of Lauterbach's neck, but autopsy results indicated the wound would not have been fatal and possibly occurred after death. The autopsy report indicates Lauterbach died from blunt-force trauma to the head.

Prosecutors have said there was no evidence that Christina Laurean was involved in or aware of Lauterbach's death.

An arraignment is scheduled for Monday, April 20.

Defense attorney Dick McNeil says Laurean will plead not guilty once in court.

CNN

News14

jdnews.com

Justice For Marine Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach, Finally?

~Cesar Laurean


January 2008, Maria Lauterbach and her unborn child’s charred remains were found buried in a fire pit in Cesar Laurean’s backyard.

Laurean, who has dual citizenship, led police on a three-month manhunt after fleeing to Mexico. He has been held in a Mexican prison for a year while fighting extradition to the US. He will be returned to the US this week.

Laurean and Lauterbach had worked together at Camp Lejeune. Lauterbach had accused him of rape. Before her disappearance in December 2007, military officials said they planned to investigate the allegation.

Onslow County District Attorney Dewey Hudson was forced to agree not to seek the death penalty in order for Mexico to consider returning Laurean.

Laurean is expected to be processed in state court in Houston, where he could waive extradition to North Carolina or fight it. Should Laurean decide to fight extradition, North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue would have to request that Texas return him and that could take up to a week.

Defense attorney Dick McNeil said he expects his client to plead not guilty, but he has no access to Laurean while US and Mexican authorities work out the extradition.

"I can tell you we're not pleading guilty. If he does, it's life without parole," said McNeil.

CNN

Foxnews.com

OJ, Cesar Laurean and Ed Halverson

OJ Simpson
Well, as expected, Galanter and Grasso have submitted a motion that OJ be granted a new trial.

Grasso’s motion faults Judge Jackie Glass for her decisions during jury selection, that she limited cross-examination of witnesses during trial and the instructions she gave to jurors before deliberations.

Grasso and Galanter also complained that Judge Glass didn’t give them enough time to fully review transcripts and video of the trial.

"She didn't give us the time we need to do a full-fledged motion," said Galanter, who lost a bid to extend the seven-day deadline.

Ok, I recall Jackie denying the extension of the seven-day deadline. She said something to the effect that she sat through the entire trial. So, did Galanter and Grasso not pay attention during the trial? And, what don’t Galanter and Grasso get about the state deadline of seven-days?

Simpson and Stewart are to be sentenced on December 5.

Fox News.com

CNN.com/crime

Cesar Laurean
According to his court-appointed attorney, Dick McNeil, Cesar Laurean has filed an extradition appeal in Mexico.

Laurean is accused of murdering Marine Maria Lauterbach and her unborn child. Their bodies were found in a fire pit in Laurean’s backyard.

Laurean’s return to Onslow County to face charges, may now take years.

Maybe it’s just me, but I’d rather be sitting in a US jail than in a Mexican jail!

WNCT

Ed Halverson
No surprise here - Ed Halverson entered a plea of not guilty to attempted murder charges.

Ed is charged with trying to kill his wife, Elizabeth Halverson, by striking her with a skillet.

Elizabeth Halverson is the embattled judge facing a Judicial Discipline Commission complaint that she mistreated staff and couldn't adequately conduct trials.

Ed Halverson told Judge David Barker that he understood the charges against him.

His trial is to begin on December 1.

Betcha Elizabeth can’t wait to take the stand – after seeing her performance at the discipline hearing, you just know this will be a circus!

LVRJ

Cesar Laurean Extradition Approved

~Cesar Laurean

Accused suspect in the murder of Maria Lauterbach and her unborn child is expected to be in Onslow County Sheriff’s Department custody in a week or so, according to Sheriff Ed Brown. Lauterbach was eight months pregnant when she was killed last December.

DA Dewey Hudson said the earliest Laurean could return to face charges in Onslow County is mid-October, as Laurean could appeal the court decision.

Laurean's court-appointed lawyer, Dick McNeil said he doesn’t know if Laurean will appeal and we are at least a month or more away from his return.

A Mexican court has approved returning the Marine corporal to the United States with the agreement that he will not face the death penalty in North Carolina.

Laurean fled to Mexico, as the search was under way for Lauterbach. He was found and arrested there in April.

CNN

Fox News

Cesar Laurean - Missing Files Press Conference

~Robert Sharpe

Onslow County Sheriff’s Department charged Robert Sharpe with embezzlement and misdemeanor larceny on Friday. Sharpe is accused of taking investigative files, law enforcement reports and other written and electronic information related to the Laurean case.

At a press conference yesterday, District Attorney Dewey Hudson said Sharpe attempted to sell copies of the documents to an undercover officer posing as a Newsweek reporter for an "astronomical" amount of money.

Onslow County Sheriff's Department, Captain Rick Sutherland became suspicious when reading comments about the Laurean case. The comments were posted on Daily News reporter Lindell Kay's blog and Sutherland realized the comments were from someone who had more detail than what he should have had.

An undercover officer, claiming to be a Newsweek reporter called Kay for possible sources of information about Laurean's sexual preferences.

With the source's permission, Kay provided a phone number, but did not provide the source's name or any other identifying information to the officer.

The Sheriff's Department asked Kay to reveal information about his sources, and he refused, citing North Carolina's "shield law".

Thursday, deputies intercepted Sharpe leaving the office with numerous paper and electronic files. Deputies later searched Sharpe's car, home, and computer.

It was emphasized there is no evidence any of the information contained in the files was released to any media outlet or that any documents were compromised.

Jacksonville Daily News

Cesar Lauren Case – DA Intern Arrested

~Cesar Laurean



Robert Sharpe, an intern with the Onslow County DA’s office has been arrested on charges of embezzlement and misdemeanor larceny for stealing documents in the case.

The documents are part of the prosecution of Marine Cpl. Cesar Laurean, charged with murder in the death of 20-year-old Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach.

Sharpe is accused of taking investigative files, law enforcement reports, and documents while working for District Attorney Dewey Hudson.

Laurean fled to Mexico where he was apprehended and being held, awaiting extradition back to the US.

WCNC

Cesar Laurean Investigation Documents Made Public

~ Cesar Laurean Under Arrest

Onslow County Superior Court Judge Charles Henry has unsealed documents, which provide a clearer picture of Cesar Laurean’s movements after the body of 20-year-old Marine Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach and her unborn child were found in a fire-pit at Laurean’s home.

Investigators had believed that Laurean used his father-in-law’s Trailblazer to transport Maria’s body. Photographic and testimonial evidence indicates that Laurean was seen driving the vehicle on December 14, the last day Maria was seen alive.

A search warrant deposition statement shows detectives found a newspaper dated January 9, hair and fibers, a receipt and a possible blood sample in the vehicle.

According to Capt. Rick Sutherland of the Onslow County Sheriff's Department, "We are confident we know where Maria's body was from the time she was killed until her body was recovered."

Laurean is from Las Vegas, but was born in Guadalajara, Mexico. He and his family moved to the U.S. over ten years ago.

Maria had accused Laurean of rape and the FBI said that he had told members of his Marine Corps unit that he would flee to Mexico if it appeared he would be found guilty of rape.

The FBI believes Laurean entered Mexico under the alias Armando Ramirez on a bus from Houston, Texas. Investigation of Laurean's home computer found research about Mexico, purchasing land in Mexico and finding a job in Mexico.

The Sheriff's Department also learned that someone accessed the Laureans' joint bank account from a computer using an Internet service provider based in Mexico City.

"This same IP address contacted a personal account of the wife, Christina Laurean, and logged into that account," according to the newly released documents.

Laurean was captured in Mexico back in April and is currently awaiting extradition. The extradition process could take a year or more.

The unsealed documents may be seen in full here.

Cesar Laurean Hearing

A Judge in Mexico recommends extradition for Laurean. In a hearing over the weekend, Laurean did not indicate whether he’d fight extradition or not.

Authorities still haven’t determined if the e-mail sent to Sheriff Ed Brown several weeks ago from someone claiming to be Laurean, was in fact from him.

Onslow County Sheriff’s Office said in addition to the e-mail contact Laurean had with his wife, Christina, he was also checking the Jacksonville Daily News website. They say someone from his home was on that site on January 11th, the day he took off for Mexico.

According to NBC17.com: The Sheriff's Office said Laurean's interest in the media coverage of his own manhunt, is part of what led police to his capture in Mexico.

Support from the US Marshals, NCIS, and FBI helped deputies log into the Web sites Laurean visited and figure out which Mexican Internet cafes he visited them from.

Hmmmm…so, maybe that’s why his name was spelled incorrectly in the e-mail; he ain’t so smart!

Cesar Laurean – Did He E-mail the Sheriff?

Apparently Cesar communicated not just with Christina. It appears he supposedly contacted Sheriff Ed Brown on March 30.

jdnews.com provided the following: (The spelling of Laurean's name in the Sheriff's reply is in response to the way the sender spelled the name.)

From: Cesar Lauren Lauren
Sent: Sunday, March 30, 2008 12:56 AM
To: Sheriff of Onslow County, NC
Subject: Sir , Can I ask you?

Sir,
Can you assure immunity from a military court martial if I come back? , I know they will convict me with no evidence, I cant risk Leavenworth or a chain gang, what can you do for me?
_________________________________________
FROM: Sheriff Ed Brown, Onslow County, North Carolina
SENT: Thursday, April 3, 2008 (11:00 A.M.)
TO: Cesar Lauren Lauren
SUBJECT: Mr. Lauren, Response to e-mail dated Sunday, March 30, 2008 (12:56AM)

Mr. Lauren, Sir:
First assuming the e-mail I received on Sunday, March 30, 2008, 12:56 AM) purported to be from you is authentic (real), I believe it is both honorable and professional to you that I personally respond to your questions.

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

Mr. Lauren, you and I have never met so therefore it is not likely you would know how committed I am to being honest and straight up with people, even persons in your situation. I will not lie to you or mislead you relative to your questions in the e-mail I received and you know what those questions are.

My answer, after consulting with District Attorney Dewey Hudson, I cannot assure you immunity from the military court; however, at this time it is the civilian authorities who have charged you and I understand the military is leaving everything up to the civilian authorities. If in fact the e-mail I received is from you and you desire to have a verbal dialogue with me, this is my cell phone number and you may contact me any time: (910)xxx-xxxx) Thank You.

A Caring and Serving Sheriff,
Ed Brown


Ok, I know that LE hasn’t confirmed that Laurean actually sent the e-mail. It is however consistent with other e-mails sent by Laurean. And, it appears to have been sent from Mexico which is why Sheriff Brown responded.

Now, when did Laurean forget how to spell his own name?

If Laurean didn’t send it, who did?

Somebody – Laurean or a family member – realizes that once the civilian case is concluded, JAG will have a whack at him!

Maria Lauterbach’s Death – What’s Wrong With This Picture?

OK, so many things don’t add up to me so I went surfing on the net. Something in the timeline is off and just begs some answers.

December 19 - Lauterbach reported missing by her mother, believed to be, one of the last people speak with her on December 13.

December 14 - Police believe Lauterbach was murdered at Laurean’s house.

December 16 - Surveillance video shows Laurean shopping at a Lowe's home improvement store two days after Maria Lauterbach is believed to have been killed.

The video shows Laurean purchasing supplies, paint, concrete blocks and a wheelbarrow.

Laurean is seen shopping with another person described by "America's Most Wanted" as "a friend."

December 24 - Laurean tried to use Lauterbach’s ATM card on Christmas Eve and attempted to cover the ATM’s security camera with a rag.

January 10 - According to police affidavits, Laurean told his wife he buried Lauterbach in their backyard fire pit December 15 after Lauterbach committed suicide in the couple's home -- slitting her own throat. He said he got scared and buried her body.

Blood spatters inside Laurean’s home and garage show Lauterbach was beaten to death inside. Someone tried to clean up the blood, including painting over it.

A neighbor said Christina Laurean talked about repainting several rooms around the same time.

(The autopsy report says death is most likely due to blunt force injury to the head, but also indicates a "superficial incised wound to the left side of the neck." The wound is four-inches long with a two-inch gape. It appears to be real but may have occurred after death". )

January 11 - Christina Laurean waited a day after her husband told her about Lauterbach's death before telling authorities about what she knew.

Laurean fled Jacksonville, hours before Lauterbach's remains were discovered.

1) If Maria did indeed die on the 14th and the Lowe’s tape shows Laurean shopping for paint, concrete blocks and a wheelbarrow on the 16th, where was Maria’s body all that time?

2) Who was the friend seen with Laurean at Lowe’s? Did he have help?

3) Police affidavits state that Laurean told Christina that he buried Maria in the fire pit on the 15th. The concrete blocks were purchased on the 16th!

4) How much does Christina actually know? Did she and their 17-month old daughter not live at the house? How could Christina not have seen anything amiss with all the blood, cleanup and a decomposing body on the property? Did she in fact help clean up the murder scene?

5) I’ve seen varying reports on the number of bonfires/barbecues at the fire pit over the Christmas holidays. They range from two to three. Burning flesh has a very distinctive smell. No one noticed this?

6) Did Christina wait 24 hours before telling police what she knew in order to give Laurean a head start in fleeing the country?

I know police say Christina has been co-operative and is not a suspect, but is it just me?

Yeah, I have lots more questions...

Images of Cesar Laurean taken by Fox News Producer

Updated!

These images of Laurean were taken by a Fox News producer, "Jorge," while waiting processing in Mexico.

From the story link above, Jorge reports:
Laurean will be flown to Mexico City tonight where he will be handed over to the Mexico Attorney General’s Office and Eduardoo Medina-Mora. I had a conversation with Medina-Mora in Mexico City not long ago and he explained to me what would happen once a suspect was captured. Later during a phone conversation, the AG’s office never said IF he would be captured but WHEN. The suspect will get his day in Mexican court, but I was assured that the process to extradite him would begin immediately.

Update!
On the Fox News Story linked above, the following comment was left:
Comment by Ed Garcia April 11th, 2008 at 3:20 am

In my opinion, after U.S. Marine Cesar Armando Lauren stands trial in civilian court in North Carolina he will be handed over to U.S. Marine Judge Advocate General (JAG) to be Court Martialed and be sentence to DEATH for murdering a pregnant U.S. Marine. Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) he must be Court Martialed because his crime was commited as an active duty U.S. Marine. There is such a thing as double jeopardy when you commit murder as an active duty military.

This is a very interesting opinion by Mr. Garcia. Has anyone ever heard of an individual who, once convicted of a serious crime in State Court, being handed over to the JAG?

CNN.Crime

Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach's Killer Caught in Mexico!

This is fantastic news! Cpl. Cesar Laurean is in custody in Mexico and awaiting extradition to the US.

CNN.Crime reports:
U. S. Marine Cpl. Cesar Laurean, the main suspect in the killing of a 20-year-old pregnant Marine, has been captured in Mexico, federal authorities announced Thursday.

Authorities are awaiting extradition to bring Laurean, who has been on the run since January, back to North Carolina.

Unfortunately, since he was apprehended in Mexico the death penalty is off the table. Get this piece of garbage back in the U.S. as soon as possible! Let's hope her family doesn't have to wait years and years for a guilty verdict.

My friend Kitty Malone says, "Get his arse back here to the US and try him - still wish they could FRY him though - too bad about that part of it, but hey - they have him in custody and that's GREAT!"

Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach, Gary Hilton and Charles Manson Family

Maria Lauterbach's charred remains and those of her fetus were found January 12, buried in a backyard fire pit of fellow-Marine Cesar Laurean.

Laurean, the main suspect has been on the run and is believed to be in Mexico.

Initial reports stated Lauterbach died from blunt-force trauma to the head, however the final autopsy report issued this week, appears to refute Lauren’s version of how Lauterbach died.

CNN reports: A gaping 4-inch wound was found on the left side of Lauterbach’s neck, according to autopsy results released by the office of the chief medical examiner in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The wound is "incised," meaning it is a clean cut such as that made by a sharp instrument. However, the wound itself would not have been fatal, as there was only minimal damage to the underlying muscle, the results said.

"The autopsy confirms that there was a superficial incision to the neck that appears to have been made post-mortem," said a statement from Merle Wilberding and Chris Conard, attorneys representing Lauterbach's mother, Mary Lauterbach. "If so, that incision may have been made to have the body conform to Cesar Laurean's story that she had 'killed herself by slitting her throat.' "

"It looks like that incision was done to try to conform with the story he tried to present through his note and through his wife," Wilberding said. "The autopsy would support the criminal investigation conclusion that Laurean's story is not supported by the evidence."

Gary Hilton shocker!
A bizarre twist in the murder of Meredith Emerson, the 24-year-old Georgia hiker; Gary Hilton, who confessed to killing Emerson may have gotten the plan from a 1995 murder movie that he helped write and produce!

CNN says: When attorney-turned-movie producer Samuel Rael decided he wanted to make a film about a serial killer in 1995, it was former legal client Gary Michael Hilton who he says came up with the plot.

Rael claims Hilton thought it would be a good idea to have the killer be out in the woods.

"Go ahead and let some beautiful women out in the woods, and then they could be hunted down like prey," Rael says Hilton told him.

Rael was shocked when he discovered that Hilton had been arrested and had confessed to Emerson's murder. Quickly, investigators hinted that Hilton might be a serial killer, linking him to three murders in two other states. In all three, the bodies were dumped in the woods.

It’s been almost 4 decades since Helter Skelter held our fascination, but were additional murders committed by the Charles Manson Family?

Forensic investigators have been searching Barker Ranch, Death Valley National Park, CA for possible graves.

Spahn Ranch is where Charles Manson and his “family” were living during the Tate and LaBianca’s murder sprees. After a raid at the Spahn ranch, Manson moved to Barker Ranch, where he was eventually captured.

The search team includes researchers using instruments that detect chemical markers of decomposing bodies. A cadaver dog has also made a positive hit.

What led to this search after so much time?

FoxNews.com reports: The same jailhouse confessions that helped investigators initially connect the band of misfits living in the Panamint Mountains to the gruesome killings that terrorized Los Angeles hinted at other deaths. Manson follower Susan Atkins boasted to her cell mate on November 1, 1969, that there were "three people out in the desert that they done in." Other stories surfaced. In the absence of bodies, they were forgotten.

"We prosecuted Manson and the family for all the murders we could prove. But you know, could he have killed someone else? Possibly. Could another member of the family have killed someone? Sure," said Steve Kay, a former deputy district attorney.

Busy weekend in the news!