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~Cesar LaureanIn 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
~Cesar Laurean
booking photoAt 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
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!
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...
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