Gag Order issued in Case of Murdered Pregnant Marine Maria Lauterbach

Gag Order Issued In Case of Murdered Pregnant Marine
Thursday 30 April 2009

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LCPL Maria Lauterbach, USMC (20) - Pregnant Marine went missing Dec 2007 Camp Lejeune, N.C.; had accused fellow Marine of rape, and her body along with that of her unborn child were found buried in Cesar Laurean's back yard under a fire pit on January 11, 2008

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Cesar Laurean (24) - Accused of murdering LCPL Lauterbach and her unborn child; fled to Mexico, where he was arrested three months later

Jacksonville, NC

Gag order issued in Laurean case

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An Onslow County judge has issued a gag order in the Cesar Laurean case, according to court documents made public today.

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The order states that to ensure Laurean's right to a fair trial, prosecutors, law enforcement officials and Laurean's defense attorney are not to release any information to the news media or the public that would "have a substantial likelihood of materially prejudicing an adjudicative proceeding in the matter."

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That information includes Laurean's background, the results of any tests or nature of any physical evidence, opinions about Laurean's guilt or innocence, and any other information that would prejudice a trial, according to the order signed by Senior Resident Onslow County Superior Court Judge Charles Henry.

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Laurean, 22 - a Camp Lejeune Marine corporal scheduled for discharge - faces a charge of first-degree murder in the bludgeoning death of 20-year-old Marine Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach, a pregnant colleague who had accused him of rape.

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Onslow County Sheriff's detectives believe Laurean used a crowbar to kill Lauterbach on Dec. 14, 2007, according to search warrant affidavits.

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Laurean fled Onslow County in January 2008, shortly before the charred remains of Lauterbach and her unborn child were found buried in his Half Moon community backyard. Laurean was arrested in Mexico in April 2008 and extradited back to Onslow County earlier this month.

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He also fought extradition from Mexico where he has duel citizen status, and when finally sent to Texas, fought extradition again to keep from going to North Carolina. Not such a big man now, eh Cesar?