JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — The wife of the key suspect in the slaying of a 20-year-old pregnant Marine waited almost 24 hours after learning of the woman’s death to go to authorities, according to court documents released Thursday.
The sheriff’s affidavit, which details the account Cpl. Cesar Armando Laurean’s wife gave to detectives, does not explain why she waited. Authorities described her as cooperative, and she does not face charges.
Laurean told his wife, Christina, while driving to their attorney’s office Jan. 10 that Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach visited their home Dec. 15.
Lauterbach had accused Laurean of rape in May, which he denied to military investigators.
The affidavit states he told his wife that he and Lauterbach bought a bus ticket for her to El Paso, Texas, but that she later returned to the home and they argued. He said Lauterbach took out a knife and slit her own throat. Laurean also told his wife he buried Lauterbach in the woods nearby. He disappeared the next day, when Lauterbach’s burned body was found in the Laureans’ backyard fire pit.
