Sheriff urges fugitive Marine to turn himself in

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. - Federal authorities were posting billboards nationwide with the picture of a Marine wanted in the slaying of a pregnant colleague, as the sheriff urged him to turn himself in and announced a $25,000 reward Monday for information leading to his arrest.

Authorities are looking for Marine Cpl. Cesar Armando Laurean, 21, wanted in the death of Marine Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach, who had accused him of rape.

“The search for Laurean is Earthwide,” Onslow County Sheriff Ed Brown.

Brown used the TODAY show on Monday to call on Laurean to give himself up, promising law enforcement authorities will bring him to justice.

Speaking from Jacksonville, N.C., with TODAY co-host Matt Lauer, Brown addressed Laurean personally, saying, “Mr. Laurean, the best thing to do is, let’s resolve the problem where it’s at. You’ve committed a terrible crime, and law enforcement in this country is not going to go away until you’ve faced a jury and the courts for what you’ve done.”

Brown predicted that Laurean will be caught.

“You’re never gone for good when law enforcement is after you,” Brown said. “It may be two days or two weeks, 10 days or 10 years, but you’re never gone for good.”

Brown said that he’s convinced the charred remains of a female and fetus recovered from a fire pit in Laurean’s backyard are those of Lauterbach and her unborn baby. Lauterbach was eight months pregnant when she disappeared on Dec. 14 from Camp Lejeune, N.C., where she was stationed.

“The evidence is circumstantial that this is a female with a fetus in the grave, but it’s clear enough for me,” Brown said, adding that DNA and dental evidence would confirm the identity of the remains.

Brown also called on the public to contact police if they think they’ve seen Laurean. The last unconfirmed sightings of the Marine, who left his home early Friday morning, were at a bus terminal in Shreveport, La. Several people said they thought they saw him boarding a bus bound for Texas.

The sheriff warned anyone who thinks they have seen Laurean not to confront him.

“If you do have the opportunity to come in contact with him, do not get him in a corner,” he said. “I do believe if you were to pose a threat to his apprehension against his will, I do believe your life would also be in danger.”

Brown cautioned late Sunday that his detectives, aided by the FBI and U.S. Marshals, were still working to confirm the sightings in Shreveport, backing away from earlier assurances that the witness accounts were genuine. But he was confident Laurean would soon be in custody.

“It will be a short trip — a short vacation — for Mr. Laurean,” Brown said. “His vacation may be short, his travel may be long, but I hope we’ll be there to help him return.”

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