Fugitive Laurean took bus from Juarez to Guadalajara

by Michael Webster Jan 22, 2008 11:00 AM PST

Juan Antonio Ramos a cousin of the man sought in the killing of a fellow Marine in North Carolina said that he saw the suspect in Guadalajara, Mexico, and he was told that Marine Cpl. Cesar Laurean took a bus from Juarez  to Guadalajara Mexico more than a week ago. Both Laurean's Mother, Father and Grandparents live in Guadalajara Mexico.

Laurean was last sighted in the U.S. boarding a Greyhound Bus in Louisiana which was bound for El Paso, Texas. Laurean a Mexican National was serving in the United States Marine Corp on a U.S. Visa.

Onslow County, North Carolina, District Attorney Dewey Hudson said he has asked through the State Department that Laurean be arrested if he is found in Mexico. But he said he had "no other option" but to take the death penalty off the table if Laurean is found there.

Mexico has a longstanding record of refusing to extradite suspects to the United States if they face a possible death sentence upon conviction.

"I had to agree not to seek the death penalty," Hudson said. "My hands were tied if I wanted to bring him here to face murder charges."

He added, "It was very frustrating and disappointing."

Laurean has been charged with murder in the death of Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach. Her charred remains were found January 11 in a fire pit in Laurean's backyard.

Investigators found the body after Laurean's wife came forward with a note from her husband saying he had buried Lauterbach, who was eight months' pregnant, after she slit her throat during an argument.

Hudson said Laurean apparently entered his native Mexico days after leaving behind that note.

FBI spokesman Newsom Summerlin said the bureau plans to circulate matchbooks or business cards in Mexico with Laurean's photo. The Marine's wanted poster is on the FBI's Most Wanted List with a $25,000 reward.

Police suspect Lauterbach was killed December 14, the same day she bought a bus ticket for travel to El Paso Texas for the following day. But in the note Laurean's wife provided to police, the corporal said Lauterbach killed herself December 15. The wife is reported to have been there the same night of the murder with other marines during a party.

Police said an autopsy revealed a blow to the head killed the pregnant Marine. They said they are analyzing a possible murder weapon provided by an undisclosed witness. A spokesman said it could take weeks to determine whether the weapon was used to kill Lauterbach.

Lauterbach was scheduled to testify last month at a military hearing after accusing Laurean of raping her last spring.

On Monday, the Onslow County Sheriff's Department released new photos of the fire pit in Lauren's backyard taken just before the discovery of Lauterbach's body. Police said some neighbors reported seeing a group of Marines having a Christmas Day barbecue in Laurean's backyard.

Police also released photos that show Laurean's living room and garage with paint cans. Investigators said they found blood in more than one room of the home, some covered by fresh paint.

The sheriff's office said it has evidence Laurean bought paint, concrete blocks and a wheelbarrow at a home improvement store December 16. In a surveillance video, Laurean walks into the store with an unidentified man.

Investigators also are awaiting the results of DNA paternity tests, which they said could take weeks, to tell whether Laurean was the father of Lauterbach's unborn child.

Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach's remains -- and those of her fetus -- were found in Laurean's backyard, police say.

FBI Releases Additional Photos to Assist in the International Search for Fugitive Cesar Armando Laurean. The FBI, in conjunction with the Onlsow County Sheriff’s Office, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is releasing additional photographs of fugitive U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) Corporal Cesar Armando Laurean and a new known alias to assist in the ongoing international search. Laurean is a suspect in the homicide of USMC Lance Corporal Maria Lauterbach. FBI Special Agent in Charge Nathan T. Gray stated, “These additional photographs of tattoos on each of his upper arms are clear and distinctive. We are hoping the new information and the wanted posters translated into Spanish will assist in law enforcement efforts to find Laurean. I continue to urge anyone with information about Laurean’s whereabouts to call 1-800-CALLFBI (1-800-225-5324).”

Anyone with information regarding Laurean’s whereabouts can also go online and submit tips at the FBI’s website, www.fbi.gov. The FBI has also posted the Spanish language version of Laurean’s wanted posted at www.fbi.gov.

The new images show Laurean’s tattoo of a phoenix rising from the ashes on his left upper arm, and a large tattoo, possibly of a human skull layered over another image on his right upper arm. Additionally, Laurean has a small mole on the left side of his face between his lower lip and his chin. The photographs are believed to have been taken within the last eight months.

Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution – Murder
Cesar Armando Laurean
Aliases: Cesar Gudino, Cesar Sanchez, Cesar Armando Laurean-Ramirez, Armando Ramirez

DESCRIPTION

Date of Birth: November 13, 1986
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 160 pounds
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Sex: Male
Race: White/Hispanic
Nationality: Naturalized U.S. Citizen (since 2003) of Mexican ancestry
NCIC Number: W653665176
Occupation: USMC Corporal

Scars and Marks: Laurean has a tattoo of a phoenix rising from the ashes on his left upper arm, and a large tattoo, possibly of a human skull layered over another image, on his right upper arm. Laurean also has a small mole on the left side of his face between his lower lip and his chin.

Remarks: Laurean is a USMC Corporal who was assigned to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, when he apparently fled North Carolina during the early morning hours of January 11, 2008.

CAUTION

Cesar Armando Laurean is wanted for his alleged involvement in the murder of 20-year-old Maria Lauterbach, who was approximately eight months pregnant at the time of her disappearance on or about December 14, 2007. Lauterbach was a USMC Lance Corporal assigned to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, when she went missing. On January 11, 2008, the charred remains of Lauterbach and her unborn baby were recovered from a shallow grave in the backyard of Laurean’s Jacksonville, North Carolina, residence, and the cause of death was later determined to be homicide.

A state arrest warrant for Laurean was issued on January 12, 2008, in Onslow County, North Carolina, after Laurean was charged with the murder of Lauterbach. That same day, Laurean was charged federally with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution (UFAP) in the Eastern District of North Carolina, and a federal warrant was issued for his arrest.

REWARD

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $25,000.00 for information leading to the location and arrest of Cesar Armando Laurean.

SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ARMED AND DANGEROUS

If you have any information concerning Laurean, please contact the FBI tipline at 1-800-CALLFBI (1-800-225-5324) or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate. Anyone with information in Mexico should contact the Office of the Legal Attache at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City at 011-52-55-5080-2177 during the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; after hours, call 011-52-55-5080-2000 and request to speak with an official from the Legal Attache office.

The charge for which Laurean is being sought is merely an allegation, and Laurean is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.