Extradition OK’d

A judge in a Mexican court has ruled Marine Cpl. Cesar Laurean, accused in the brutal slaying of pregnant colleague, will be returned to Onslow County, according to a written release Thursday from the Onslow County Sheriff's Department.

Though the release from Sheriff Ed Brown says Laurean could be expected back in Onslow within a week, the district attorney disagrees.

"I just spoke to the U.S. Justice Department and they told me Cesar Laurean will not be back next week," said Dewey Hudson, the district attorney for the 4th Prosecutorial District, which includes Onslow County.

Hudson said he was "blindsided" by Brown's announcement, and based on the information he has, the earliest Laurean could return to face charges in Onslow County is mid-October.

"A judge in Mexico may have said Laurean should be sent back, but there is still an appeals process," Hudson said. "We don't know whether he will appeal. It is premature right now to say when he will be returned."

Jacksonville attorney Dick McNeil, Laurean's court-appointed lawyer, also said Brown's estimation is off.

"I do not know whether my client will appeal the extradition or not," he said. "But we are at least a month or more away from his return."

Both embassy and local officials also said Laurean has 15 days to appeal that decision.

The Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs granted the extradition Sept. 4, the Mexican Embassy said in a statement. Both a judge and the ministry of foreign affairs analyze extradition cases in Mexico. The presiding judge supported Laurean's return, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which makes the final decision, agreed.

Laurean is charged with first-degree murder for the bludgeoning death of fellow Marine Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach.

Lauterbach was in the third trimester of pregnancy when she disappeared in mid-December. The charred remains of her body and that of her unborn child were found buried in Laurean's backyard in the Half Moon community on Jan. 11, just hours after Laurean fled Onslow County.

On April 10, after a three-month manhunt, Mexican authorities arrested Laurean in when he walked up to a roadblock in Tacambaro, Mexico.

Laurean has been held in a Mexican jail since his arrest. Federal authorities will handle transporting him back to the Onslow County Jail, according to the sheriff's press release.

Laurean, of Las Vegas, and Lauterbach were assigned to the same logistics unit at Camp Lejeune, and she had accused him of rape last year. Naval investigators were unable to corroborate the allegation, and she later recanted her claim that Laurean was the father of her unborn child.

Still, the Marines have said their regimental commander was intent on taking the case to a hearing that could have led to a trial. Laurean had told friends he would flee to Mexico if it appeared he would be convicted of rape.

Detectives have said Laurean, in a note to his wife, denied killing Lauterbach, claiming she committed suicide and that he buried her.

Laurean's constant contact with his wife and family eventually led to his arrest.

Prosecutors say he frequently logged into an e-mail account belonging to his wife, Christina, and left her messages. She refused to help him and has cooperated with authorities.

LAUREAN TIMELINE

Dec. 15: Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach's roommate calls family to tell them she has left the house, leaving a note saying she is "going away."

Dec. 19:Lauterbach's family reports her missing.

Jan. 7: Investigators find Lauterbach's car abandoned at the bus station in Jacksonville.

Jan. 11: Cpl. Cesar Laurean flees Onslow County, leaving behind a handwritten note saying Lauterbach committed suicide and he buried her in the back yard.

Jan. 12: Lauterbach's body and that of her unborn child are removed from the back yard of Laurean's home. Arrest warrants are issued for Laurean.

Jan. 14: Federal authorities announce a $25,000 reward for information leading to Laurean's arrest.

Jan. 24: Laurean indicted for first-degree murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon and financial transaction card theft.

April 10:Laurean is arrested in Tacambaro, Mexico.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.