On the Run - Now Across the Border

By: Philip Jones/Eyewitness News 9 | WNCT
Published: January 16, 2008

FBI officials now believe Cesar Laurean may have fled to Mexico. The 21-year-old Marine Cpl. is accused of murdering pregnant 20-year-old LCp. Maria Lauterbach, and burying her body in his backyard. It's the latest development in our continuing coverage of this marine murder case. Officials are now looking for Laurean in his home country - something many people have expected from the beginning. FBI agents tell Nine On Your Side they suspect Laurean is in Mexico, but can’t confirm that. The FBI doesn't have authority to investigate or apprehend criminals in Mexico. Instead, agents tell us they must work through a legal attaché or liaison who funnels all the FBI information and resources to local authorities.
If indeed Laurean is across the border, Onslow County Sheriff's Department Captain Rick Sutherland says he's confident the FBI and Mexican law enforcement will be able to bring him home. Sutherland says, "this is not the first case where their assistance has ever been requested where something may go external to the us. And we are just deferring to their authority and their experience on anything that might happen external to the United States."
FBI agents in Charlotte tell us they have a very good working relationship with Mexican law enforcement on all levels, and they have a high success rate of tracking down wanted suspects and getting them sent back. But this doesn't mean authorities are through searching in the United States. They say they are still looking for Laurean all across the country and are still following up leads.
They've set up a Tip Line. If you know anything about where Cesar Laurean might be, you're asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI.