Pregnant Marine 'Slit Her Own Throat,' Suspect Told Wife

The suspect in the murder of a pregnant Marine told his wife she slit her own throat during an argument and he buried her body in the woods, reports the Los Angeles Times. Cesar Armando Laurean's wife waited almost 24 hours before reporting the account to police.  He vanished the day after he told her of the death, and is believed to be hiding out in Mexico. 

His wife told police she was away from home partying the night Maria Lauterbach died. Lauterbach's charred body was discovered in Laurean's backyard, and an autopsy determined she died of blunt trauma to the head. Lauterbach reported to Marine authorities last spring that Laurean had raped her. Laurean's wife is cooperating with the investigation, according to authorities, who did not immediately reveal a reason for her delay in reporting Lauterbach's death. (More Maria Lauterbach stories.)