FBI CHARLOTTE, PUBLIC AFFAIRS Contact: Special Agent Newsom Summerlin, (704) 331-4565

PRESS RELEASE January 14, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FBI ANNOUNCES $25,000 REWARD IN THE SEARCH FOR CESAR ARMANDO LAUREAN

Charlotte, NC – FBI has joined the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the U.S. Marshals Service in the search for fugitive Corporal Cesar Armando Laurean, (USMC), a suspect in the homicide investigation of Lance Corporal Maria Lauterbach, USMC. On January 12, 2008, an Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution-Murder (UFAP) federal warrant was obtained in North Carolina. FBI Charlotte Special Agent in Charge Nathan T. Gray stated, “The Marine Corps’ motto ‘Semper Fidelis,’ is Latin for ‘always faithful’ and the FBI remains faithful to the Lauterbach family, to locate and arrest Laurean. Working alongside our law enforcement partners, we will leverage the full resources of the FBI to bring justice following the tragic murder of this young Marine and her unborn child. The FBI has offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to the location and arrest of Laurean. Anyone having information related to Laurean should contact local law enforcement, FBI Office or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate.”

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

DESCRIPTION

Date of Birth: 11/13/1986
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 160 pounds
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Sex: Male
Race: Hispanic

Nationality: U.S. Citizen (since 2003); Mexican National
NCIC Number: W653665176
Occupation: U.S. Marine Corps Corporal
Remarks: Laurean is a U.S. Marine Corps Corporal currently assigned to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Laurean may be driving a four-door 2004 Dodge Ram truck, black in color, displaying North Carolina license plate TRR1522.

Cesar Armando Laurean is wanted for murder in connection with the homicide of 20-year-old Maria F. Lauterbach, who was pregnant at the time of her murder. Lauterbach was a U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal assigned to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, who had been missing since December 14, 2007. What are believed to be the charred remains of Lauterbach and her unborn infant were later recovered in a shallow grave in the backyard of Laurean's Jacksonville, North Carolina, residence.

After a local arrest warrant was filed in Onslow County, North Carolina, charging Laurean with murder, a federal arrest warrant was issued in the Eastern District of North Carolina, Wilmington, North Carolina, on January 12, 2008, charging Laurean with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

CAUTION:
SUSPECT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ARMED AND DANGEROUS

IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS PERSON, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR [LOCAL FBI OFFICE] http://www.fbi.gov/contact/fo/fo.htm OR [THE NEAREST AMERICAN EMBASSY OR CONSULATE] http://www.fbi.gov/contact/legat/legat.htm.

Copies of the FBI Wanted Poster are available online at http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/alert/laurean_ca.htm. To keep up with the latest developments, sign up for FBI email alerts online.