Missing N.C. Marine Claimed Rape

(CBS/AP)  A pregnant Marine who vanished last month before she was to testify in a military probe claimed "a senior officer ... had raped her and that the investigation had gone sour," according to new court documents.

The Marine Corps said Wednesday it is cooperating fully with the Onslow County Sheriff's Office in the disappearance of Lance Corporal Maria Lauterbach, who is about eight months pregnant.

Lauterbach made the allegation to her stepmother, who also told investigators looking for the 20-year-old lance corporal that her stepdaughter was bipolar and had a history of compulsive lying, the documents filed this week state.

Military officials said Thursday they had ordered the Lauterbach's roommate, Sgt. Daniel Durham, to return from training in California to answer questions about the case.

Durham is believed to be the last person to speak with Lauterbach. He was to return to Camp Lejeune as soon as possible, Onslow County Sheriff Ed Brown said.

Brown did not describe Durham as a suspect, adding that the case remained a missing persons investigation.

"We do feel like he has answers and importance in being back here," Brown said.

According to search warrant affidavits filed this week, the stepmother has told investigators that her stepdaughter "claimed she had been raped by a senior officer at her command, and that the investigation had gone sour."

"We pray that she's alive," Brown said. "We don't just hope, we pray that she's alive. We're searching for her all over the United States. And out of the United States."

Brown declined to comment on the rape allegations detailed in the search warrant, as did officials at Camp Lejeune.

[rastaban-2009]

"This presents a rationale for separating the women and the men, keeping women out of combat arenas."

Actually, if you did that, then rape would clearly become an effective tool for keeping women out of the military. The rationale punishes women for being raped. The key is for the military to get more aggressive about rape and take it very seriously.

[rastaban-2009]

Hrm, "EVIL" stepmother?

[jennmarie620]

If I''m not mistaken, people diagnosed with bi-polar are not allowed to enter into military service; and if they''ve been diagnosed after having already been in the military, they are given a medical discharge. (This is something I was informed of a few years ago by a gentleman who was medically discharged from the Army after being diagnosed bi-polar - and he was in his second year of service.)

[formrusmcsgt]

Thanks, mom. So far, we only have her stepmom''''s word about any defects (bipolar, compulsive lying), so if she is trying to undermind her stepdaughter, she is doing a pretty good job. Certainly she has given the defense their case for the rapist.

Posted by barbaraf4 at 11:36 PM : Jan 10, 2008

It hasn''t even been established that a rape occurred. did you even read the article?

"A pregnant Marine who vanished last month before she was to testify in a military probe claimed "a senior officer ... had raped her...".

Get it? So far, it''s just an allegation.

[msfacesun-2009]

Women have been allowed to be pregnant and stay in the military since the late 70''s!!!! Where the hello have you been???????

[chad55555]

PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE AND WILL DO WRONG,NO LAW IN THE WORLD CAN MAKE THEM DO THE RIGHT THING IF IT"S NOT IN THEIR HEART. IN THE MILITARY OFFICERS GET BY WITH MURDER AND MOST DO. THIS IS ANOTHER REASON WOMEN AND MEN SHOULD BE EQUAL BUT SEPARATE.REMEMBER THE MILITARY CASE IN VIRGINIA AND MARYLAND WHERE THE BLACKS FORCED THE WHITE WOMEN TO HAVE ***(RAPE),SOME OF THE WOMEN TOOK THEIR LIVES BUT NOTHING HAPPENED TO THE OFFICERS IN CHARGE. (PEOPLE DO ABUSE THEIR POWER)
DIVERSITY DOES DESTROY A COUNTRY IN THE LONG RUN.

[differnet]

Posted by slim1h2o at 06:54 PM : Jan 10, 2008
"Something happened to this Marine, and expectant mother. For the fact she was going to testify against her commander, and now has disappeared, should suggest something sinister has occurred. And given the fact that, she has not called her stepmother, and her cell phone was found abandoned, or thrown out at the main gate, should indicate foul play.

The evidence is there,,circumstantial as it is.
That''''s how the civilian system works, right? "

Nope. All that is something that needs to be investigated. I wonder how you will feel if it turns out that she ran off the road and was killed in a car accident. A search and an investigation is vital. I know CID in the US Army very well, having worked with them.

I feel like I''m listening to a bunch of Chicken Littles running around screaming that the sky is falling. No good investigator is going to give the press details that would tip off their suspects. Like I said, this is the worse piece of journalism I''ve seen in a long time. And you all are hoping that it''s true and either jumping about claiming that she''s mentally ill or that someone killed her. There are million of explanations why someone dissappears.

[glaswolf]

This presents a rationale for separating the women and the men, keeping women out of combat arenas. Officers should not be interfacing with women soldiers without a witness, as a matter of protocol. Keep the doors open, we don''t need the distraction from focusing on the essentials of waging war ... Whether generals or privates, what is it about drama queens sucking up the Sangre of attention like vampires on a lurch?

[dbtmellis]

A Lcpl and a SGT rooming together?

Regardless of gender, That would have never happened in my platoon.

[barbaraf4]

"Lauterbach made the allegation to her stepmother, who also told investigators looking for the 20-year-old lance corporal that her stepdaughter was bipolar and had a history of compulsive lying, the documents filed this week state."

Thanks, mom. So far, we only have her stepmom''s word about any defects (bipolar, compulsive lying), so if she is trying to undermind her stepdaughter, she is doing a pretty good job. Certainly she has given the defense their case for the rapist.