An international police organization has issued a wanted persons notice for Cesar Laurean, who is accused of murdering 20-year-old pregnant Marine Maria Lauterbach.
The Red Notice released by INTERPOL allows any of the organization's 186 member countries to arrest Laurean and hopefully extradite him to the United States.
"We are here to assist the authorities in Onslow County at an international level to locate and bring this fugitive back to North Carolina to stand trial," said Martin Renkiewicz, a senior Department of Homeland Security law enforcement official, according to a statement on INTERPOL's web site.
Laurean was believed to be in Mexico as of last week, but the search has expanded into a global manhunt. Mexican authorities issued a warrant for his arrest yesterday after Laurean was seen at his cousin's liquor store in Guadalajara in mid-January.
Lauterbach went missing in mid-December. She was eight months pregnant. Her charred body was discovered weeks later in a fire pit in Laurean's backyard. Laurean was being investigated by the Marines after Lauterbach alleged he had raped her.
Before fleeing Onslow County, Laurean left a note for his wife, Christina, saying Lauterbach slit her own throat and that he buried her in the woods near their home. But an autopsy found that Lauterbach died of blunt force trauma to the head.
The FBI is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to his capture.
If you have information on crimes in North Carolina, call NC WANTED toll free at 1.866.43.WANTED (1.866.439.2683) or click on "Report a Tip" Your information will be kept confidential.
