Posted: Apr 10, 2008
Updated: Apr 10, 2008

A Marine personnel clerk wanted for the brutal slaying of a pregnant colleague who had accused him of rape was arrested in Mexico, the FBI said late Thursday.

The FBI's office in Charlotte said special agents and Mexican authorities arrested Marine Cpl. Cesar Laurean, charged with murder in the death of Marine Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach. The FBI did not provide any details on when Laurean was arrested, or the exact location where he was found, but said he is still in Mexico and is awaiting extradition back to the U.S.

"Laurean's swift arrest in Mexico was due to the diligence and dedication of the Mexican government and our law enforcement partners," Nathan Gray, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Charlotte office, said in a statement.

"This was truly an international effort, and we will do all we can to ensure Laurean is brought back to Onslow County (North Carolina) as quickly as possible to answer the charges against him."

But Onslow County District Attorney Dewey Hudson immediately cautioned Thursday night that "it could be a year or two" for authorities to bring Laurean back to North Carolina if he decides to fight the extradition process.

"The extradition process is one where you have a right to appeal," Hudson told The Associated Press. "I have no idea whether he would waive extradition."

A jury indicted Laurean on first-degree murder charges in Lauterbach's death on Dec. 14, 2007.

The Marines first began searching for Lauterbach, 20, on Dec. 17, after she failed to show up for work. Local authorities took up the case Dec. 19, after her mother reported her missing. Three weeks later, officials found Lauterbach's burned remains in a fire pit in Laurean's back yard near Camp Lejeune.

Lauterbach had earlier accused Laurean of rape.

Laurean fled Onslow County on Jan. 11 – the day before her remains were uncovered.

Laurean left a note for his wife, Christina, that said Lauterbach slit her own throat with a knife and he buried her in the woods near their home.

An autopsy found that Lauterbach died of blunt force trauma to the head.

Mexican officials issued a warrant for Laurean's arrest after receiving assurances that U.S. prosecutors would not pursue the death penalty.

Mexico has for decades resisted extraditing people to the U.S. who could face a capital case. Hudson said he has "reluctantly" agreed not to seek the death penalty against Laurean if he is apprehended in Mexico, but he said he would reserve the right to pursue a capital case against Laurean if he is captured elsewhere.

Laurean was born in Guadalajara before moving to the U.S. and becoming an American citizen.

A news conference on Laurean's capture is scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday at the Onslow County Sheriff Office. Stay with WRAL and WRAL.com for updates on this developing story.