Sources: Missing Marine withdrew sex assault allegation

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Sources: Missing Marine withdrew sex assault allegation
By Andrew Tilghman - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Jan 10, 2008 19:12:33 EST

A 20-year-old pregnant Marine who has been missing for more than three weeks may have fled her post at Camp Lejeune, N.C., after she withdrew sexual assault allegations against another service member and feared facing charges of making false statements, sources said.

Lance Cpl. Maria Frances Lauterbach, who was last seen Dec. 14 and may be set to give birth very soon, lodged the allegations last year with Marine Corps officials, but later withdrew the assault charge to investigators, sources said.

Investigators have reason to believe that Lauterbach may have left the area voluntarily, sources said.

Earlier this week, the Onslow County Sheriff’s Department said Lauterbach was a witness to an incident that occurred on base and was due to testify about it. Sheriff’s officials Thursday morning issued a vaguely worded statement about Lauterbach’s disappearance.

“At this time I am not completely 100 percent resolved to which way this investigation may go,” Onslow County Sheriff Ed Brown said in the statement.


Rest of article at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/01/marine_missinggirl_080110/