Guillermo Arias
The Associated Press

GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Missing Marine Cesar Laurean, wanted in the slaying of a pregnant colleague, visited relatives in Mexico last week, a man identified as his cousin said Tuesday.

Juan Antonio Ramos Ramirez told The Associated Press that Laurean walked into his liquor store last Monday or Tuesday and the two cousins chatted for 10 minutes about their families. Laurean then told Ramos Ramirez that he had to get back to two friends outside, but he might return. He never came back.

CNN first reported Tuesday that Laurean had briefly stopped by Ramos Ramirez’s liquor store in Zapopan, just outside Guadalajara.
Days later, Ramos Ramirez saw a television report that Laurean was wanted in the United States for killing

20-year-old Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach, who grew up in Vandalia, about 10 miles north of Dayton.

Authorities have said they suspected that Laurean had fled to Mexico, but the comments from Ramos Ramirez were the first public confirmation that the Marine had been in the country.

Mexican and U.S. officials said they were looking into the report, but didn’t have any more information.

The Marines first began searching for Lauterbach on Dec. 17, after Lauterbach failed to show up for work. 

 

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