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Not a happy story by any stretch of the imagination. Pregnant and 20 years old, Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach was reported missing by her mother in mid December. Making the�disappearance more lurid, Lauterbach’s mother�claimed she�was due to testify regarding an on-base�marine incident. Was it about�the Marines of Marines Special Operations, Fox Company; accused of opening fire on a crowded highway, killing as many as 19 civilians and wounding 50 others? It is implied in the CNN article, although not stated as such.

“There are several findings and pieces of evidence that have been discovered that cause law enforcement to be concerned with the circumstances surrounding Maria’s disappearance,” the sheriff’s department said in a statement.

Sheriff’s investigators did not return calls seeking additional comment Wednesday, and it was not clear what Lauterbach was expected to say in testimony.

The State Bureau of Investigation also is working on the case. Marine Corps and Navy investigators are cooperating with the investigation, said First Lt. Richard Ulsh, a spokesman with the 2nd Marine Logistics Group.

Authorities say Lauterbach, originally from Dayton, Ohio, was reported missing Dec. 19 by her mother, who last spoke with her daughter on Dec. 13. Her cell phone was found Dec. 20 near the main gate at Camp Lejeune.

Her bank account reportedly had a withdrawl on December 14th, then suspicious activity 10 days later. Her car was found at the Jacksonville NC bus station and her cell phone was last used on December 14th.

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