Slain Marine Lauterbach honored in Ohio

VANDALIA, Ohio, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Marine Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach, whose death led to a nationwide manhunt for her killer, was honored with a funeral service Saturday in Vandalia, Ohio.

The Springfield (Ohio) News-Sun said that while authorities search for their top suspect in Lauterbach's death -- Marine Cpl. Cesar Laurean -- hundreds of people paid their respects to the slain Marine and her unborn child, Gabriel Joseph.

Lauterbach, 20, had been stationed in North Carolina prior to her disappearance in December. She had been preparing to testify against Laurean, whom she had accused of raping her.

Authorities have been searching for Laurean since Lauterbach's disappearance on Dec. 14 -- and the ensuing discovery of her remains in a backyard firepit in Jacksonville, N.C.

Several Marines were on hand for Saturday's funeral at St. Christopher Catholic Church, where the Rev. Francis Keferi attempted to offer some hope to the assembled mourners.

"By faith we know that Jesus has taken Maria and Gabriel to be in God's presence forever," Keferi said.