Marine Charged with Killing Pregnant Colleague and Her Unborn Child Found in Mexico

MORELIA, Mexico (AP) -- Prosecutors in North Carolina say it could take a year or more for the Marine charged with killing a pregnant colleague to be extradited from Mexico. Corporal Cesar Laurean was arrested Thursday night in western Mexico. Authorities found him wandering the streets of a rural town. The 21-year-old was taken into custody after police ran his name through a computer and discovered he was wanted in the United States.

Laurean is charged with killing Marine Lance Corporal Maria Lauterbach, who had accused him of rape. Her burned remains were found in the backyard of Laurean's North Carolina home in January.

Laurean appeared thin and was sporting a beard when he was found in Mexico.

Prosecutors have agreed not to seek the death penalty for Laurean in an effort to secure the cooperation of Mexican authorities.

An attorney for the slain Marine's family says her mother was surprised to get a call from the FBI informing her of the arrest.

The attorney says the mother is "gratified" by the efforts of authorities to find Laurean.