I don't think people understand that the Onslow County Sheriff's Department had no idea about the rape or the cell phone being found near the main gate. The only thing the Sheriff knew was that she was missing and that she was supposedly a liar and bi polar. They knew nothing of the rape or that this girl was endangered. Marines go UA all the time. Especially during the holidays. But the alarm wasn't rang because the military either thought there was no problem or they were covering their *advertiser censored* for not doing anything about the rape. They(the marines) we crossing their fingers hoping that she just took off.
Also, this is evidenced by the fact that the Sheriff honestly thought this was a case of a girl with stress in her life just taking off. I believe he honestly a little blind sided by this whole thing. He is not, under any circumstances going to disparage the marine corp. He has taken several hits in the press and he still will not tell the whole story.
The marines are like cops. They like to deal with problems internally. The wouldn't mention the rape until they had to.