GUILTY CA - Erin Corwin, 19, pregnant, Twentynine Palms, 28 June 2014 - #10

[BRRI]

I just got another idea of how he could have gotten around the pregnancy, if it were the fabled "straw" as it were, without having to kill her.

This one is a little more bizarre. I got the idea from a Law & Order I saw a while back, I remember it because Sebastian Roche was in it, and a girl was obsessed,.... well NVM.

This is so simple, it's scary, and even he would come up with it . What he does is:

1. Sleeps with his wife wearing a condom.
2. Keeps the condom, ties a knot in it and puts it inside a small plastic bag.
3. Buys a stuffed bear, cuts a hole in it, puts the condom bag in it, and sews the hole back up.
4. Wires his Jeep for sound, concealing cheap microphones all around it.
5. Gives the bear to Erin during their "special day" as a pregnancy gift.
6. Gets Erin talking about what she sees as their future together.
7. After the special day, He takes all the recorded conversations back to his computer.
8. Chops up all the audio, and turns it into fatal attraction, with just her voice.
9. Goes to pay phones at times when Erin is at the horse ranch, etc. and replays the recordings for his answering machine.
10. Breaks up with Erin.

If she goes nuts and tries to "turn him in", it plays right into his story. The cops come knocking he tells them they kissed once at Christmas or whatever, she lost a baby, then she became obsessed with him. Tells them she said she's keeping something of his in her teddy bear. plays the messages etc. It's all over. NO MURDER NECESSARY.

Personally, I hate having to come up with these sick things, but if it helps put this away for two murders instead of one, so much the better.

Obviously Killing her was a separate issue from concealing the pregnancy which he also attempted to do during this kidnapping turned murder, his simultaneous yet widely divergent motivations led to two separate lines of criminality that both culminated in murder, crimes for which he should pay separate penalties for. It's the perfect storm, of murder. ALL JMO

That would be way too detailed and strategic for someone like CL to think up. Plus, in reality, his thoughts were probably simple- "she is pregnant. I need to get rid of the problem".

 

[rollinginit]

The attorney has a point. Also, all delaying would do is give them a chance to find more evidence, put together their case ....I actually don't know why people would fight extradition.

I'm not an attorney, but the only reason I can think of for somebody to fight a state to state extradition is if the charge is minor enough the other state won't pick them up.

 

[Schmaley]

It seems like Christopher Lee had a lot to lose if the affair with Erin was made public. It seems like a pretty clear motive to me.

I did not realize that infidelity was taken so seriously in the military (I thought it was a personal problem not a professional one but I know literally nothing about the way the military works).

I still can't fathom that anyone thinks killing another human is a good solution to absolutely any problem.

 

[Schmaley]

I'm not an attorney, but the only reason I can think of for somebody to fight a state to state extradition is if the charge is minor enough the other state won't pick them up.

Personally, I think they have plenty. I would really like to see this trial move quickly to get some justice for Erin.

 

[cluciano63]

I wonder if he was even thinking about the military end of things...maybe a little bit, especially if NL had reminded him, for example, when she learned of the affair the first time. Maybe she told him if he screwed up their plans (buy a house, maybe, or go to school) that would be it. But for me, I can see his panic being over the pregnancy as if Erin was pregnant and the baby was his, no way he could lie his way out of it. If she wasn't pregnant or never said she was, he could write her off as "crazy, obsessed" etc. if NL found out.

If he was planning on returning to school, money was going to be tight, Imo...child support lurking as a possibility would be pretty concerning, and all his fault in NL's eyes.

 

[Schmaley]

I wonder if he was even thinking about the military end of things...maybe a little bit, especially if NL had reminded him, for example, when she learned of the affair the first time. Maybe she told him if he screwed up their plans (buy a house, maybe, or go to school) that would be it. But for me, I can see his panic being over the pregnancy as if Erin was pregnant and the baby was his, no way he could lie his way out of it. If she wasn't pregnant or never said she was, he could write her off as "crazy, obsessed" etc. if NL found out.

If he was planning on returning to school, money was going to be tight, Imo...child support lurking as a possibility would be pretty concerning, and all his fault in NL's eyes.

I agree. It seems like the affair and child would come with much consequence.

 

[Crayola]

I know it was only rumor that a neighbor/friend walked in on CL/EC, and that she told NL about it, and that NL then told JC. I believe it was true. Too many people knew about the affair, so discretion was cast to the wind. If there ever was a time when CL could have been brought up on charges for adultery, it was when everyone found out about the affair. It seems, too, that there were a lot of folks that knew the affair was ongoing. He could have been charged at any time.

I have no doubt that many people knew about the affair. People who are having an affair tend to make googly eyes at each other and are flirty and touchy-feely. It's kind of gross/fascinating to watch. :thinking:

 

[escape2sc]

I wonder if he was even thinking about the military end of things...maybe a little bit, especially if NL had reminded him, for example, when she learned of the affair the first time. Maybe she told him if he screwed up their plans (buy a house, maybe, or go to school) that would be it. But for me, I can see his panic being over the pregnancy as if Erin was pregnant and the baby was his, no way he could lie his way out of it. If she wasn't pregnant or never said she was, he could write her off as "crazy, obsessed" etc. if NL found out.

If he was planning on returning to school, money was going to be tight, Imo...child support lurking as a possibility would be pretty concerning, and all his fault in NL's eyes.

If I am not mistaken, Lee would be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill , a full time student would receive full tuition and fees for a public college, housing allowance equal to local Basic Housing allowance for active duty members and a $1000 stipend for books and school supplies. If the college considers a student taking 6 credit hours as half-time, Lee would only have to take 7 credit hours to be considered full time and receive these benefits. Plenty of time left after classes to have a full time job. JMO

 

[Crayola]

My thinking is the affair would be difficult to prove unless both parties directly fess up to it. However, an affair that produces a baby would be easy to prove through paternity.

Also, could JC have indicated to CL he would report the affair to JC's superior if the affair did not stop and the pregnancy was the proof it indeed did not stop?

I think that if JC indicated that to CL, CL probably would have killed JC instead of/or in addition to EC. :scared:

 

[Dmacky]

According to that Dailymail article, it says he fought his extradition. But he didn't. Makes me question the entire article, although most of it is stuff we already knew.

Yeah, I don't think the Daily Mail is really that much of a reliable source. It also said:
Erin's body was found last weekend at the bottom of a 140ft deep mineshaft two miles south east of the Twentynine Palms Marine base in California, where she lived with her husband Marine Corporal Jonathan Corwin.
BBM
Not even close to accurate ~


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-snap-murder-19-year-old-family-together.html

 

[Treelights]

If I am not mistaken, Lee would be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill , a full time student would receive full tuition and fees for a public college, housing allowance equal to local Basic Housing allowance for active duty members and a $1000 stipend for books and school supplies. If the college considers a student taking 6 credit hours as half-time, Lee would only have to take 7 credit hours to be considered full time and receive these benefits. Plenty of time left after classes to have a full time job. JMO

And being in jail/prison, he will have "housing" and "meals" and I think he can take college classes...Oh, and he can "work" there, too...
So, if those were his goals before, well, they are quite similar now... Only he gets to "stay" there, and not be out in the "real world".
IMOO.

 

[stayhomemommy]

I think that if JC indicated that to CL, CL probably would have killed JC instead of/or in addition to EC. :scared:

JC was gone far too much, and would have been more difficult to lure anywhere. JMOO

 

[77DarkHorse7]

I'm not an attorney, but the only reason I can think of for somebody to fight a state to state extradition is if the charge is minor enough the other state won't pick them up.

Actually, there's an excellent reason to fight the extradition, it let's you see the strength of the other side's evidence, and gives you an idea of their strategies when it comes time for the main event. I'm surprised the defence didn't even consider this.

According to that Dailymail article, it says he fought his extradition. But he didn't. Makes me question the entire article, although most of it is stuff we already knew.

.........

Yeah, I don't think the Daily Mail is really that much of a reliable source. It also said:
Erin's body was found last weekend at the bottom of a 140ft deep mineshaft two miles south east of the Twentynine Palms Marine base in California, where she lived with her husband Marine Corporal Jonathan Corwin.
BBM
Not even close to accurate ~


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-snap-murder-19-year-old-family-together.html

Umm, he did fight it. At least temporarily. Remember, that first appearance he said he had to check with a lawyer before he could waive extradition. Counts as fighting, in my book anyways.

 

[77DarkHorse7]

It seems like Christopher Lee had a lot to lose if the affair with Erin was made public. It seems like a pretty clear motive to me.

I did not realize that infidelity was taken so seriously in the military (I thought it was a personal problem not a professional one but I know literally nothing about the way the military works).

I still can't fathom that anyone thinks killing another human is a good solution to absolutely any problem.

You're right! A lotta people round here saying it's a simple murder, but it's not. I can think of a lot of easier, simpler ways for murder, but you'd end up with a body(including his offspring) and her things(cell phone messages) would have to be left around. All evidence of the affair left intact. He definitely wanted both outcomes, Erin gone, and all evidence of the affair destroyed as well.

Not that there's ever any such thing as a "simple murder" anyways. :facepalm:

 

[stayhomemommy]

Actually, there's an excellent reason to fight the extradition, it let's you see the strength of the other side's evidence, and gives you an idea of their strategies when it comes time for the main event. I'm surprised the defence didn't even consider this.



Umm, he did fight it. At least temporarily. Remember, that first appearance he said he had to check with a lawyer before he could waive extradition. Counts as fighting, in my book anyways.

Don't know anything about the risks/benefits of accepting or not accepting extradition, so I can't speak to that. But I agree, his asking to speak with his attorney that first hearing does count as fighting it--at that time, anyway. So that might be what the article is inferring. Which, by the way-and I hate to say it, was the smartest thing CL's done so far....to ask for an attorney. JMOO

 

[Bernina]

Yes, he would have lost his GI Bill school benefit if he had been brought up on charges of infidelity while on Active Duty and he was convicted and they changed his discharge status from honorable to dishonorable. He would have lost all his military benefits, e.i, commissary privileges, exchange privileges, any medical as well as his IRR status. If convicted he would have lost everything having to do with his military career. So I guess we have to ask ourselves how important his military status was to him. IMO, MOO.

The VA guaranteed loan to buy a home is a big one! My BF (AF, Viet Nam) is paying off the 2nd home he has bought with a VAGL. The interest on it is 3%.
If you qualify, the banks won't turn you down.
For a young family, it's a huge help in getting established.
USAA is also a perk, fantastic insurance rates and banking options.
If you do your homework, there's a lot of benefits if you just ask the right questions and do the research.

 

[2Hope4]

Send him to military jail. Whatever it's called. I hear it's much worse than regular prison!!

I personally know of 3 cases where there was adultery within the military. (I'm not military, nor would I ever be!) In once case, the original couple divorced, she ended up having a miscarriage, but ended up with the military man she had the affair with. None faced charges. The divorced soldier stayed at his base, while the other was moved to another state, and his adulterer went with him. The other two cases, both women had their child, but didn't state who the father was. Once the men were out of military, they were and still are, in contact with their kids, though in neither case did either pay child support. The women didn't want the men in trouble, so just refused to say who the father was.

There's many ways this could have been solved in an adult way, without killing someone!!! And yes, while there is rules and such in the military about affairs, it doesn't seem to be a rule that is strictly enforced. Murder though, yep, gonna be enforced!!

As to him luring her into the forest, well, I don't know about him saying they were going hunting. Maybe target practicing, or something, but even when I was a young woman, hunting wouldn't have made me wanna go. Though I did go hunting ONCE, and when the deer showed up, I yelled RUN DEER RUN!! Last time I was taken hunting. :thinking:

I don't know what line he actually used to lure her. But I'm positive she didn't feel she was going to be harmed. 18-19yr olds, the emotions are all over the board to begin with. Throw in a miscarriage, and a new pregnancy, and her hormones were probably doing most of the talking. And yes, while I've no idea how Chris originally to the news of a pregnancy, I can bet he wasn't sharing his fears, his worries, etc., with her. He could have led her to believe his marriage was failing, and as soon as he was out of the military, he would divorce, and be with her. Or her imagination could have led her to believe that would be possible. At any rate, we now see it was never in the cards to be true.

 

[EmmaRose]

Send him to military jail. Whatever it's called. I hear it's much worse than regular prison!!

I personally know of 3 cases where there was adultery within the military. (I'm not military, nor would I ever be!) In once case, the original couple divorced, she ended up having a miscarriage, but ended up with the military man she had the affair with. None faced charges. The divorced soldier stayed at his base, while the other was moved to another state, and his adulterer went with him. The other two cases, both women had their child, but didn't state who the father was. Once the men were out of military, they were and still are, in contact with their kids, though in neither case did either pay child support. The women didn't want the men in trouble, so just refused to say who the father was.

There's many ways this could have been solved in an adult way, without killing someone!!! And yes, while there is rules and such in the military about affairs, it doesn't seem to be a rule that is strictly enforced. Murder though, yep, gonna be enforced!!

As to him luring her into the forest, well, I don't know about him saying they were going hunting. Maybe target practicing, or something, but even when I was a young woman, hunting wouldn't have made me wanna go. Though I did go hunting ONCE, and when the deer showed up, I yelled RUN DEER RUN!! Last time I was taken hunting. :thinking:

I don't know what line he actually used to lure her. But I'm positive she didn't feel she was going to be harmed. 18-19yr olds, the emotions are all over the board to begin with. Throw in a miscarriage, and a new pregnancy, and her hormones were probably doing most of the talking. And yes, while I've no idea how Chris originally to the news of a pregnancy, I can bet he wasn't sharing his fears, his worries, etc., with her. He could have led her to believe his marriage was failing, and as soon as he was out of the military, he would divorce, and be with her. Or her imagination could have led her to believe that would be possible. At any rate, we now see it was never in the cards to be true.

'Run, deer, run' Lol!!!

 

[Schmaley]

As far as I am concerned, he is guilty of the crime and the rest of this case (trial and sentencing) is pretty much just logistical.

One thing that I keep going back to is that he didn't have any concern when she went missing. Someone that he was sleeping with went missing and he would have to be pretty depraved if he didn't know what happened and still felt no sadness or angst about her being gone.

 

[shadetree44]

You're right! A lotta people round here saying it's a simple murder, but it's not. I can think of a lot of easier, simpler ways for murder, but you'd end up with a body(including his offspring) and her things(cell phone messages) would have to be left around. All evidence of the affair left intact. He definitely wanted both outcomes, Erin gone, and all evidence of the affair destroyed as well.

Not that there's ever any such thing as a "simple murder" anyways. :facepalm:

Excellent observation 77DarkHorse7. I think you are very right here. Other than proof of pregnancy, which would require her body in decent condition, they really can't prove an affair, even though people suspected it. His bad luck Erin sent text to TN friend, but that again in not undeniable proof on an affair. He had it figured close, he just left too many loose ends. He needed outside Google searches and replace HD in computer before search and remove after, if they failed to match IP's, that might pass. Brass should have totally disappeared. I'm not familiar with being able to match rifling on spent .22 lead bullets. They may distort too much.(??) He assumed they would not find the location, Bad move! Should had not left any additional casing there. If he had help (red car) he may have called after incident to have EC's car cleared. Bad move, phone track! Someone mentioned NL may have run searches, that leaves an opening also. It appears CL has a good lawyer. This guy will be in attack mode 24/7. I think he going to shoot holes in some of this evidence, so I hope LE has much more than what has been released. I think this will be a very interesting trial if it gets that far. I think they will get him, unless something strange surfaces but, it won't be a cake walk.
Military trial under UCMJ may be better option as it does not take unanimous vote to convict.
Regardless of which direction this goes, it will be a long process unless he pleads out to avoid DP. I think if this can be put on the table, it might force a plea deal if the evidence is strong enough. If they feel they cannot get acquittal, he may plead out for life W/O parole. This needs to be considered because family may not ask for DP because of religious reasons.
Under Military and UCMJ, IDK if family has any input into sentencing. ??