GUILTY CA - Erin Corwin, 19, pregnant, Twentynine Palms, 28 June 2014 - #11

[Seajay]

Wow... I wasn't familiar with that case but will check it out. Sounds similar enough to be worth watching! We don't get that channel but I'll see if I can find it online somewhere.

She was a Marine too. She had accused Laurean of raping her, and that the baby was his. (I was mistaken about her being his girlfriend, she was a colleague.) He murdered her and burned her in a pit in his back yard. Turned out the baby was not his.

 

[nikb]

Jon said the affair happened to the police, that's where they got the information. You don't kill someone for no reason. She was pregnant, she had had an affair with CL, he killed her. I think we pretty much established that, didn't we?

Otherwise, this poor girl has had her name drug through the mud with being accused of an affair that never happened. That would be unconscionable. Enough info is out there that the affair and the pick up of it after getting caught happened. She text her TN friend as such. That came from HER.

Exactly... he had a reason, and the only logical one I can think of is that she was pregnant*. She wasn't some random stranger to him and he just decided he was in the mood to murder someone that day. To me that means most likely either 1. the baby was his or likely his, or 2. jealousy - the pregnancy meant "his girl" had been intimate with her own husband and he was mad about it. There could be other possibilities of course, but these two make the most sense to me.

Makes me sad all over again because he could have so easily denied the whole thing, denied the baby was his, and JC would've been presumed to be the father unless anyone disputed it and insisted on a paternity test. I guess that info is probably not widely known and I'm way more familiar with it because of my family member's situation, but really, CL could have researched that on Google or wherever just as quickly as he researched how to dispose of her body.

*ETA: or he thought she was.

 

[perfectingpink]

What are the chances NL believed CL had only kissed EC like he told the police and CL had to make sure (in his mind) EC didn't expose his lie to NL?

 

[Seajay]

Exactly... he had a reason, and the only logical one I can think of is that she was pregnant. She wasn't some random stranger to him and he just decided he was in the mood to murder someone that day. To me that means most likely either 1. the baby was his or likely his, or 2. jealousy - the pregnancy meant "his girl" had been intimate with her own husband and he was mad about it. There could be other possibilities of course, but these two make the most sense to me.

Makes me sad all over again because he could have so easily denied the whole thing, denied the baby was his, and JC would've been presumed to be the father unless anyone disputed it and insisted on a paternity test. I guess that info is probably not widely known and I'm way more familiar with it because of my family member's situation, but really, CL could have researched that on Google or wherever just as quickly as he researched how to dispose of her body.

You're right Nik, all he had to do was deny it. Say the affair ended in February like their spouses thought, pack up his UHaul, head for Alaska and be over it. Unless he later insisted on a paternity test ( and why would he?) Jon would have thought the baby was his because as far as he knew, the affair was over, so why would he insist on a paternity test later? CL was home free. All he had to do, was pack his stuff, lie and deny, then be on his merry way and no one would have been the wiser. He did not have to murder her.

 

[Seajay]

What are the chances NL believed CL had only kissed EC like he told the police and CL had to make sure (in his mind) EC didn't expose his lie to NL?

I even wonder if NL had a clue the affair had started back up again. Why would he have even admitted that to NL at that point, when all he still had to do was lie and deny.

EC must have wanted more from CL for him to think he couldn't just leave and that would be the end of it. He must have thought just leaving CA for AK wasn't going to be enough to keep the truth from coming out.

 

[cluciano63]

What are the chances NL believed CL had only kissed EC like he told the police and CL had to make sure (in his mind) EC didn't expose his lie to NL?

I doubt NL would believe that for a moment...and if Erin was also pregnant, CL's involvement with her was going to come out. In fact, it already had, Imo, by the time he gave this version to LE, Imo and he was trying for damage control. With Erin long gone by then, in his mind never to be seen again, he felt certain he could never be linked as being the possible father, so he figured he would try the "only kissed her" and see if he could at least save his marriage. He might have planned to say that Erin imagined the whole "affair", who knows? Yet clearly he was concerned enough about his own life plans that he went out of his way to make arrangements to be alone with her and "deal" with her. Why do that for a kiss? Almost any story he can come up with is bound to sound ridiculous once we know more about the texts, evidence, etc...

His lawyer said he had not see the evidence yet, so anything he is spouting right now is pure hot air. Jmo
Hoping but not counting on his lawyer seeing that too. Best case, Imo, is LE going ahead with the DP scenario...that might shake up the attorney and his client enough to ask for LWOP. Imo, for example if it turns out LE found the gun, and/or other items of CL's with the body, and if they can match the bullets, etc...along with the texts and other witnesses, it could be too risky to to trial with DP an option.

Jmo

 

[cluciano63]

You're right Nik, all he had to do was deny it. Say the affair ended in February like their spouses thought, pack up his UHaul, head for Alaska and be over it. Unless he later insisted on a paternity test ( and why would he?) Jon would have thought the baby was his because as far as he knew, the affair was over, so why would he insist on a paternity test later? CL was home free. All he had to do, was pack his stuff, lie and deny, then be on his merry way and no one would have been the wiser. He did not have to murder her.

But if Erin had the baby and later she and JC spilt up, she could have sought him out for support. She would always be "there" waiting to "interfere" with his life and marriage.

 

[nikb]

You're right Nik, all he had to do was deny it. Say the affair ended in February like their spouses thought, pack up his UHaul, head for Alaska and be over it. Unless he later insisted on a paternity test ( and why would he?) Jon would have thought the baby was his because as far as he knew, the affair was over, so why would he insist on a paternity test later? CL was home free. All he had to do, was pack his stuff, lie and deny, then be on his merry way and no one would have been the wiser. He did not have to murder her.

Exactly - she didn't have to die! (how many times have I thought this now? a few hundred?).

I was thinking about the paternity tests after refreshing myself on the info from my family member's paternity case/issue yesterday and I can only think of a few reasons why anyone in this case would dispute paternity. 1. Erin was planning to leave JC and wanted to be sure the baby was cared for (by bio father if it wasn't JC), 2. CL was possessive enough to want rights to his biological child with Erin, or 3. JC got suspicious early on (kid looked too much like someone else for example?), he wanted to know for sure, and decided to look into it and request the testing.

Totally open to other ideas but I can't think of any that make sense... even the 3 ideas I did come up with sure aren't worth killing over.

 

[nikb]

But if Erin had the baby and later she and JC spilt up, she could have sought him out for support. She would always be "there" waiting to "interfere" with his life and marriage.

I'm not a lawyer or anything, but from what I know of that law (posted some links yesterday) and learned from my family member's situation, JC would still legally be the father, including visitation and support, unless someone disputed the child's paternity within the first two years. After two years, the child would be JC's no matter what a paternity test said and even if EC left. Granted at that age 2 years seems like a lifetime and I kind of doubt any of them knew that much about the paternity laws, though.

 

[Woe.be.gone]

Finally looked up "rebar". Duh! Couldn't figure out how rebar and tires went together. Thought rebar was on the tires or something. They are independent items. So where does/did the rebar come from? I mean, why would someone have rebar (a steel reinforcing rod used in concrete) to begin with?

 

[perfectingpink]

I even wonder if NL had a clue the affair had started back up again. Why would he have even admitted that to NL at that point, when all he still had to do was lie and deny.

EC must have wanted more from CL for him to think he couldn't just leave and that would be the end of it. He must have thought just leaving CA for AK wasn't going to be enough to keep the truth from coming out.

Could be. I also wonder if EC told CL she could not lie to her husband and would have to come clean to him. Raising what could be another man's child and just allowing your husband to believe the child is his would be a tough thing to live with. I do not know Erin, however she does not strike me as being able to carry that on her shoulders.

 

[cluciano63]

I'm not a lawyer or anything, but from what I know of that law (posted some links yesterday) and learned from my family member's situation, JC would still legally be the father, including visitation and support, unless someone disputed the child's paternity within the first two years. After two years, the child would be JC's no matter what a paternity test said and even if EC left. Granted at that age 2 years seems like a lifetime and I kind of doubt any of them knew that much about the paternity laws, though.

Yes I did read that. But even if she could not prove paternity later to any effect, CL did not know this (Imo) and she could still make trouble in his marriage.

 

[vallie]

Finally looked up "rebar". Duh! Couldn't figure out how rebar and tires went together. Thought rebar was on the tires or something. They are independent items. So where does/did the rebar come from? I mean, why would someone have rebar (a steel reinforcing rod used in concrete) to begin with?

when they mentioned rebar i was thinking about the mine coverings--in an effort to make mines less dangerous, some openings are covered with rebar, or chickenwire, and some with a "bat gate" ( the open wired and steel covers are so that wildlife can still enter/exit but larger animals and humans are safer from falling in). I don't know if the mineshaft where Erin was found was covered and he took off the rebar , or maybe it was open, and he wanted to cover it with rebar to make it look like it's been covered and undisturbed. Maybe it's new rebar to top off a mine or old rebar he peeled off other mines while looking for a place to drop her--then again, i may be totally off but that was my first guess.

 

[Voice4theSilent]

Wasn't it also March that she left her job at Tractor Supply Co. in Yucca Valley for personal reasons? (if this article http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/nation/2014/07/20/erin-corwin-chronicle-facebook/12905463/ is accurate it says "They arrived at the Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms in late 2013. Erin got a job, again at Tractor Supply Co., in Yucca Valley in January, but left in March for personal reasons, said assistant manager Darin Sanden.")

That's funny. IM stated in her audio interview that Erin never worked at the Tractor Supply Co. (was hired but turned down the job.)

 

[Voice4theSilent]

O/T ~ For anyone who followed the thread for Bryce Laspisa, today is one year ago that he went missing and his thread has reopened.

Just noticed that now. Thanks so much, la2cabo! I would love to see a resolution to that case. Anyone reading this that doesn't know who Bryce Laspisa is, hop on over and take a look. :tyou:

 

[Voice4theSilent]

Jon said the affair happened to the police, that's where they got the information. You don't kill someone for no reason. She was pregnant, she had had an affair with CL, he killed her. I think we pretty much established that, didn't we?

Otherwise, this poor girl has had her name drug through the mud with being accused of an affair that never happened. That would be unconscionable. Enough info is out there that the affair and the pick up of it after getting caught happened. She text her TN friend as such. That came from HER.

ITA I think, since we know for a fact that EC was confiding in her friend via text, that details of the affair (including length, reason, how serious she was about CL, etc.) will come out in the trial. I know how girls that age are with their text messaging. My daughter is a few years younger than Erin and left her cell phone behind on accident one day. By the time she came back and retrieved her phone several hours later she had over 350 text messages. Blows my mind!

Interesting theory. Is it possible that they actually did break off the affair in March but maybe CL heard from someone at the Ranch that Erin was pregnant and he talked her into meeting him that day to make sure the baby wasn't his? Maybe said he needed to know and was afraid that his wife might suspect the baby was his when she finds out EC is pregnant and then would leave him?

 

[Voice4theSilent]

when they mentioned rebar i was thinking about the mine coverings--in an effort to make mines less dangerous, some openings are covered with rebar, or chickenwire, and some with a "bat gate" ( the open wired and steel covers are so that wildlife can still enter/exit but larger animals and humans are safer from falling in). I don't know if the mineshaft where Erin was found was covered and he took off the rebar , or maybe it was open, and he wanted to cover it with rebar to make it look like it's been covered and undisturbed. Maybe it's new rebar to top off a mine or old rebar he peeled off other mines while looking for a place to drop her--then again, i may be totally off but that was my first guess.

I have seen rebar in several photos of the mine openings in that area. Some of the rebar covered the mine opening. In others, rebar was sticking out of the ground with some type of caution tape tied around the top to warn people in close proximity of the open mine shaft. I, too, am interested in the significance of the matching rebar.

 

[Voice4theSilent]

You're right Nik, all he had to do was deny it. Say the affair ended in February like their spouses thought, pack up his UHaul, head for Alaska and be over it. Unless he later insisted on a paternity test ( and why would he?) Jon would have thought the baby was his because as far as he knew, the affair was over, so why would he insist on a paternity test later? CL was home free. All he had to do, was pack his stuff, lie and deny, then be on his merry way and no one would have been the wiser. He did not have to murder her.

Unless EC was in love with CL and had no intention of raising her child with JC. If she indicated to him that she was leaving JC and wanted CL to accept responsibility and leave NL and be with her I can see where he would think he was backed into a corner (motive wise... Definitely NOT a reason to kill anyone.) I know it is a popular theory that EC was planning on raising her child with JC but I have seen nothing that would indicate that to me. If EC had an ongoing affair with CL, got pregnant with his child, and readily lied to her husband to meet CL on the day she was murdered I do think she was hoping to be with CL and wasn't planning on staying with JC.

IMO affairs are selfish acts. I don't see a 19 year old who is willing to cheat on her husband with his friend, co-worker and neighbor as someone who is willing to live 18 years with a man she so willingly cheated on for months just so that she could raise a child in a stable and solid environment and not disrupt CL's life. She risked everything to be with CL. I think she wanted CL and CL didn't want her in the same way. MOO.

 

[nikb]

Finally looked up "rebar". Duh! Couldn't figure out how rebar and tires went together. Thought rebar was on the tires or something. They are independent items. So where does/did the rebar come from? I mean, why would someone have rebar (a steel reinforcing rod used in concrete) to begin with?

Oh gosh I never even thought to put up an explanation for the stuff. It's used in construction, and I know it's particularly used in making swimming pools (probably lots of other uses, but that's the one I'm most familiar with). We had a pool built when I was a kid and I was kind of fascinated by it - the rebar first which basically 'shaped' the pool, then the other material was sprayed over it. I think (but not sure) that it might also be used in reinforcing mine shafts. Someone earlier mentioned it's also used to cover mine shafts if they want to leave holes open for bats and other wildlife to get through.

I'm sure you've probably seen it and just hadn't heard it called that before. I just knew the 'name' because of our pool when I was a kid. Here's more about it and what it looks like: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebar.

 

[nikb]

That's funny. IM stated in her audio interview that Erin never worked at the Tractor Supply Co. (was hired but turned down the job.)

I know... one of many conflicting stories, seems like!