GUILTY CA - Erin Corwin, 19, pregnant, Twentynine Palms, 28 June 2014 - #12

[otto]

I think she got immunity for ratting on him, and helping LE find the remains

Was more than one person involved? ... catching up ... one person gave evidence and other has been arrested, so they're both in custody? The fact that two people knew about a criminal act should be reason to hold both for a while, but it many (perhaps all?) it's not a crime to be aware of a crime and not report it.

 

[otto]

i don't know that my opinion would be that she ratted him out for immunity... she's still posting loyal wife crap on her pinterest. pretty pathetic considering he was screwing around on her...

Was one person arrested and the other is in some sort of protective custody (or is that necessary?), where that person's testimony is crucial to a criminal prosecution?

 

[nikb]

Otto apologies if you already know this, but I couldn't tell how much of the history of the case you'd read. In a very brief nutshell in terms of the players in the case, Erin was married to Jon Corwin. She was having an affair with her accused killer, Christopher Lee, who is in jail. Christopher is married to Nichole Lee. The two couples were neighbors in an apartment complex at one point. There is also a woman who runs the horse sanctuary where Erin, Christopher, and Nichole all volunteered and went out to ride. I got the impression Jon was supportive of her riding hobby and volunteering but just wasn't that into the horse thing himself.

It seems the affair was over, or at least everyone thought it was, but Erin went out with Christopher that day, theoretically to go shooting in the desert (which makes me shudder every time I think about it) to "celebrate her pregnancy."

In the desert area where they were going shooting there are a ton of abandoned mines, and she was ultimately found in one of them after they searched "over 100 mine shafts" with cameras. I don't think we know for sure what led them to eventually search the mine she was found in given how many there are. I think some of the comments about immunity are related to the speculation that maybe Nicole knew where Erin was, and led LE to her.

I'm a little fuzzy on the timing but at some point Christopher and Nicole moved into a house on the ranch property temporarily before their planned move to Alaska. There was also an early conversation between Nicole and Isabel (the "horse ranch woman") where Nichole said something about "detectives would never find her body" and also basically "no body, no crime." After the horse ranch property was searched, Isabel also allegedly said that detectives "missed something" in the garage.

There are a lot of good links in the media thread, but this one in particular has links to news stories including all of this info: http://www.websleuths.com/forums/sh...ines*-*No-Discussion*&p=10783595#post10783595.

I'm not up on every detail of the case by any means so I hope someone else will correct me if I got anything wrong and add anything else pertinent (and again sorry if this is a repeat for you - I don't remember seeing you posting earlier in this thread but I could've missed it).

 

[roadrunnermt]

Very good summary! I cringe just thinking of it all again. It's been very obvious Nichole knew details but I disagree on her giving up info, just my opinion. They both need charged so they will sing on each other. I know in my heart she played part in it as well even if simply just the coverup. I wish some media would ask this question. I'm not surprised she is still praising her love for her killer husband.....she needs to pretend her love and support so he doesn't turn and rat out her involvement.

 

[rosesfromangels]

This is going to be a very interesting trial in that it certainly seems as if the wife (NL) is the "puppet master". While it appears that CL carried out the plan, I wonder if his wife ordered it. I could see the wife (NL) convincing the husband to take all the blame so that she (NL) could continue to raise the daughter. If he loves his little girl, I could see him making that agreement with the wife (NL).

 

[Jambri]

Otto apologies if you already know this, but I couldn't tell how much of the history of the case you'd read. In a very brief nutshell in terms of the players in the case, Erin was married to Jon Corwin. She was having an affair with her accused killer, Christopher Lee, who is in jail. Christopher is married to Nichole Lee. The two couples were neighbors in an apartment complex at one point. There is also a woman who runs the horse sanctuary where Erin, Christopher, and Nichole all volunteered and went out to ride. I got the impression Jon was supportive of her riding hobby and volunteering but just wasn't that into the horse thing himself.

It seems the affair was over, or at least everyone thought it was, but Erin went out with Christopher that day, theoretically to go shooting in the desert (which makes me shudder every time I think about it) to "celebrate her pregnancy."

In the desert area where they were going shooting there are a ton of abandoned mines, and she was ultimately found in one of them after they searched "over 100 mine shafts" with cameras. I don't think we know for sure what led them to eventually search the mine she was found in given how many there are. I think some of the comments about immunity are related to the speculation that maybe Nicole knew where Erin was, and led LE to her.

I'm a little fuzzy on the timing but at some point Christopher and Nicole moved into a house on the ranch property temporarily before their planned move to Alaska. There was also an early conversation between Nicole and Isabel (the "horse ranch woman") where Nichole said something about "detectives would never find her body" and also basically "no body, no crime." After the horse ranch property was searched, Isabel also allegedly said that detectives "missed something" in the garage.

There are a lot of good links in the media thread, but this one in particular has links to news stories including all of this info: http://www.websleuths.com/forums/sh...ines*-*No-Discussion*&p=10783595#post10783595.

I'm not up on every detail of the case by any means so I hope someone else will correct me if I got anything wrong and add anything else pertinent (and again sorry if this is a repeat for you - I don't remember seeing you posting earlier in this thread but I could've missed it).

Yes, I believe it was over as well. There is no indication that anything intimate occurred after John found out about it the first time. I don't necessarily view a trip to the desert to hunt/target shoot as carrying on an affair and I know lots of folks are pointing at this instance as a "continuation". This isn't 1950 anymore where you did everything with your wife/hubby by your side. Wives/husbands go out and do things with single friends these days. I see it here all the time. I think although she knew it to be inappropriate (hence the evasive parking), she probably felt that she wasn't really doing anything wrong.

Also, the "celebrating the pregnancy" was his words to get her out there, not hers. I'm calling BS on so many people thinking she was "excited" to be with him that day. There has been nothing in any story I read that inferred that. Could she have been? Sure. But it could simply have been the activity itself she was excited for. Even if she really didn't want to go, she strikes me as such a sweet person that she would have probably had a hard time saying no, especially to someone who was there for her when John was in the field. He probably knew that and played it for all it was worth.

BTW as far as the mines go, can this guy be a bigger idiot? A mine is a pinpoint location that people know about. Yes there are many of them but there is also a certainty that they will all be checked. If you are going to hide a body why not just drive into a remote area anywhere and dig a hole? It's a vast wasteland out there, the chances of anyone coming across an isolated grave is next to zero.

 

[heartgoesout]

Sorry, I respectfully disagree. There is no reason to go anywhere alone and without your spouse's knowledge with someone you carried on an affair with that has supposedly ended. Not judging her, and no disrespect intended, just saying IMO if the relationship was over she most likely would not have gone, no reason too. No reason to stay friends either.

 

[MzOpinion8d]

Very good summary! I cringe just thinking of it all again. It's been very obvious Nichole knew details but I disagree on her giving up info, just my opinion. They both need charged so they will sing on each other. I know in my heart she played part in it as well even if simply just the coverup. I wish some media would ask this question. I'm not surprised she is still praising her love for her killer husband.....she needs to pretend her love and support so he doesn't turn and rat out her involvement.

When my ex cheated, the woman he cheated with wasn't the one I wished would vanish. I don't get women who think making the other woman disappear solves the problem . You're still left with a cheating douchebag!

 

[nikb]

Very good summary! I cringe just thinking of it all again. It's been very obvious Nichole knew details but I disagree on her giving up info, just my opinion. They both need charged so they will sing on each other. I know in my heart she played part in it as well even if simply just the coverup. I wish some media would ask this question. I'm not surprised she is still praising her love for her killer husband.....she needs to pretend her love and support so he doesn't turn and rat out her involvement.

I agree. I've wondered if they came to some sort of agreement so that at least one of them would be there and out of jail for their child (or children? can't recall if it was just one). I've wondered how much she knew, too, but she had to know something. IMO those are awfully odd statements to come up with otherwise. And then there's IM's thing about them "missing something" - first off what an odd thing to say, and second what an odd thing to say that could be overheard by anyone or make it into any report, MSM, or even rumors for that matter.

 

[nikb]

Yes, I believe it was over as well. There is no indication that anything intimate occurred after John found out about it the first time. I don't necessarily view a trip to the desert to hunt/target shoot as carrying on an affair and I know lots of folks are pointing at this instance as a "continuation". This isn't 1950 anymore where you did everything with your wife/hubby by your side. Wives/husbands go out and do things with single friends these days. I see it here all the time. I think although she knew it to be inappropriate (hence the evasive parking), she probably felt that she wasn't really doing anything wrong.

Also, the "celebrating the pregnancy" was his words to get her out there, not hers. I'm calling BS on so many people thinking she was "excited" to be with him that day. There has been nothing in any story I read that inferred that. Could she have been? Sure. But it could simply have been the activity itself she was excited for. Even if she really didn't want to go, she strikes me as such a sweet person that she would have probably had a hard time saying no, especially to someone who was there for her when John was in the field. He probably knew that and played it for all it was worth.

BTW as far as the mines go, can this guy be a bigger idiot? A mine is a pinpoint location that people know about. Yes there are many of them but there is also a certainty that they will all be checked. If you are going to hide a body why not just drive into a remote area anywhere and dig a hole? It's a vast wasteland out there, the chances of anyone coming across an isolated grave is next to zero.

BBM... well, yeah men and women can be friends and I can see them hanging out, but I don't see too many spouses being too happy about people going out alone with their former affair partners, even if it's 'over.' Tolerating them in the same apartment complex without starting a huge fight is about the most I'd expect. And given the evasive parking (good description), clearly at least one of them knew it was not acceptable. I can't see John OR Nichole being okay with them going out to the desert together all day.

I'm trying to find that early article that had the texts Erin had exchanged with her friend about the whole get together. I remember thinking she seemed excited but maybe hesitant. Hard to tell 'tone' from a text, though. It turns my stomach every time I think she went out there with him, weapons and all, and she thought nothing of it because they were going out shooting/hunting and presumably she trusted him.

I'm not blaming Erin at all. Surely she had no reason to expect something so awful to happen. And heck even if they were continuing or rekindling the affair it was not okay to do what he (allegedly) did to her! Christopher and Nichole were leaving for Alaska soon anyway - why not just go away and be done with it?

As far as the mines, no kidding. Especially if your wife's going to be (apparently) blabbing about how Erin's so hidden. Although I'm glad she got so cocky. Even if she didn't directly give up Erin's location, I have a feeling between her comments and maybe some internet searches found on their computer, it helped LE to find Erin. I bet she was freaking out when Erin was found, since her former story was how "we" (she and Christopher) couldn't be charged because there was no body.

 

[rosesfromangels]

IAC Nikb. I really want to see NL arrested; I believe she had a fair amount of involvement, if only concealment or obstruction.
And while the prosecution is at it, drag ol' Horse Ranch Woman in and grill her on the stand. She seemed to know a lot, and had a lot to say at one point. Let's see how she holds up under questioning.

 

[Knox]

IAC Nikb. I really want to see NL arrested; I believe she had a fair amount of involvement, if only concealment or obstruction.
And while the prosecution is at it, drag ol' Horse Ranch Woman in and grill her on the stand. She seemed to know a lot, and had a lot to say at one point. Let's see how she holds up under questioning.

Initially I thought so too. But I just don't see the DA letting this kind of time lapse. So I have to think they have no evidence that Nichole knew of a plan to kill Erin, nor helped to cover it up.

Frustrating because many of us suspect differently. Guess we have to trust that the DA knows best, and is pursuing justice for Erin to the full extent of the law.

The horse lady; IMO, she put two and two together early on and suspected he killed Erin. Her surprise when he was arrested was phony-baloney.

 

[nikb]

Finally found an article that had the stuff about the texts with her friend: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/body-found-arrest-made-in-case-of-missing-marine-wife-erin-corwin/
"The friend showed authorities text messages that said Erin Corwin was planning to go on a special hunting trip with Lee to celebrate on the day she disappeared."

This one talks more about it: http://www.wbir.com/story/news/2014/07/21/ex-marine-who-knew-erin-corwin-arrested/12975351/ and describes it as "On the day she disappeared, Erin Corwin, 20, had planned to meet with her neighbor, Christopher Brandon Lee, 24, to spend a "special day together" on a hunting trip, according to documents filed in a Joshua Tree courthouse.

The day trip was meant to celebrate Corwin's pregnancy, but detectives said Lee was afraid his wife would discover their affair."

The statement of probable cause has this info as well: http://www.gannett-cdn.com/media/Pa...2014/07/21/1405981693000-corwin-affadavit.JPG

I could swear more details were out there on the texts at some point early on, but I can't seem to find them now so it's either gone or I'm imagining what the texts said based on what was written in the probably cause doc. I know there was a lot of talk here about her being so specific to say she was going about 2.5 hours away with him, and why would she be so specific with her friend? Was she worried? Could be.

Separate note: I also found this about the "horse woman" since she has come up again. She is not a POI and can't be sleuthed, I'm just mentioning what was in MSM about her):
http://www.cbs8.com/story/26134550/...ng-for-one-month-horse-ranch-owner-speaks-out
There's an audio interview that was interesting. I had forgotten this interesting part of her story (BBM) too: "The court records claimed Megli overheard Nichole Lee saying "detectives would never find the body,” that her husband "did not have an alibi,” and that he couldn't keep his lies straight "because he was dumb.""

 

[heartgoesout]

Initially I thought so too. But I just don't see the DA letting this kind of time lapse. So I have to think they have no evidence that Nichole knew of a plan to kill Erin, nor helped to cover it up.

Frustrating because many of us suspect differently. Guess we have to trust that the DA knows best, and is pursuing justice for Erin to the full extent of the law.


The horse lady; IMO, she put two and two together early on and suspected he killed Erin. Her surprise when he was arrested was phony-baloney.

Agreed, if they had something on NL they would have arrested her by now. If she had a part of it, they have enough on him that they don't need to give her immunity. DA's are looking to punish all involved in some capacity, not give them a free pass that wasn't really needed given the evidence they have on him.

 

[Jambri]

BBM... well, yeah men and women can be friends and I can see them hanging out, but I don't see too many spouses being too happy about people going out alone with their former affair partners, even if it's 'over.' Tolerating them in the same apartment complex without starting a huge fight is about the most I'd expect. And given the evasive parking (good description), clearly at least one of them knew it was not acceptable. I can't see John OR Nichole being okay with them going out to the desert together all day.

I'm trying to find that early article that had the texts Erin had exchanged with her friend about the whole get together. I remember thinking she seemed excited but maybe hesitant. Hard to tell 'tone' from a text, though. It turns my stomach every time I think she went out there with him, weapons and all, and she thought nothing of it because they were going out shooting/hunting and presumably she trusted him.

I'm not blaming Erin at all. Surely she had no reason to expect something so awful to happen. And heck even if they were continuing or rekindling the affair it was not okay to do what he (allegedly) did to her! Christopher and Nichole were leaving for Alaska soon anyway - why not just go away and be done with it?

As far as the mines, no kidding. Especially if your wife's going to be (apparently) blabbing about how Erin's so hidden. Although I'm glad she got so cocky. Even if she didn't directly give up Erin's location, I have a feeling between her comments and maybe some internet searches found on their computer, it helped LE to find Erin. I bet she was freaking out when Erin was found, since her former story was how "we" (she and Christopher) couldn't be charged because there was no body.

Definitely wouldn't be ok with it but unfortunately the texts don't show enough to get a grasp on how the trip was looked at. A hunting trip in the desert doesn't sound like a very romantic event to me. Sounds more like a get together by 2 friends possibly as a "goodbye" thing since he was leaving soon anyway. I don't think one can fully expect former affair partners to refrain from platonic activities together if they know they can get away with it and nobody will be hurt.

I know some people think she may have been looking to run away with CL but I just don't see it. While in California she apparently had a hard enough time being away from her family support network back home in TN. She was very close to her mom and missed her friends. Pulling up stakes and moving all the way to Alaska with a guy she has only known for a short time doesn't sound feasible to me. Not to mention her mom was coming out to visit her, they were going to Sea World, God knows what else and that would leave little time (a week?) between moms' departure and the Lee's leaving. Then the doctors appointment. Too little time in terms of pulling it all off. Not to mention why tell JC she was pregnant at all if she wanted out? Why not just wait until she could work out her get away plans with CL? Informing JC of her pregnancy would open up Pandoras' Box. "Why are you leaving me when we are expecting a child?" Pretty soon, family and friends on both sides know all the dirty details and probably some name-calling and ostracizing begin. And let's not forget her mom stating in her obit that JC and EC were looking forward to moving back to East Tennessee the next year. So it seems that JC may have been able to cut his service short somehow and they were planning to focus on the marriage back home. At least that was my take on it. I don't know. I believe she still loved Jonathan and made a mistake. I don't think it was in her nature to just throw the marriage away. Just my opinion.

As for that monster CL, I think he was afraid of what that doctors' report would reveal. Or perhaps he felt that she could come after him for child support if things didn't work out with JC after the fact. The long arm of the law can easily reach from Tennessee to Alaska.

 

[heartgoesout]

snipped by me. "Sounds more like a get together by 2 friends possibly as a "goodbye" thing since he was leaving soon anyway. I don't think one can fully expect former affair partners to refrain from platonic activities together if they know they can get away with it and nobody will be hurt."

Whuuut?! abso bleepin lutely do I as a spouse expect former affair partners to refrain from ANY relationship whatsoever! Sorry, you can't be friends with someone you cheated on me with. Nor should there be a goodbye date. No way, no how. SMH

 

[Jambri]

snipped by me. "Sounds more like a get together by 2 friends possibly as a "goodbye" thing since he was leaving soon anyway. I don't think one can fully expect former affair partners to refrain from platonic activities together if they know they can get away with it and nobody will be hurt."

Whuuut?! abso bleepin lutely do I as a spouse expect former affair partners to refrain from ANY relationship whatsoever! Sorry, you can't be friends with someone you cheated on me with. Nor should there be a goodbye date. No way, no how. SMH

I agree with you. I wasn't stating that there is nothing wrong with it. Trust me I'm the most anti-cheat man you will ever find. Even a one time fling would be a deal breaker for me

 

[Bernina]

Just taking a break from the horses this morning..........and thought about Erin, and how this case is progressing, which it doesn't look like it is.

Erin told JC she was scouting out places for her and her mom to go when mom came to visit, NOT that she was hanging with ol' CL to do some hunting or have a special day. Erin DID tell her best friend back in Tennessee. <---- but for that, quite possibly the case would have gone cold and CL would be in Alaska right now with his wife and kid, Erin would still be missing. Who knows when someone would have repelled down that mine shaft for the purpose of prospecting?

Erin wouldn't have misrepresented her intentions that morning to JC if it wouldn't have caused an issue.

As far as charges on NL? Never say never. Takes time to get all the ducks in a row. Is CL going to throw himself on a sword for NL? (if she's involved) I could see it happening, but who knows?

Hope where ever Erin is, she's surrounded by horses past, and the family and friends who left this existence before her.

Catch up with you kids later!

 

[nikb]

Definitely wouldn't be ok with it but unfortunately the texts don't show enough to get a grasp on how the trip was looked at. A hunting trip in the desert doesn't sound like a very romantic event to me. Sounds more like a get together by 2 friends possibly as a "goodbye" thing since he was leaving soon anyway. I don't think one can fully expect former affair partners to refrain from platonic activities together if they know they can get away with it and nobody will be hurt. <snipped for space>

I think we have enough to know that he, she, or possibly both of them knew it wasn't acceptable. Why else would they meet somewhere and sneak off in an unknown car? I think one or both knew that their spouses would be hurt. (I think that's what you're saying too, if I'm reading your post correctly).

I don't think she planned to take off with CL. I think she wanted to make the marriage with JC work, and probably her last 'trip' with CL was meant to be a goodbye of sorts. I really don't know, since I wasn't there, but trying to place myself at that age and frame of mind. I can see her trusting him enough to go out to the desert for one last trip, or fling, or whatever it was.

CL yeah, he makes me sick regardless of the specific details of what happened in the end. I absolutely agree with the charges that he lured her out to the desert and she was killed under awful circumstances. Nothing excuses what happened to her.

 

[rosesfromangels]

Agreed, if they had something on NL they would have arrested her by now. If she had a part of it, they have enough on him that they don't need to give her immunity. DA's are looking to punish all involved in some capacity, not give them a free pass that wasn't really needed given the evidence they have on him.

I dunno. I speculate she cut a deal with LE in exchange for taking them to, or giving them directions of where to find the remains. Speculation only.