Review of Matters Related to the Sexual Assault of Lance Corporal Maria Lauterbach, U.S. Marine Corps
Abstract
This report responds to an August 7, 2008, request from the Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness) (PDUSD (P&R). The PDUSD (P&R) requested we review command and other responses to the rape complaint of Lance Corporal (LCpl) Maria Lauterbach, assigned to Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2d Marine Logistics Group, Camp Lejeune, N.C. We focused on the following questions: Did responsible officials comply with requirements in responding to LCpl Lauterbach's sexual assault complaint? Did responsible officials respond adequately to events following the sexual assault complaint to ensure LCpl Lauterbach's safety and well-being? We reviewed the facts and circumstances involved in responses to the rape complaint and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) rape investigation. We also interviewed Marines, Camp Lejeune Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program (SAPR) personnel, command officials, civilian police officers and prosecutors, NCIS agents and supervisors, and others with knowledge about this matter. We found NCIS failed to conduct the criminal investigation into LCpl Lauterbach's rape complaint in accordance with DoD, DoN and NCIS standards. Overall, the NCIS investigation was not thorough, was not conducted in a timely manner, and logical investigative steps were not completed. Witness interviews were not thorough and in some instances not conducted, the accused's alibis for the dates LCpl Lauterbach reported the sexual assaults occurred were not investigated, and the reported crime scenes were not examined. Although both Headquarters and local NCIS senior leaders were aware of deficiencies with the rape investigation, they took no corrective action in regard to the investigative failures. We also found the SAPR response to LCpl Lauterbach's rape complaint was inadequate. We concluded overall, command officials at the Combat Logistics Regiment 27 responded inadequately to LCpl Lauterbach s sexual assault complaint.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 18, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA555171
Entities
People
- John Perryman
- Randolph R. Stone
Organizations
- Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Defense