Domestic Violence Homicide

In the last 10 months, four military women in NC have been murdered. Either a husband, estranged husband, or acquaintance have been charged with their murders. Domestic violence homicides are not unique to the military. We have to pay attention to all domestic violence homicides. When the number of homicides is this high within the military, we owe it to all military families to offer support, education, and information on domestic violence and what services are available both to victims and abusers.

I extend my sympathy to the families of the four military women who have been murdered in the last 10 months in NC.

information below is from www.WRAL.com
Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach was beaten to death in December, and her charred remains were found in January in the back yard of Cpl. Cesar Laurean, a fellow Camp Lejeune Marine. Laurean is awaiting extradition from Mexico, where he was arrested after a three-month international manhunt.

Spc. Megan Touma's body was found in a Fayetteville motel room in June, nine days after she arrived at Fort Bragg. Sgt. Edgar Patino, a student at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg, has been charged in the case.

The burned remains of 2nd Lt. Holley Wimunc, a nurse at Womack Army Medical Center, were found in Onslow County in July, three days after a suspicious fire was reported at her Fayetteville apartment. Her estranged husband, Marine Cpl. John Wimunc, and another Camp Lejeune Marine, have been charged in her death.

Sgt. Christina Smith was killed on Sept. 30 in an apparent mugging. Investigators said her husband, Sgt. Richard Smith, paid another serviceman to carry out the attack.