Congress May Change Military Protective Order Rules

By Peter Biello

Wilmington, NC – Parts of the Defense Authorization Bill making its way through Congress propose changes to how military protective orders work. This comes after the Ohio Congressman for murdered pregnant Marine Maria Lauterbach's district pressed for change.

Representative Michael Turner recommended that Military Protective Orders, or MPOs, stay active during ongoing investigations.

The MPO filed against Marine Corporal Cesar Laurean lapsed after Lauterbach disappeared last December. Laurean has been accused of murdering Lauterbach.

Congressman Turner says the military should notify local authorities of any MPOs.

"So we want them to know that this protective order is in place. If they should receive information about a threat or an issue, they would be able to react with full information about the situation."

Laurean was caught in Mexico last month and currently awaits extradition to the United States.

The Marine Corps has said it handled the Lauterbach case by the book.

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