Mothers Of The Disappeared

In the wind we hear their laughter
In the rain we see their tears
Hear their heartbeat
We hear their heartbeat

Song: "Mothers of the Disappeared"

Album: The Joshua Tree 

Artist: U2

Day Two - The Prosecution's Case Continues

Day two of the prosecution's case consisted of just three witnesses, but there was no shortage of bombshell testimony. I will try and cut to the chase in terms of the highlights of each witnesses testimony.

The first witness of the day was Douglas Billings. I would say this man knows caves and mines in the the vast desert near Joshua Tree National Park and Twentynine Palms like a mother knows the freckles on her child's face - and with that much affection. He's been exploring the area since he was a kid, and he's now 53.

Erin Corwin/Facebook

Billings was able to use photographs taken on June 22, 2014 by a civilian friend of the defendant to zero in on the mine where searchers ultimately found Erin Corwin's body.

The next witness was Aisling Malakie. Aisling lived with her husband, Conor, and young son in the apartment directly downstairs from Erin and Jon Corwin in 2013-14. Aisling and Erin were close friends at one point - close enough that Aisling took Erin to the hospital when she suffered a miscarriage.

Aisling also discovered the relationship between Erin and the defendant, and ended up telling the defendant's wife Nichole, and Jon Corwin.

Two points Aisling made that gave me chills:

• She said Christopher Lee talked about murder more times than she could count. She found it odd because, "No one else I knew talked about snapping necks and hiding bodies with coyotes."

• After Erin went missing, Aisling called the Lee residence to let Nichole know that investigators were looking for Chris. According to Aisling, Nichole replied (referring to Erin), "I don't care what happened to that little bitch."

The final witness of the day was Aisling's husband, Conor Malakie. Conor said he considered Christopher Lee to be a close friend. On the day Erin disappeared, Chris made a vague invitation to Conor to go coyote hunting. An hour after Chris Lee left to "go hunting" Conor attempted to get in touch with him. Chris texted Conor to meet him outside Joshua Tree National Park. Conor spent as many as three hours trying to find Chris, but to no avail. All calls and texts to Chris went unanswered. Later that afternoon, when Chris returned home, Conor noticed the propane tank that was in the back of Chris's Jeep earlier that morning was no longer there.

The big moment for me was when Conor explained what happened the morning after Erin disappeared. Conor saw Chris at the apartment complex and asked him if her knew where Erin was. Chris said he didn't. Then Conor asked his very good friend, "Did you do what I think you did?"

Let that sink in. If a young man who had great affection for the defendant immediately suspected he had murdered Erin, I can't help but think the jurors will draw the same conclusion, considering the mountain of evidence the prosecution is in the process of presenting.

Marine Vet Could Face 2nd Murder Charge In Death Of Erin Corwin's Fetus

First published on Home Post Aug. 21, 2014 | 10:57 a.m. | By Beth Ford Roth

The final results of Erin Corwin's autopsy could determine whether or not Marine veteran Christopher Lee is charged with murder in the death of Corwin's fetus. 

Erin Corwin

Lee has already been arrested and charged with murdering Corwin, 19, who may have been pregnant with his child.

San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael Ramos told the Desert Sun an additional murder charge against Lee is possible if the autopsy can determine whether or not Corwin was actually pregnant, and how far along she was in her pregnancy. 

Ramos said California law allows a murder charge to be filed in the death of an unborn baby just four to six weeks into the fetus's development.

Corwin's sister-in-law, DeeAnna Heavilin, was interviewed by the Desert Sun last month about Corwin's pregnancy:

"We don't know exactly how far along she is with this pregnancy. She only found out about the pregnancy two weeks before she went missing and a doctor hasn't confirmed a due date yet."

As Home Post previously reported, Corwin's body was discovered in an abandoned mine shaft on Aug. 16. 

On June 28, Corwin had told her husband, Marine Cpl. Jonathan Corwin, she was heading to Joshua Tree National Park to scout photography locations. 

Cpl. Corwin reported his wife missing the next day.

The couple lived in an apartment at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, next door to Christopher Lee and his wife Nichole.

Lee was in an Anchorage courtroom Thursday morning, where he waived his rights against extradition to California to stand trial for Corwin's murder.

Deputy DA Clint Campion of Anchorage told KTUU-TV he expects Lee to be transferred to California within a week:

"I would say (in) the next couple of days. The judge set a hearing for Sept. 8 to make sure he's actually gone."

 

Detectives 'Looking For A Crime Scene' In Erin Corwin Case (Video)

Originally published on Home Post July 23, 2014 | 10:05 a.m. | By Beth Ford Roth

Erin and Jonathan Corwin

Detectives with the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Specialized Investigation Division are "looking for a crime scene" in the disappearance of pregnant Marine wife Erin Corwin, according to a department press release.

Several media outlets have obtained a probable-cause affidavit filed by Detective Cory Emon that indicates Corwin was involved in a romantic relationship with a married Marine veteran named Christopher Lee, whom she met at White Rock Horse Rescue.

According to what Emon wrote in the affidavit, a friend of Erin's who lives in Tennessee told detectives

“...Erin may be pregnant with Lee’s child.

"[The friend] knew Erin and Lee were going on a day trip together on 06-28-14, for a celebration of Erin’s pregnancy."

Yet despite this "celebration," Erin had confided in her friend from Tennessee that Lee was concerned his wife, Nichole, would divorce him and take their child away if she found out Erin was pregnant with his baby. 

Christopher and Nichole Lee with their daughter

Detective Emon's assessment of what may have happened on June 28, the last day Erin's husband, Marine Cpl. Jonathan Corwin, saw her alive, is not hopeful:

“It is highly likely Erin could have been harmed by an unknown firearm. Sometime after Erin left with Lee, her phone was de-activated (turned off).”

Also in the affidavit, White Rock Horse Rescue Ranch owner Isabel Megli shared with detectives a conversation she had with Nichole Lee following Corwin's disappearance:

"Nichole made statements to Isabel about the detectives having missed something at their residence when it was searched because detectives did not search the garage.

"Nichole told Isabel that without a body the detectives did not have a case against them and the detectives would never find the body."

The Desert Sun reports there is forensic evidence that may tie Christopher Lee to Erin Corwin on the day she disappeared:

[P]olice found a single set of shoe tracks at Corwin's abandoned vehicle. The tracks led from the driver side door of her Toyota and then disappeared next to a set of tire tracks.

The court document states that tracks found at the scene are "consistent" with the tire tracks left by Lee's Jeep.

Not surprisingly, HLN's Jane Velez-Mitchell has a whole lot to say about this case, especially the fact Lee was arrested after police searched his home:

 

NCIS Involved In Erin Corwin Case; Search Warrants Info Revealed

Originally published on Home Post July 21, 2014 | 8:18 a.m. | By Beth Ford Roth

Erin Corwin/Facebook

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service has confirmed its investigators are involved in the search for Erin Corwin. 

The pregnant 20-year-old was last seen three weeks ago at her home on the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms. 

Spokesman Ed Buice told The Desert Sun that NCIS is helping the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department with their probe into Corwin's disappearance:

"We're assisting them as far as some of the more military aspects of the investigation. The military world is sometimes very confusing to non-military investigators. We help them connect the dots and find a way through the red tape."

As Home Post has previously reported, Marine Cpl. Jonathan Wayne Corwin told law enforcement officials he last saw his wife on June 28, before she left to drive to Joshua Tree National Park. He reported Erin missing the following day. 

Meanwhile, San Diego television station CBS8 has learned new details about the search warrants executed by sheriff's deputies at the home Erin Corwin shared with her husband, and the apartment of Marine Corps veteran Corporal Christopher Lee and his wife Nichole. To watch that news report, click here.