Erin Corwin's Husband Speaks Out For The First Time Since Wife's Disappearance (Video)

First published on Home Post Aug. 26, 2014 | 1:59 p.m. | By Beth Ford Roth

Jon Corwin (left)

Marine Cpl. Jonathan Corwin, the widower of homicide victim Erin Corwin, is speaking to the media for the first time since his wife went missing on June 28. 

Corwin's body was discovered on Aug. 16 in a 100-foot deep mine shaft southeast of Twentynine Palms in the Mojave Desert. 

Jonathan Corwin spoke with The Desert Sun shortly before the start of a vigil held in Erin's memory at Luckie Park in Twentynine Palms on Monday evening:

“I had some hope, but overall, I expected the worst. It’s basically the only thing you can do after so much time. I have closure now. I know she is in heaven, now. She is in a better place, in no more pain.”

Erin and Jon Corwin

Corwin also talked with KESQ-TV off camera about his favorite memory of Erin. Reporter Natalie Brunell paraphrased what Corwin told her:

He said he'll never forget their high school prom; the first night he saw her all dressed up.

And even though they had known each other since middle school, he remembers there was just something about the way she looked that night.

Marine veteran Christopher Lee has been charged with killing Erin. Lee and his wife Nichole lived next door to the Corwins at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms. 

Corwin told The Desert Sun he knew his wife and Lee once had a brief affair, but believed it had ended. Now, he trying his best to forgive the man he once considered his friend:

"Obviously, I hate the actions that he did. But I feel like, if I let him bring hatred to my mind every time I see him, he is just going to pull me down.

“When I first figured out about the affair, and everything, he was still my next door neighbor. There was a part of me that wanted to go take care of him. But if I did that, I would be in the same boat as him — I would be a bad guy. And that is just not me.”

The Associated Press reports Lee, 24, was arraigned Tuesday afternoon in Joshua Tree Superior Court, where he pleaded not guilty to murder charges.

To watch KESQ-TV's story about the candlelight vigil held for Erin Corwin, click here.

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.

Erin Corwin Case Update: 'Witness' Comes Forward, Search Warrants Executed (Video)

Originally published on Home Post July 17, 2014 | 7:53 a.m. | By Beth Ford Roth

Erin Corwin/Facebook

A Twentynine Palms resident has come forward to say he saw missing pregnant Marine wife Erin Corwin on the day she disappeared.

Michael Beasley has told several media outlets he witnessed Corwin willingly get into a red car with an unidentified man, leaving her blue Toyota Corolla behind:

“They were just sitting and chatting. If she wanted to get out of the car and say, ‘I don't want to be in this car,' she could have.

“When I came back a half hour later, just the (blue) car was sitting there. Next thing, I hear the weekend goes by and Monday morning the sheriffs are there looking for this girl because she ain't home yet."

HLN reports police would not confirm to the network whether they've spoken with Beasley, or even comment on Beasley's assertion that he's an eyewitness.

In other news related to Corwin's disappearance, four search warrants have been executed, according to The Desert Sun:

The warrants cast a wide net for investigators, allowing them to search for everything from telephone records and computers to fingerprints and DNA.

KFMB reports two vehicles and two residences were searched:

• Blue 2013 Toyota Sedan bearing California license # 7CJX519
• Dark colored Jeep Cherokee bearing Alaska license # GHP564
• The premises at 6650 Jasmine St, apartment #F, Twenty Nine Palms
• The premises at 6650 Jasmine St, apartment #D, Twenty Nine Palms

A little background: Marine Cpl. Jonathan Wayne Corwin reported his wife Erin Corwin missing June 29 - one day after she disappeared while scouting for photography locations at Joshua Tree National Park.

She is three months pregnant. July 15th is her 20th birthday.

As for alleged witness Michael Beasley, he spoke with Jane Velez-Mitchell this evening. Take a look:

 

Mother-In-Law Of Missing Pregnant Marine Wife Erin Corwin Speaks Out

Originally published on Home Post July 10, 2014 | 9:10 a.m. | By Beth Ford Roth

The mother-in-law of missing pregnant teenager Erin Corwin is speaking out, telling the media that her son - Twentynine Palms Marine Cpl. Jonathan Wayne Corwin - had nothing to do with his young wife's disappearance.

Sheila Braden told television station KESQ rampant speculation that Jonathan Corwin had something to do with why his 19-year-old wife vanished is unjustified:

Erin and John Corwin

"John is stoic. He internalizes a lot of emotions. It's apparent he's torn up inside over Erin being missing and wants his wife back, and he's still hoping and praying that that's going to happen...

"He can't speak out, his command has asked him to be quiet.. He feels helpless because he can't help with the search."

Jonathan Corwin reported Erin Corwin missing June 29 - one day after she disappeared while scouting for photography locations at Joshua Tree National Park.
 

Because of the "suspicious circumstances" surrounding Corwin's disappearance, San Bernardino County sheriff's spokeswoman Cindy Bachman said homicide detectives are on the case.

Corwin's 2013 Toyota Corolla was discovered July 2, according to Capt. Dale Mondary, who informed KMIR-TV that the vehicle was discovered not in Joshua Tree National Park, but near Twentynine Palms:

"It was near the base and the desert, yes, but keeping mind that's a very large base."

Erin Corwin is originally from Oak Ridge, Tenn., and local television station WVLT spoke with her sister-in-law about the family's plan to offer a reward.

Mystery Deepens In Disappearance Of Pregnant Marine Wife (Video)

Originally published on Home Post July 7, 2014 | 6:12 a.m. | By Beth Ford Roth

It's been more than a week since anyone saw 19-year-old Erin Corwin alive. Pregnant and married to a Twentynine Palms Marine, Corwin went missing June 28 while scouting for photography locations at Joshua Tree National Park.

According to UPI, Cpl. Jonathan Wayne Corwin reported his wife missing one day after she disappeared.

Because of the "suspicious circumstances" surrounding Corwin's disappearance, San Bernardino County sheriff's spokeswoman Cindy Bachman said homicide detectives are on the case.

Sheriff’s Cpl. Randy Naquin told the Press-Enterprise Corwin's 2013 Toyota Corolla was discovered July 2. Law enforcement officials are not releasing the location of where the Corolla was found.

The Los Angeles Times reports at least 50 search-and-rescue workers were involved in looking for Corwin over the weekend.

Corwin's family has told law enforcement officials that Corwin was three-months pregnant.

Corwin's mother, Lori Heavilin, told CNN she was planning a trip to California to see her daughter: