Erin Corwin's Body Discovered, Alleged Lover Arrested In Her Death

Originally published on Home Post Aug. 18, 2014 | 12:42 p.m. | By Beth Ford Roth

Searchers discovered the body of missing pregnant Marine wife Erin Corwin on Aug. 16 in a 100-foot mine shaft on Bureau of Land Management land in the Mojave Desert, law enforcement officials announced Monday.

Dental records were needed to confirm Corwin's identity. An autopsy conducted Monday morning concluded the manner of death to be homicide, according to San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon.

Christopher Lee mug shot

Christopher Lee, the Marine veteran who police believe was romantically involved with Corwin, was arrested in Alaska on Sunday evening for her murder.

The Desert Sun reports Christopher Lee is being detained in Anchorage on a federal hold awaiting extradition back to California.

San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael Ramos told reporters:

"If Lee does not waive extradition he should be back in our county in four to five weeks.."

For those of you just learning about the case, here's some background:

On the morning of June 28, Corwin told her husband, Marine Cpl. Jonathan Wayne 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. 

Family members of Corwin say she was three months pregnant when she disappeared.

Marine Cpl. Jonathan Corwin and Erin Corwin

A probable-cause affidavit filed by Detective Cory Emon of the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department indicated Corwin was involved in a romantic relationship with Lee, whom she met at White Rock Horse Rescue.

Emon wrote in the affidavit that a friend of Corwin's in Tennessee told detectives that she may have been pregnant with Lee's baby, and not her husband's:

"[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," Corwin had confided in her Tennessee friend that Lee was worried his wife would divorce him if she knew of the affair — and would take away their child.

Detective Emon's concluded in the affidavit:

“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 Christopher Lee's wife Nichole 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."

There is also forensic evidence that ties Christopher Lee's vehicle to Corwin:

(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.

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

Zoo Fundraiser Held For Family Of Missing Marine Wife Erin Corwin

Originally published on Home Post Aug. 11, 2014 | 7:48 a.m. | By Beth Ford Roth
   

The family of Erin Corwin has had to endure more than six weeks of not knowing what happened to the missing pregnant Marine wife. Friends of Corwin, 20, held a fundraiser at a zoo near her Tennessee hometown to boost her family's spirits.

Erin Corwin

WATE-TV reports friends and supporters from Erin's hometown of Oak Ridge hosted the fundraiser at Little Ponderosa Zoo to raise money the family can use for a reward.

Little Ponderosa Zoo James Cox told WATE-TV:

"We hope somebody will come around and tell the whereabouts of this family's child and get them home. I can't imagine the pain of what they're going through of just not knowing. Just waiting on that phone call and just not knowing.

 "We want to do our part to help them find their child and get her back home safely."

According to the Desert Sun, there are no new updates in the disappearance of Corwin, who was last seen alive by her husband, Marine Corporal Jon Corwin, on June 28.

The couple lived on base at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms. Court documents suggest Erin Corwin may have been having a romantic relationship with neighbor and Marine veteran Christopher Lee. 

The "Locate Erin" Facebook page reports search crews spent the weekend looking for Corwin.

Corwin's friends back in Tennessee explained to WBIR-TV that her love of animals prompted them to hold their fundraiser at a zoo.

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: