(VVNG.com)- After an eight week extensive search for a pregnant 19-year-old Twenty nine Palms woman, her body was discovered on Saturday, August 16, 2014 in a mine shaft. Her alleged lover Christopher Brandon Lee, 24, was located in Anchorage, Alaska and has been arrested in connection to her murder.
Erin CorwinAccording to a press release, search teams focused on the areas of Rose of Peru Mining District, Brooklyn Mining District and Los Angeles Mining District. Using video equipment, a body was located in a mine shaft approximately 140 feet below. Due to the depth and air quality of the mine shaft, County Fire Urban Search and Rescue Team responded to assist in the recovery. Corwin’s body was recovered by 6:30 p.m., on Sunday. Forensic Odontologist, made a positive identification using dental records.
The search area covered approximately 300 square miles, including the areas of Joshua Tree National Park, Twentynine Palms, Amboy, Twentynine Palms Marine Corp Base and areas covered by Bureau of Land Management. Aerial searches identified more than 100 mine shafts and numerous bodies of water that were searched by the Technical Cave and Mine Teams and Specialized Dive Teams. Nearly 5,000 volunteer hours were dedicated to this search.
The nature of the charges against Cpl. Christopher Brandon Lee could not be immediately confirmed. As of Monday morning, Lee was held at the Anchorage Correctional Complex. San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael Ramos said Monday that prosecutors will take about 48 hours to determine what crimes to charge Lee with. Authorities have also said that Lee’s wife, Nichole Lee, is a “person of interest” in the death. The Lee’s were neighbors of Erin Corwin and her husband Cpl. Jonathan Corwin.
The San Bernardino Coroners Department conducted an autopsy today and the manner of death has been determined to be homicide.
The investigation is ongoing and additional information will be released as new information becomes available.
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