Mexico City: Mexican police arrested a Mexican-born US marine wanted for the murder of pregnant fellow-marine Maria Lauterbach, the US Embassy has said.

Cesar Armando Laurean, 21, and a fugitive since January, was arrested in San Juan de Vina on Friday, in the western state of Michoacan, the embassy said in a statement.

Laurean, born in Mexico and a US citizen since 2003, escaped to Mexico after Lauterbach's dead body was found in his backyard in Jacksonville, North Carolina.

Lauterbach, 20, had accused Laurean of sexually assaulting her and had gone missing on Dec 14,2007.

Mexican authorities closely collaborated with the FBI to locate and arrest Laurean, who is facing extradition for homicide and other charges, the embassy said. The FBI had offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to his capture.

Source : IANS