Missing Marine claimed rape

The pregnant Marine was reported missing Dec. 19.

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (AP) — A pregnant Marine who vanished last month before she was to testify in a military probe had claimed that a superior officer raped her and that the investigation had “gone sour,” according to court documents.

The woman, originally from Dayton, Ohio, complained about the investigation to her stepmother, who also told authorities that the 20-year-old lance corporal had bipolar disorder, once known as manic-depression, and a history of lying, the documents say.

Authorities said Thursday that they plan to question the Camp Lejeune officer she accused of rape, as well as a roommate of hers who was ordered to return to the base from a training mission. They stressed the case remains a missing-person investigation.

“If [she] is listening and gets this, I want her to know that sometimes people do things. If they could turn the clock back they wouldn’t do them the way they’ve done them,” Sheriff Ed Brown said.

The woman was reported missing Dec. 19 by her stepmother, who last spoke with her daughter Dec. 14, authorities said. Her cell phone was found Dec. 20 near the main gate at Camp Lejeune, and she missed a prenatal care appointment Dec. 26.

According to court papers, a man tried to use the missing woman’s ATM card on Christmas Eve and attempted to cover the machine’s security camera with a rag. Brown would not where the card was used.

Sheriff’s investigators said in the court documents that the Naval Criminal Investigative Service was investigating the sexual assault allegations and had confirmed the woman’s history of lying.