ONSLOW COUNTY, NC -- The Onslow County Sheriff’s Office reports a Mexican court judge has ruled that Cesar Laurean will be returned to Onslow County.

The sheriff's office says that return could be expected within one week. District Attorney Dewey Hudson said there is the possibility that Laurean could appeal the decision, and the extradition could be delayed, as late as October.

Federal authorities will handle transporting Cesar Lauren back to the Onslow County Jail.

Laurean is accused of killing Lance Corporal Maria Lauterbach, a pregnant Camp Lejeune Marine. Lawmen say he buried her charred body and that of her unborn child in a shallow grave in his backyard in Onslow County.

Authorities tracked Laurean down to Mexico, where he was arrested.

U.S. authorities had to agree Laurean will not face the death penalty in North Carolina before Mexico would agree to extradition.

Sept. 13, 2004 – Cesar A. Laurean, of the Las Vegas area, enlists in the U.S. Marine Corps.

April 6, 2005 – Laurean joins his current unit, a combat logistics regiment based at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

June 6, 2006 – Maria Lauterbach, of Dayton, Ohio, enlists in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Nov. 23 – Lauterbach joins Laurean's unit.

April 2007 – Lauterbach tells military officials she has been raped.

May 12 – Marine commanders assign Lauterbach and Laurean to work in separate buildings.

May 24 – A military protective order is issued against Laurean.

June 25 – The protective order is automatically renewed for the first time.

Sept. 20 – The order is automatically renewed for the second time.

Oct. 22 – Marine commanders submit a request to send the rape case to the military's version of a grand jury.

December – Lauterbach meets with military prosecutors to discuss her rape allegation against Laurean.

Dec. 14 – Lauterbach's mother last speaks with her daughter.

Dec. 19 – Lauterbach's mother reports her missing to police in Ohio. A missing persons investigation begins in Onslow County, N.C.

Dec. 20 – Lauterbach's cell phone is found near the main gate at Camp Lejeune.

Dec. 24 – An unidentified white male attempts to use Lauterbach's ATM card.

Dec. 26 – Lauterbach misses a prenatal care appointment.

January 2007 – The protective order is automatically renewed for the third time.

Jan. 7 – Onslow County Sheriff Ed Brown is informed about the case and detectives execute their first search warrant.

Jan. 8 – Police search the laptop computer of Marine Sgt. Daniel Durham, Lauterbach's roommate. Authorities later conclude he is not involved. First news release about Lauterbach being missing is issued.

Jan. 9 – The Marine Corps says it is cooperating with the Onslow County Sheriff's investigation into Lauterbach's disappearance.

Jan. 10 – Civilian authorities request Durham be returned from a training mission in California for questioning.

Jan. 11 – Authorities believe Laurean flees Jacksonville at 4 a.m. They receive Laurean's note from his wife, Christina, at 8 a.m., and announce four hours later they believe Lauterbach is dead. That evening, the local district attorney says burnt human remains had been found in Laurean's backyard.

Jan. 12 – Authorities complete an excavation of a fire pit in Laurean's backyard and issue a murder warrant for his arrest.

April 11 - Laurean is captured in Mexico.

September 11 - Judge rules to return Laurean to Onslow County.