Marine's Wife Murdered in Joshua Tree National Park

The story of Erin Corwin’s tragic death is one that captivated and horrified the nation. At just 19 years old and pregnant, Erin Corwin vanished in June 2014, sparking a massive eight-week search, ultimately revealing a chilling murder plot that stunned her community.

The Disappearance

Erin Corwin, wife of a United States Marine, was last seen leaving her home in Twentynine Palms, California, on June 28, 2014. She told her husband, Jonathan Corwin, that she loved him and was going out for the day. When she didn’t return, Jonathan reported her missing, igniting an intense search effort.

The Search

Authorities and volunteers scoured vast stretches of the desert for a week before finding the first clue: Erin’s abandoned car at the edge of Joshua Tree National Park. Suspicion quickly fell on Christopher Lee, a former Marine and neighbor with whom Erin had been having an affair. Shortly after Erin’s disappearance, Lee fled to Alaska with his family, further raising suspicions.

The Gruesome Discovery

On Aug. 16, 2014, Erin’s body was found in a 140-foot mine shaft deep in the remote desert. Her body, badly decomposed, showed she had been strangled. The extent of decomposition prevented confirmation of her pregnancy, which Erin had previously told friends and family about, confiding that Lee was the father.

The Trial

Lee was arrested the day after Erin Corwin’s body was discovered, uncovering a chilling tale of deception and murder. Court documents revealed Lee had meticulously researched ways to dispose of a body, determined to hide his affair and the pregnancy. Initially pleading not guilty, Lee later confessed, claiming he was “controlled by anger,” as reported by Desert Sun.

Erin believed she was meeting Lee for a romantic proposal that June afternoon. Instead, she found herself in a volatile confrontation that escalated into violence. He used a garrote made from two pieces of rebar and a cord, strangling Erin for over five minutes. After she collapsed, he dragged her body to a mine shaft and disposed of it. In November 2016, a jury found Lee guilty of first-degree murder, sentencing him to life in prison without parole.

In 2018, Christopher appealed his case but was denied by the California Supreme Court, and he remains behind bars today.

References: Inside The Chilling Murder Of Pregnant 19-Year-Old Erin Corwin | Erin Corwin death: Christopher Lee found guilty of murder