When a pregnant teenager vanished after heading to Joshua Tree National Park, time was of the essence to figure out where she was and who might have wanted her dead. Turns out, a violent marine who had a life full of secrets held all the answers.
Erin and Jon Corwin (Photo Source) Lore Heavilin
Erin Corwin and her horse. (Photo Source) Lore Heavilin
Erin Corwin and her horse. (Photo Source) Lore Heavilin
Erin Corwin (Photo Source) Lore Heavilin
Christopher Brandon Lee (Photo Source) The Desert Sun
Searchers who found Erin’s body on August 16th, 2014. (Photo Source) The Desert Sun
Memorial Garden for Erin Corwin in Joshua Tree National Park (Photo Source) Lore Heavilin
Memorial Garden for Erin Corwin in Joshua Tree National Park (Photo Source) Lore Heavilin
Memorial Garden for Erin Corwin in Joshua Tree National Park (Photo Source) Lore Heavilin
Joshua Tree National Park Image (Source) Bill Bjornstad via NPS
Joshua Tree National Park Map (Source) Google Maps
Episode Source Material
- Park Predators Interview with Lore Heavilin. Conducted by Delia D’Ambra.
- A True Story of Marriage, Obsession, and Murder. Secrets of a Marine’s Wife. By Shanna Hogan.
- Dateline: Season 25. Episode 9. The Last Day.
- Oxygen: Killer Affair. Season 1. Episode 3. Lost in The Desert.
- The Desert Sun: Search for missing woman continues. By Denise Goolsby via Newapapers.com.
- CBS News: Report: Cops find missing pregnant Marine wife’s car via CBSnews.com.
- CNN: Marine’s wife disappears at national park. By Jareen Imam via cnn.com.
- ABC News: Mystery Deepens in case of missing pregnant woman Erin Corwin. By Erin Mizraki via abcnews.go.com.
- The Modesto Bee: Search for Marine’s pregnant wife continues. By LA Times via Newspapers.com
- KPBS: Mother-In-Law of missing pregnant Marine wife Erin Corwin speaks out. By Beth Ford Roth via KPBS.org.
- The Desert Sun: Joshua Tree Park focus of search. Published July 12, 2014. Accessed October 3, 2025, via Newspapers.com.
- Oak Ridge Today: Investigators search 200 miles of desert for pregnant Oak Ridge woman missing in California. By John Huotari via oakridgetoday.com.
- WBIR: Sheriff: Erin Corwin investigation not “criminal”. By WBIR Staff via WBIR.com.
- The Desert Sun: Beyond a Mystery. By Lorraine Whetstone via Newspapers.com.
- WBIR: Erin Corwin case: Police looking for “crime scene”. By WBIR Staff via WBIR.com.
- ABC News: Missing Marine wife may have been having affair with neighbor. By ABC News via abcnews.com.
- The Sacramento Bee: Investigators: Missing woman may have been shot on day trip. By The Associated Press via Newpapers.com.
- ABC News: Marine’s Wife Miscarried Just Months Before She Went Missing, Friend Says. By ABC News via ABCnews.com.
- The Desert Sun: Corwin Family raising funds for reward. By Brett Kelan.
- The Desert Sun: Friend: Police “put a spin” on remarks. By Brett Kelman via Newspapers.com.
- The Desert Sun: A month since Corwin disappearance. By Colin Atagi via Newspapers.com.
- The Desert Sun: Erin Corwin case makes People Cover. By Denise Goolsby via Newspapers.com.
- The Desert Sun: No updates in missing woman case. By Denise Goolsby via Newspapers.com.
- The Desert Sun: Search for Erin Corwin continues. By Denise Goolsby via Newspapers.com.
- KPBS: Erin Corwin’s Body Discovered, Alleged Lover Arrested In Her Death. By Beth Ford Roth via KPBS.org.
- KPBS: UPDATE: The evidence that led to Marine Vet’s arrest in Erin Corwin Case. By Beth Ford Roth via KPBS.org.
- The Desert Sun: Grisly break in case. By colin Atagi and Brett Kelman via Newspapers.com.
- The Desert Sun: Timeline: The Erin Corwin Disappearance via Newspapers.com.
- Desert Dispatch: Body of Marine’s missing wife found in mineshaft. By Amy Taxin and Gillian Flaccus via Newspapers.com.
- The Desert Sun: Erin Corwin searchers never gave up the hunt. By: Our voice via Newspapers.com.
- Los Angeles Times: Suspect in Marine wife’s slaying may have feared she was pregnant. By Tony Perry via LAtimes.com.
- The Desert Sun: Filing: Lee sought body-disposal tips. By Lorraine Whetstone via Newspapers.com.
- USA Today: 2nd murder charge may be filed in death of Marine wife. By Lorraine Whetstone (The Desert Sun) via USAtoday.com.
- Victor Valley News: Suspect in Erin Corwin murder to be extradited. By Victor Valley News via VVNG.com.
- The Desert Sun: In Memory of Erin. By Brett Kelman and Denise Goolsby via Newspapers.com.
- Marine Corps Times: Former Marine suspected in Erin Corwin murder returned to California. By Colin Atagi via Marinecorpstimes.com.
- CBS 8: Ex-Marine pleads not guilty in murder of Erin Corwin; coroner seals autopsy. By David Gotfredson via CBS8.com.
- USA Today: Erin Corwin: Marine husband Jon Corwin has “Closure”. By Brett Kelman (The Desert sun) via USAToday.com.
- KPBS: Erin Corwin’s husband speaks out for the first time since wife’s disappearance. By Beth Ford Roth via KPBS.org.
- USA Today: Untapped gold mine was site of Erin Corwin body. By Brett Kelman, The Desert Sun via USAToday.com.
- The Desert Sun: Hearing reset for Erin Corwin killing suspect. By Colin Atagi via Newspapers.com.
- The Desert Sun: Friend: Seeing accused killer in court “difficult”. By Colin Atagi via Newspapers.com.
- The Desert Sun: Lawyer mulls Corwin case shift. By Brett Kelman via Newspapers.com.
- Oakland Tribune: Ex-Marine faces trial in woman’s death via Newspapers.com.
- The Desert Sun: No-body cases tough to pursue. By Brett Kelman via Newspapers.com.
- The Desert Sun: Erin Corwin murder trial moved out of Joshua Tree. By Brett Kelman via Newspapers.com.
- The Desert Sun: Trial begins in Corwin murder. By Gabby Ferreira via Newspapers.com.
- The Sun: Mother of former Twentynine Palms Marine accused of killing mistress testifies via sbsub.com.
- NBC San Diego: Shocking Courtroom Confession in Marine Wife’s Murder. By Associated Press and NBC 7 Staff via nbcsandiego.com.
- The Desert Sun: “People have to know what I did”, murder suspect says. By Colin Atagi via Newspapers.com.
- The Desert sun: Ex-Marine found guilty of murder. By Colin Atagi. Published November 4, 2016. Accessed October 15, 2025, via Newspapers.com.
- CBS News: Former Marine Gets Life In Prison for Killing Another Marine’s Wife In Twentynine Palms. By CBS LA via cbsnews.com.
- CDCR California incarcerated records and information search via ciris.cdcr.ca.gov.
- Erin Corwin Find A Grave
- The Desert Sun: These local Marines are linked to killings. By Colin Atagi via Newspapers.com.