Bush sonar exemption for Navy riles activists

A man accused of fatally stabbing his wife and killing their four children in a house fire was released from a hospital Wednesday and taken to court to face murder charges.

Michel Veillette, 34, was treated for stab wounds and other injuries after he was found outside the family's burning home in Mason, about 20 miles northeast of Cincinnati, late Friday. Judge Andrew Batsche set a hearing for Jan. 22 for Veillette, 34, and he was taken to jail. The native of Canada is charged with aggravated murder, murder and aggravated arson.

Jacksonville, N.C.

Search for Marine extends into Mexico

The search for a U.S. Marine wanted in the killings of his comrade and her unborn child has crossed into his native Mexico, possibly complicating efforts to hold him accountable.

Mexican authorities might be reluctant to send him back to face a charge that could carry a punishment of death, a Mexican diplomat and legal experts said Wednesday.

Cpl. Cesar Armando Laurean, 21, disappeared from his Jacksonville home hours before investigators found the charred remains of Marine Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach, 20, buried in his backyard. Lauterbach had accused Laurean of raping her; she was eight months' pregnant when she vanished last month.

Also

Helicopter crash: At least one person was found alive late Wednesday after a Navy MH-53 Sea Dragon helicopter carrying four people on a training mission crashed in a field in rural South Texas.

Name change: The March of Dimes is changing the name of Walk America, its biggest fundraising event, to Walk for Babies to increase public awareness of its mission.

Seattle Times news services