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Only On CBS2: Former Marine, 2 Others Charged In Plot To Kill Pregnant Wife

CANOGA PARK (CBS) — A former Marine and two accomplices were behind bars on Wednesday on charges of plotting to beat his pregnant wife to death.

CBS2's Edward Lawrence reports Brian Corder and his wife were often heard fighting in their Canoga Park apartment, but neighbors are still shocked by the alleged plot.

Corder, 26, allegedly conspired with 19-year-old Fredericka Carmouche — whom detectives believe he had started dating — and Stephon Crutchfield, 21, to stage the deadly assault on June 16 at their apartment along the 8600 block of DeSoto Avenue.

"It was a rouse that he had used and he obtained two friends of his to partake in this incident with her.. they tried to murder the victim in this matter," said LAPD Det. Chris Casey.

Neighbors recalled hearing screams coming from the Corder's corner apartment.

"I was actually asleep..and I heard the scream," said resident Mike Lundy.

"I was woken up about 2 o'clock in the morning...someone says 'please call 911'," neighbor Theresa Rivera said. "I heard someone say 'call 911'."

Casey said police arrived to find the Corder's wife beaten so badly that homicide detectives initially thought she was dead.

Both she and her unborn child survived the assault and were treated at Northridge Hospital Medical Center under an alias for her protection.

Neighbors said they saw Corder moments after the assault crying in his apartment about who could have done this to his wife.

Police collected evidence that they claim implicated Corder along with incriminating evidence when they arrested Carmouche in North Hollywood and Crutchfield in Pasadena.

Corder and the two accomplices allegedly used several items ranging from a frying pan to a lamp and tried to make the assault look like a break-in, according to detectives.

The brutal assault will likely continue to haunt neighbors for some time.

"It's right next door to our apartments," said resident Romi Andrews. "You don't expect a husband to do that to his wife."

"It's just unbelievable...I don't understand how anybody can do that to anybody," neighbor Mike Lundy said.

All three suspects have been charged with attempted murder and are each being held on $1 million bail.

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