Aaron Corwin was born on July 15, 1994, in the United States to biological parents who were never publicly identified. She was adopted as an infant by Laura and William Corwin, a deeply religious couple living in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Together, they raised seven children, five of whom were adopted. To Laura and William, adoption was not charity or convenience; it was obedience to what they believed was a divine calling, especially to care for children with special needs.

Several of the Corwin children required additional medical and emotional support. The youngest, Trisha, was born with multiple birth defects and died at just three and a half years old. Laura and William guided their children through grief by teaching them that Trisha’s short life had been filled with love, safety, and dignity.

From an early age, Aaron displayed an unusual gentleness and empathy, particularly toward animals. Her mother later recalled that Aaron was the only child who could train a rabbit to walk on a leash. As she grew older, that sensitivity matured into a rare ability to calm and handle horses no one else could manage. She owned a pony named Riley, kept at a nearby stable, and spent countless hours caring for animals of all kinds.

Aaron grew up in a close-knit, supportive household and experienced no signs of instability beyond the ordinary struggles of adolescence. In fifth grade, she met Jonathan Corwin, a boy one year older than her. They were not close at first, but years later they reconnected through social media. By then, Aaron was known for her nurturing nature and had taken responsibility for dozens of animals, from dogs and cats to fish and guinea pigs.

Jonathan eventually asked Aaron out on her sixteenth birthday. With her parents’ approval, their relationship grew quickly. They exchanged poems, talked about the future, and appeared to friends and family as a devoted young couple. After graduating high school, Aaron worked at a local tractor supply store, spending her free time with her horse or browsing garage sales with her family.

Jonathan enlisted in the U.S. Marine Infantry. Confident in their future, the couple married in Las Vegas in November 2012. In 2013, Jonathan learned he would be reassigned to California. Though excited, they planned to return to East Tennessee once his service allowed.

In September 2013, they moved to Marine Corps housing in San Bernardino County, near one of the access points to Joshua Tree National Park.

In California, the Corwins formed friendships with neighboring couples, including Connor and Eing Malaki and another Marine, Christopher Brandon Lee. Christopher, originally from Anchorage, Alaska, lived on base with his wife Nicole and their six-year-old daughter, Liberty. Like Aaron, the Lees shared an interest in horses, and the couples quickly became close.

During the day, while the men worked, Aaron, Eing, and Nicole spent time together. Evenings often involved shared meals, television, and movies across apartments. The environment felt communal, familiar, and safe.

But beneath the surface, warning signs existed. Other Marines observed that Christopher handled weapons carelessly and treated firearms with disturbing casualness. He earned a reputation for recklessness and was reprimanded by superiors.

At the same time, Aaron and Jonathan’s marriage began to strain. Their youth and inexperience led to arguments over money and responsibility. When Aaron became pregnant, the tension dissolved instantly. She announced the news publicly, overwhelmed with happiness.

Weeks later, she miscarried.

The loss devastated her. Jonathan’s frequent absences due to training left her emotionally isolated. As her grief deepened, Christopher began spending more time alone with her, often without Nicole present.

One night in February 2014, while Jonathan and Nicole watched television, Christopher followed Aaron into the bedroom to play video games. Sitting side by side on the floor, they kissed. The affair escalated quickly.

They spoke openly about leaving their spouses and building a future together. Nicole eventually discovered messages between them and confronted both Christopher and Jonathan. The fallout was explosive. Aaron and Christopher ended the affair briefly, then resumed in secret.

On June 22, 2014, Aaron discovered she was pregnant again—this time with Christopher’s child. He reacted with fear, not joy. His military service was ending, and he planned to return to Alaska with his wife.

Christopher began making preparations. He asked to borrow a propane tank from Isabelle Meglay, who owned a ranch connected to an animal welfare nonprofit. He searched online for information on disposing of a body. He invited Aaron on a “surprise” trip to Joshua Tree National Park.

On June 28, 2014, Aaron told Jonathan she was going to explore bike trails for an upcoming visit from her mother. She kissed him goodbye and left.

In the desert, Christopher revealed the truth. There would be no proposal. No future. What followed is known only in fragments. He fired shots into the air, then strangled Aaron using a rope attached to metal bars. After confirming she was dead, he threw her body into a remote mine shaft, where she fell more than 70 meters.

When Aaron failed to return, Jonathan called repeatedly and reported her missing. Days later, her car was found abandoned north of the park.

Investigators uncovered the affair and eliminated Jonathan as a suspect. Tire tracks near the vehicle matched Christopher’s truck. He was questioned, lied repeatedly, and was released due to lack of a body.

Search efforts spanned thousands of kilometers and multiple agencies. Weeks later, a spelunker detected the smell of gasoline from a mine. A camera lowered into the shaft revealed a body.

Aaron’s remains were recovered two months after her disappearance. She had died of asphyxiation. She was pregnant.

Christopher Brandon Lee was arrested in Alaska. Evidence mounted: matching shell casings, internet searches, and a homemade device similar to the one used to kill Aaron. In October 2016, he stood trial in San Bernardino County.

He admitted killing Aaron but attempted to justify it with false allegations. The jury rejected his account.

After fifteen minutes of deliberation, he was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Aaron was returned to Tennessee for burial. Her family later petitioned authorities to seal abandoned mine shafts to prevent future tragedies.

For her mother, the verdict brought exhaustion rather than relief. But the uncertainty had ended.

What happened in the desert could never be undone.

But the truth was finally known.