GUILTY OR - Kaylee Sawyer, 23, Bend, 24 July 2016

[Elmira29]

I am following but there's been so little information. I don't believe this guy would have gone so bats**t crazy if he had accidentally hit and killed someone. I feel certain there's more to this. I'm also very curious to see more details concerning the fellow he shot at the motel in CA. I don't think I missed anything but has anyone seen more about that incident?

I haven't seen anything more about this and I also haven't seen anytign about the woman he allegedly kidnapped in Salem. I say allegedly because it doesn't seem like they've charged him with anything.

I follow a lot of cases and have never seen information on a case go dark so quickly and so completely. I know there's a gag order on the attorneys involved but there is *nothing* out there, especially considering there are multiple victims, multiple locations, etc. Makes me wonder if there is some kind of bombshell piece of information.

 

[freefallzzzz]

@KelleeAzar: Deschutes Co. DA confirms Edwin Lara kidnapped, attempted to sexually assault & killed 23yo Kaylee Sawyer from Bend. http://twitter.com/KelleeAzar/status/765319143017082881/photo/1

 

[freefallzzzz]

@KATUNews: NEW: DA says Edwin Lara abducted, tried to sexually assault Kaylee Sawyer before killing her http://katu.com/news/local/bend-man-indicted-in-kaylee-sawyers-death http://twitter.com/KATUNews/status/765320419276648448/photo/1

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

(I guess this is no surprise.....)

From freefallzzzz's link:

"Lara was indicted on aggravated murder charges late last week. The District Attorney's Office told KATU News Monday they believe Lara abducted and tried to sexually assault Sawyer before killing her, and that her death was in no way an accident. Her cause of death has been ruled blunt force trauma."

 

[Steleheart]

"Lara, who was a public safety officer at Central Oregon Community College in Bend, allegedly kidnapped the 23-year-old woman, tried to sexually assault her, killed her and then dumped her body on or around July 24."
http://koin.com/2016/08/15/documents-reveal-edwin-laras-oregon-crime-spree/

 

[m_brown]

http://www.actionnewsnow.com/news/a...um=social&utm_source=facebook_Action_News_Now


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[cvaldez1975]

elder abuse?

http://www.actionnewsnow.com/news/a...um=social&utm_source=facebook_Action_News_Now


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[MzOpinion8d]

elder abuse?

Maybe because he shot an elderly man while he was on the run?

 

[Elmira29]

Lara has been transferred to Oregon, he will be arraigned Thursday afternoon:

http://koin.com/2016/08/24/edwin-lara-accused-killer-of-kaylee-sawyer-brought-back-to-oregon/

 

[Jsphie15]

http://www.bendbulletin.com/home/4607150-151/lara-back-in-bend-in-court-today?referrer=fpblob

Just posting since I am local and saw the current article on our news.

 

[Fairy1]

http://www.bendbulletin.com/localst...s-not-guilty-in-bend-court?referrer=carousel5

Nearly a month after the body of 23-year-old Kaylee Sawyer was found off a state highway east of Sisters, her accused murderer appeared in a Bend courtroom Thursday to enter a plea of not guilty.

Edwin Lara, 31, was arraigned on four counts of aggravated murder in Deschutes County Circuit Court. Lara, appearing by video before Deschutes Circuit Presiding Judge Alta Brady, was silent and stared straight ahead. The only time he spoke was when Brady asked whether he could see the courtroom on his monitor at the jail.

 

[Elmira29]

http://katu.com/news/local/man-plea...e-sawyers-death-held-behind-bars-without-bail

"Thursday, he pleaded not guilty to four charges of aggravated murder and was held behind bars without bail. He was also ordered not to contact Sawyer's family."

Is this a normal order, to not contact the victim's family?

 

[Iwatchingeye]

"Lara was quiet during a very quick Oregon arraignment. His attorney entered the not guilty plea on his behalf. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 28."
http://koin.com/2016/08/25/edwin-lara-to-be-arraigned-for-kaylee-sawyer-murder/

should have had court today.

 

[OkieGranny]

http://www.ktvz.com/news/deschutes-da-fights-judges-gag-order-in-sawyer-murder-case/131575885

Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel is challenging a judge’s “gag order” prohibiting discussion about the Edwin Lara murder case, claiming it violates freedom of speech and infringes on his ability to consult with the family of victim Kaylee Sawyer about possible plea negotiations.

 

[Elmira29]

http://www.ktvz.com/news/lara-appears-in-court-judge-retains-gag-order-in-place/141398877

"It prohibits lawyers from having news conferences, it prohibits lawyers from making statements to the media, it prohibits district attorney Hummel from doing what he has demonstrated from doing as district attorney which is to make public statements to the media about evidence in cases," Adler said.

The initial gag order in the case was imposed by Presiding Circuit Judge Alta Brady shortly after Lara's arrest, on July 26. Adler amended it on Aug. 11, loosening some restrictions, but days later issued a more restrictive order after Hummel spoke with reporters about the case.

The judge said the order does not prevent speaking with the victim's family, and is only regarding comments to the media, which Adler said judges have also been critical of.

However, Alder agreed to revert to the less-limited Aug. 11 order. He said Hummel can speak publicly on the death penalty issue, but urged caution and warned against statements that could prejudice the case.

Trial is set to start October 10, 2017.

 

[iluvmua]

Thanks for the update. RIP beautiful Kaylee.

 

[Elmira29]

http://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/5148111-151/lara-murder-case-shrouded-in-secrecy

Since Aug. 25, every motion filed in the case has been sealed by court order. Currently, 19 documents in the case are sealed. During proceedings, attorneys on both sides, and Deschutes County Circuit Judge A. Michael Adler, reference the sealed motions without speaking specifically about their arguments, and in the process keep nearly all details of the case confidential.

The 31-year-old Lara, a former Central Oregon Community College security officer, is charged with four counts of aggravated murder for allegedly kidnapping, attempting to sexually assault and murdering Kaylee Sawyer, 23, on July 24 in Bend.

Soon, the case might creep farther into the shadows. On Feb. 22, Lara’s defense attorneys filed a motion to move the case to another county. Further, on March 7, a court order sealed the defense’s motion to object to media access in the courtroom.

This type of secrecy in a criminal proceeding is rare.

The piece goes on to say that the October trial date is "set in stone", but who really knows with everything that's going on behind the scenes.

I can think of a few other cases on Websleuths that are shrouded in this much secrecy, but this certainly seems unusual for Oregon.

 

[cvaldez1975]

possibly because the suspect's wife is a police officer?

 

[0101ABA]

Edwin Lara trial to remain in Deschutes County

The trial of a former community college safety officer accused of killing a 23-year-old woman will remain in Bend.

Deschutes County Judge A. Michael Adler issued the ruling Thursday in response to a change-of-venue request from the defense team representing Edwin Lara.

 

[Elmira29]

Trial postponed 12-18 months:

http://www.bendbulletin.com/localst...504-151/court-hearings-postponed-in-lara-case

One requirement is having a “mitigation specialist” prepare an extensive background report on Lara’s history, including talking to family members three generations back, reviewing school and medical records and his socioeconomic history.

Completing the background investigation is complicated by the fact that Lara lived in Honduras until he was 11. During his immigration to the United States, it is also believed he was in Mexico for some time, defense attorney Benjamin Kim said in court Tuesday. While Lara is a legal permanent resident in the United States, he is also a citizen of Honduras.

Meanwhile, the team also has plenty of work stateside. Tuesday’s hearing was supposed to be the first of four full days of hearings about evidence. But on Tuesday those were rescheduled for five full days starting July 10.

The evidence to be presented and debated during that week is extensive. In a motion to continue the hearings submitted April 5, Kim outlined the evidence the state must hand over to the defense — that his team received from the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office between Feb. 15 and April 4: 2,134 pages of documents; seven audio files; 11 gigabytes of digital data, including hand-written notes, videos, photos and 716 photos sent from the crime lab. The motion also stated that more evidence is expected to be sent over in the next few weeks.