Murder, crime spree suspect set to head back to Oregon

Bend, Ore. — The man accused of killing a Bend woman and then continuing a crime spree into Siskiyou County has waived extradition and could be back in Oregon soon.

The news comes as new details of the crime have been released. According to Bend NBC affiliate KTVZ, the Deschutes County District Attorney said Redmond resident Edwin Lara tried to sexually assault 23-Year old Kaylee Sawyer last month then killed her to hide the crime.

Police say after he killed Bend woman Kaylee Sawyer, Central Oregon Community College Safety Officer Edwin Lara took to Salem, where he kidnapped 19-year Aundrea Maes on July 25th.

A day later Lara allegedly shot an elderly man in the stomach at a Yreka hotel. He’s recovering from the wound.

Then, just minutes later another call from a gas station just down the road. A man was inside the food mart, and when he came out, his car with three of his family members inside was gone. Officers determined the two crimes were connected.

Thankfully those kidnapped family members were dropped off at a rest area near Weed unharmed.

Lara took Maes past Redding before eventually giving himself up to California Highway Patrol officers after a chase with speeds topping 100 miles per hour.

Police say that Lara told his wife, a new Bend Police officer, that he hit Kaylee Sawyer with his car and hid the body. The DA says Sawyer was killed to conceal Lara’s attempted sexual assault.

The D.A. has not said whether he will seek the death penalty.

© 2024 KOBI-TV NBC5. All rights reserved unless otherwise stated.

Skip to content