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Kaylee Sawyer: Missing Oregon Woman’s Case Being Treated As Homicide, Suspect In Custody [Video]

By Patricia Ramirez
Published on: 06:52 PST, Jul 26, 2016

Kaylee Sawyer, 23-years-old, went missing in Bend, Oregon, early Sunday morning. She disappeared somewhere around Central Oregon Community College, and her family told law enforcement, investigators, and the public that she’d last been seen safe and sound at around 1 a.m. According to her family and investigators, Kaylee Sawyer had been wearing a black dress and brown boots at the time of her disappearance. She left her car behind but was believed to have had her cell phone, which was believed to be either turned off or unresponsive due to a dead battery.

The missing Oregon woman’s family and law enforcement implored the public for help, asking for any information that might lead to her safe return. They took to social media platforms, including Facebook, to spread the news that Kaylee Sawyer had gone missing and begged for information and search volunteers. An emergency alert from COCC notified students of the disappearance, reports KTVZ.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnV61b4MSIQ

Unfortunately for friends and family of the missing Kaylee Sawyer, law enforcement investigating the disappearance of the Oregon woman quickly announced that their investigation had led them to believe that they were dealing with a homicide, not a simple missing person case. Police were investigating several addresses in and around Redmond at the time, prompting them to change the direction of their investigation, reports KOIN.

When law enforcement announced that they believed that the case of Kaylee Sawyer to be a homicide, they also announced a person of interest in the case. They have not publicly spoken of what they discovered that made them believe that missing Oregon woman Kaylee Sawyer is no longer alive.

According to law enforcement, they were looking for 31-year-old Edwin Lara in connection with the disappearance and possible homicide of Kaylee Sawyer. Lara is currently employed as a security guard at COCC, which is where Kaylee was last seen alive. When police made the announcement that Lara was a person of interest in the case, they advised the public that he was to be treated as armed and dangerous. Law enforcement investigating the disappearance of missing Oregon woman Kaylee Sawyer asked the public to call 911 if they spotted Edwin Lara.

Police announced on Tuesday that they had found and arrested 31-year-old Lara in connection with the disappearance and potential homicide of the missing Kaylee Sawyer. The Bend Bulletin reports that Lara was taken into custody on I-5 near Redding, California, at around 7 a.m. on Tuesday. The suspect in the disappearance of Kaylee Sawyer was driving south when he caught the attention of local patrol officers and was arrested without incident. Some reports indicate that the suspect was driving a stolen vehicle at the time of his apprehension.

Despite the break in the case of missing Oregon woman Kaylee Sawyer, the 23-year-old has still not been found. Law enforcement is still relying on the help of volunteer searchers to help bring her home. A coordinated search began in Bend, Oregon, at about 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Volunteers were asked to come to 21772 Repine Drive to help officials locate Kaylee and help bring some closure to her family.

Anyone who wishes to volunteer in the search effort to help bring Kaylee home is welcome to come to the search location at any time during the day to lend their assistance. Volunteers must have valid ID and be willing, able, and prepared to search in the heat. Volunteer searchers should be dressed for the terrain and be prepared to search for an hour or more at a time.

The suspect arrested in connection to the disappearance and likely homicide of Kaylee Sawyer has no known prior criminal history.

The investigation into the disappearance of Kaylee Sawyer is being assisted by several different law enforcement agencies and departments, and the efforts are being overseen and coordinated by the Redmond Police Department. Anyone with any information regarding missing Oregon woman Kaylee Sawyer is asked to contact the Redmond PD at 541-504-3400.

[Image via Redmond Police Department]

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