![]() ![]() and 7 p.m.BEND, OR - The man convicted of killing Kaylee Sawyer received a second life sentence, this week. Tune in to Central Oregon Daily at 3 p.m., 6 p.m. Lara is expected to be in court for a two-day hearing on January 22 and 23. Lara, a 32-year-old former COCC campus safety officer, is accused of abducting 23-year-old Sawyer as she was walking home, killing her on the college campus and dumping her body in a canyon west of Redmond.ĭeschutes County District Attorney John Hummel announced earlier that he would seek the death penalty in the case. Lara is due to go on trial in the fall of 2018 on four counts of aggravated murder in the July 2016 killing of COCC student Sawyer. The deal is not finalized and attorneys in the Lara case are under a court order not to speak publicly about the case. The information from Van Cleave was confirmed by a second source that was at the settlement hearing and spoke with Central Oregon Daily reporters today. This is according to a Facebook posts from Kaylee’s mother, Juli Walden Van Cleave, posted today on her public Facebook page. Under the proposed deal Lara would plead guilty to aggravated murder and would receive life without the possibility of parole, but possibility to seek the death penalty would be dropped. Lara, a 32-year-old former COCC campus safety officer, is accused of abducting 23-year-old Sawyer as she was walking home, killing her on the college campus and dumping her body in a canyon west of Redmond in July 2016.Ī potential plea deal for Edwin Lara, the accused killer of Bend resident Kaylee Sawyer, is in the works but far from finalized. Sawyer’s grandfather Jim Walden walked out during Lara’s statement and returned with the rest of Sawyer’s family. I ask you to please heal the hearts of this family, of everyone who is in this place today, and that Kaylee Sawyer rest in peace Amen.” God Almighty, who art in Heaven, I’ll ask you please, heal the hearts of this community. ![]() Someday, I would like to speak to whoever will listen. I don’t have much to say to you at this moment. “Today, I’ve seen your pain,” said Lara, who turned around to address those gathered in the courtroom, rather than the judge. Much of Sawyer’s family, including her friends, coworkers, mother and paternal grandparents all chose to leave the courtroom and returned after Lara’s statement. Sawyer’s coworkers both delivered tearful testimony about how her murder has affect their lives and work and Sawyer’s father, the only person who addressed the court from the witness stand, held back tears before echoing that his daughter’s voice was not silenced by her murder.Īfter a brief recess Lara was able to address the court. Sawyer’s father, paternal grandparents and co-workers from Awbrey Dental Group read their impact statements this afternoon. The court took a break after testimony from Sawyer’s mother, maternal grandparents and friend. Sawyer’s maternal grandparents, Jim and Sharon Walden, and family friend Doug Gray all expressed frustration at Lara’s plea deal, which allowed him to avoid the death penalty that was being sought by District Attorney John Hummel, by pleading guilty. “I don’t even want to have children anymore because I know that monsters exist,” said Sawyer’s friend. She also said she still struggles to sleep or to be alone at night. One of Sawyer’s friends who testified said she regularly reaches for her phone to text or call Sawyer before she remembers that she can’t. “I’ll always be the mother of a murder victim, but your mother will always be the mother of a murderer and a rapist,” said VanCleave. Sawyer’s mother Juli Walden VanCleave said to Lara during her statement, “You have failed to silence her.” Talking about how Sawyer’s death united the community and there is now a foundation and a scholarship in her honor. ![]() With that Judge Adler allowed impact statements from Sawyer’s friends and family. ![]()
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