Bend , Ore. – A trial date has been set for Edwin Lara, accused of kidnapping, attempting to sexually assault and murdering 23 year-old Kaylee Sawyer of Bend.
Lara stands accused of four counts of aggravated murder.
Sawyer’s body was fond July 28 off state Highway 126 near the Dry Canyon area between Redmond and Sisters.
The trial is scheduled to begin Oct.10, 2017, according to online court records.
Lara, a former COCC security officer, became a suspect in the murder of the 23-year-old Sawyer after his wife, Isabel Ponce-Lara, came home from work Oct. 24 and questioned Lara’s behavior, according to police reports. Ponce-Lara was a newly hired police officer for the Bend Police Department. The next morning, Lara told his wife he accidentally hit Sawyer with his security company vehicle. At that point Sawyer was known to be missing, He told his wife, Ponce-Lara, he disposed of the body, but did not say where.
Ponce-Lara is in the process of divorcing Lara, to whom she’s been married since 2008.
Edwin Lara’s next court hearing is Nov.3.
