Suspect in Oregon killing extradited from California - News - MailTribune.com - Medford, OR

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1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation  |  Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate NEWS NOW   Lawnridge Street fire levels house, sends man to hospital with burns       ...       Crews encircle Cleveland Ridge fire       ...       Truck crashes, spills gravel into road in east Medford       ...       Lawnridge Street fire levels house, sends man to hospital with burns       ...       Crews encircle Cleveland Ridge fire       ...       Truck crashes, spills gravel into road in east Medford       ...           BEND HOMICIDE Suspect in Oregon killing extradited from California Lara was jailed after NorCal shooting, carjacking Comment By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Aug. 24, 2016 at 6:15 PM By The Associated Press Posted Aug. 24, 2016 at 6:15 PM »  Social News BEND — A community college safety officer charged with the murder of a 23-year-old woman was extradited Wednesday to Oregon from California, where he had been held for a month in connection with other violent crimes. Edwin Lara, 31, of Redmond was booked into Deschutes County Jail and was being held without bail, according to online jail records. Lara faces four counts of aggravated murder in the July death of Kaylee Sawyer. Lara, a security officer at Central Oregon Community College, kidnapped and tried to sexually assault Sawyer before killing her to cover up his attack, authorities said. Police believe Lara encountered Sawyer on July 24 while working his night shift as she took a late-night walk near campus. Lara's wife, a new hire at the Bend Police Department, noticed her husband was acting out of the ordinary the next morning and confronted him. He broke down and told her he had struck Sawyer with his patrol car, panicked and buried the body, according to a police report. Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel has said he doesn't believe Lara's story and declined to provide further details about the case. Authorities say Lara fled after the killing and went on a two-state crime rampage that included a kidnapping, attempted murder and carjacking. All parties in the case are under a gag order. Hummel declined to comment Wednesday through a spokeswoman, citing the order. Lara's lead attorney, Benjamin Kim, did not immediately return a call Wednesday. He previously declined to comment. Police say Lara traveled 130 miles to Salem after killing Sawyer and took a 19-year-old woman hostage as she left her job at a clothing store. He fled with the woman to Yreka, California, where he shot and critically wounded a man at a motel, police say. The carjacking occurred at a gas station with a woman and her two sons inside the vehicle. They were later released along Interstate 5 before the car was pulled over by the California Highway Patrol. Lara was arrested July 26 and held in Siskiyou County, California. By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Aug. 24, 2016 at 6:15 PM » Comment or view comments   Reader Reaction »  STAY INFORMED   Email NewsLetter   Sign Up Today   Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed   Email newsletter   Sign Up Today   Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.    Privacy Policy  |  Terms of Service  |  Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501