Bend, Ore. – A vigil to honor 23 year old Kaylee Sawyer is planned for tonight, Tuesday July 26, at 8 p.m. at Discovery Park in Bend.
Her disappearance is now a homicide investigation, and a person of interest has been arrested in connection with her death and disappearance, officials confirmed on Tuesday morning.
Police say 31-year-old Edwin Lara, a part-time Central Oregon Community College Campus Public Safety Officer, was arrested in Northern California on Tuesday morning in connection with Sawyer’s disappearance. They had previously said he may be armed and dangerous.
According to Bend Police, Lara is married to Isabel Ponce-Lara, who was recently hired as a police officer for the Bend Police Department. Ponce-Lara reported to Redmond Police that her husband may have been involved in the Saywer case.
Ponce-Lara has been cooperative in the investigation.
Sawyer vanished in the early morning hours of Sunday in the area of Central Oregon Community College. Her family reported she was last seen just before 1 a.m. Sunday.
Police have not said what evidence they have to connect Lara to Sawyer’s disappearance.
Sawyer had her cellphone with her, but it may have been turned off, and her car was left at home. She was last seen wearing a black dress, brown boots and carrying a green purse.
