BEND, Ore. – Nearly four years after the kidnapping, sexual assault and killing of Kaylee Sawyer, her family and Central Oregon Community College have reached a $2 million settlement.
Campus public safety officer Edwin Lara murdered Sawyer, who was 23, in 2016.
Attorneys for Sawyer’s family uncovered evidence of serious concerns about Lara that they believe COCC should have acted upon.
“Members of COCC’s Campus Public Safety department knew of Lara’s fascination with dead bodies, that he showed to numerous people at work nude photographs and pornographic videos he filmed of himself and a woman he was having an affair with,” said Tim Williams, attorney for the Sawyer family.
Williams also noted that Lara’s mannerisms were so alarming one female cadet refused to ride in the same car with him.
The agreed upon settlement between the family and COCC is subject to probate court approval.