Cops Arrest Teen Girl—Refuse to Believe She’s Been Kidnapped |The Aundreah Maes & Kaylee Sawyer Case

Summary

In a harrowing tale of survival, 19-year-old Aundreah Maes is kidnapped by Edwin Lara, an aspiring cop turned murderer, who poses as a police officer. Amidst a crime spree of carjackings and shootings, Aundreah's courage and wit become her weapons as she confronts her captor. Meanwhile, the search for Kaylee Sawyer, another victim of Edwin's, unfolds, leading to a tragic discovery. The story culminates in a high-speed chase, a dramatic arrest, and the unveiling of Kaylee's fate, all while Aundreah fights to clear her name and heal from her traumatic ordeal.

Takeaways

• 🔍 A young woman, Aundreah Maes, is kidnapped by a man impersonating a police officer, leading to a tense hostage situation.
• 👮‍♂️ The kidnapper, Edwin Lara, is revealed to be an aspiring cop who turns to a life of crime, including murder and carjacking.
• 🚔 The police discover Edwin's deception and criminal activities after a series of violent incidents and a manhunt ensues.
• 😢 Aundreah shows remarkable courage and resilience, using her fear to fuel her defiance against her captor.
• 🚨 Edwin's crime spree includes a high-speed chase and multiple carjackings, escalating the danger for both Aundreah and the public.
• 🛑 Aundreah's quick thinking and lies about having an STD momentarily save her from being sexually assaulted by Edwin.
• 📞 Miscommunication between different police departments initially leads to Aundreah's wrongful arrest and labeling as an accomplice.
• 🔍 The case takes a tragic turn with the discovery of Kaylee Sawyer's body, confirming Edwin's murderous actions.
• 🏢 Kaylee's family sues the college for negligence, leading to the establishment of Kaylee's Law, which restricts the use of police-grade equipment by campus security.
• 💪 Aundreah overcomes her trauma and stands as a survivor, not a victim, in the face of her ordeal and public misconceptions.

Q & A

What was the initial appearance of the interaction between the man and the girl in the black dress?

The interaction appeared to be a normal one, resembling a typical couple booking a room at a motel.

How did the girl's body language indicate that something was amiss in the motel scene?

The girl kept her distance from the man, crossed her arms, looked around anxiously, and wiped away a tear behind his back, suggesting distress.

What was the true identity of the man who claimed to be a cop in the motel?

The man was not a real cop but an imposter who had kidnapped the girl.

What was the sequence of events that led to Edwin Lara becoming a suspect in Kaylee Sawyer's disappearance?

Edwin's wife, Isabel Ponce, revealed to the police that he had hidden Kaylee's belongings and stolen her service weapon and car, prompting a manhunt for Edwin.

How did Aundreah Maes end up as Edwin's hostage, and what was her initial reaction?

Aundreah was kidnapped by Edwin when he reached into her car through the open window, pointed a gun at her, and forced her into the passenger seat. She was terrified and initially refused to answer his questions.

What was the turning point for Aundreah that gave her a surge of confidence despite her fear?

The realization that she might not survive the ordeal and would never see her family again gave Aundreah an unexpected surge of confidence to stand up to Edwin.

How did Aundreah's phone call and the lie about having an STD influence Edwin's actions at the motel?

When Aundreah's phone rang and she lied about needing to take medicine for an STD, it scared Edwin enough to make him jump out of bed and pace, preventing him from assaulting her.

What was the outcome of the high-speed chase between Edwin and the police?

After a 15-minute chase, Edwin stopped the car, surrendered by putting his hands in the air, and was arrested.

Why was Aundreah initially considered an accomplice by the police?

Due to miscommunication between the Oregon and California authorities, Aundreah was mistakenly labeled as an accomplice and was publicly declared a co-conspirator.

What was the significance of Kaylee's family's lawsuit against the college, and what law resulted from it?

The lawsuit led to the creation of Kaylee's Law, which prohibits the use of police-grade gear and vehicles by untrained security personnel on campuses, ensuring no young person has to go through what Kaylee did.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 Unraveling a Disturbing Secret

The video script begins with a focus on a girl in a black dress who appears to be in a troubling situation with a man claiming to be a police officer. The man's behavior suggests he is not there to protect her, and the scene quickly escalates to a series of violent events, including a shooting and a car theft. The narrative introduces Aundreah Maes, a 19-year-old who becomes the key to stopping the man on a crime spree. The script also delves into the disappearance of Kaylee Sawyer, whose mother receives concerning messages, prompting a police investigation. The investigation leads to the discovery of Kaylee's potential connection to the man, Edwin Lara, who is revealed to be an aspiring police officer turned murderer. The video sets the stage for a dramatic and suspenseful account of crime, kidnapping, and the search for justice.

05:01

🚨 A Hostage's Desperate Plea

This segment of the script details the harrowing experience of Aundreah Maes, who is kidnapped by Edwin Lara. The narrative describes the chilling moment when Edwin forces Aundreah into a motel, where the CCTV captures their interaction. Inside the motel room, Edwin's control over Aundreah intensifies as he orders her to strip and take a shower in front of him. Aundreah's defiance and fear are palpable as she considers her dire situation. The segment also includes a sponsorship message for Raycon earbuds, highlighting their features and offering a discount to viewers. The script then shifts back to the police's ongoing search for Kaylee Sawyer, with her family's emotional turmoil and the community's concern for her safety. The video continues to build suspense around the fate of both Aundreah and Kaylee.

10:06

🛑 A Deadly Encounter at a Motel

The video script continues with a dramatic turn of events at a motel where Edwin Lara, now on the run, encounters Aundreah Maes. The narrative describes how Edwin, convinced that the police are closing in, becomes increasingly erratic. Aundreah's quick thinking potentially saves her life when she claims to have an STD, deterring Edwin from assaulting her. The segment also includes a tragic incident where Edwin shoots a man named Jack Levy during an attempted carjacking. The police, initially unaware of Aundreah's kidnapping, begin to piece together the connection between Edwin's crime spree and Kaylee Sawyer's disappearance. The video script paints a picture of escalating danger and the police's race against time to apprehend Edwin and save Aundreah.

15:09

🚔 A High-Speed Chase and Miscommunication

This part of the script recounts the police's pursuit of Edwin Lara as he continues his crime spree, now with Aundreah Maes as his hostage. The narrative describes a high-speed chase and Edwin's eventual surrender. However, due to miscommunication between authorities in Oregon and California, Aundreah is mistakenly arrested. The script also reveals that Edwin, despite his arrest, is eager to share the location of Kaylee Sawyer, who has been found too late and is now deceased. The video script highlights the tragic outcome for Kaylee and the confusion that leads to Aundreah's wrongful arrest, adding layers of complexity to the case.

20:11

🏢 The Aftermath and Legal Struggles

The script delves into the aftermath of the crimes, with Edwin Lara and Aundreah Maes being taken into custody. It discusses the charges against them and the ongoing investigation into their relationship. The narrative also touches on the police's denial of Edwin's rights, leading to the dismissal of his confession. The script describes the efforts of the DA and detectives to rebuild the case and the eventual plea deal offered to Edwin. Aundreah's release from jail and the dropping of charges against her are also mentioned. The segment highlights the legal struggles and the impact of the case on all parties involved, including the police's handling of the situation and the emotional toll on the victims and their families.

25:11

🏡 Healing and Justice for Kaylee

The final segment of the script focuses on the long-term effects of the crimes and the journey towards healing and justice. It describes Aundreah's struggle with depression and PTSD, Kaylee's family's lawsuit against the college, and the creation of Kaylee's Law. The narrative also includes the emotional statements from Aundreah and Kaylee's family in court, and Aundreah's eventual recovery and empowerment. The video script concludes with a message of resilience and the power of survivorship, as Aundreah faces Edwin one last time and asserts her identity as a survivor and a warrior.

Keywords

💡Kidnapping

Kidnapping refers to the crime of abducting a person against their will, typically to hold them captive, often for ransom or other nefarious purposes. In the video, Aundreah Maes is kidnapped by Edwin Lara, an aspiring police officer turned murderer. This act of kidnapping is central to the narrative, as it sets the stage for the dramatic events that unfold, including Aundreah's struggle for survival and her eventual role in bringing her captor to justice.

💡Hostage

A hostage is a person who is held captive, usually by an individual or a group, in order to compel another party to meet specific demands. In the context of the video, Aundreah becomes a hostage when Edwin kidnaps her. Her status as a hostage is significant as it highlights her vulnerability and the psychological manipulation she endures, as well as her eventual transformation into a key player in the manhunt for Edwin.

💡Carjacking

Carjacking is the act of stealing a car by force or threat, often with the victim present in the vehicle. The video describes Edwin's spree of carjacking as he attempts to evade capture, which escalates the danger and chaos of the situation. This term is pivotal in illustrating the escalating criminal behavior of Edwin and the growing threat he poses to public safety.

💡Security Footage

Security footage refers to video recordings captured by surveillance systems for monitoring purposes. In the video, security footage from a motel plays a crucial role in revealing the disturbing secret of Aundreah's kidnapping. This footage serves as a plot device, providing visual evidence of the crime and contributing to the suspense and realism of the narrative.

💡Manhunt

A manhunt is a large-scale search operation conducted by law enforcement to locate and apprehend a person, typically a dangerous criminal. The term is used in the video to describe the efforts to capture Edwin Lara, who is on the run after committing multiple crimes. The manhunt is a central theme, illustrating the coordinated response of law enforcement and the urgency of the situation.

💡Miscommunication

Miscommunication occurs when the intended meaning of a message is not understood or is interpreted incorrectly by the receiver. In the video, miscommunication between authorities leads to Aundreah's wrongful arrest, highlighting the complexities and potential pitfalls in law enforcement operations. This keyword is significant as it underscores the human and systemic errors that can have serious consequences in criminal investigations.

💡Survivor

A survivor is a person who has endured or escaped from a dangerous or life-threatening situation. Aundreah Maes is referred to as a survivor in the video, reflecting her resilience and strength in the face of extreme adversity. This term is central to the video's message, celebrating her courage and the ability to overcome trauma.

💡Trauma

Trauma refers to a deeply distressing or disturbing experience that has a lasting impact on a person's mental health. In the video, Aundreah suffers from trauma as a result of her kidnapping and the violence she witnesses. The concept of trauma is important as it humanizes the characters, adds depth to the narrative, and raises awareness about the psychological effects of violent crime.

💡Confession

A confession is a formal admission of guilt in a crime. In the video, Edwin's confession to the murder of Kaylee Sawyer is a key plot point. However, due to police misconduct, the confession is dismissed, complicating the pursuit of justice. This keyword is significant as it illustrates the legal implications of law enforcement errors and the impact on victims' families.

💡Plea Deal

A plea deal is an agreement in a criminal case where the defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for a more lenient sentence. In the video, Edwin is offered a plea deal in exchange for pleading guilty and accepting a life sentence without parole. This term is important as it reflects the legal strategies and ethical considerations in criminal proceedings, as well as the quest for justice and closure for the victim's family.

💡PTSD

PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event. Aundreah's struggle with PTSD after her ordeal is mentioned in the video, illustrating the long-term effects of trauma on survivors. This keyword is significant as it raises awareness about the psychological aftermath of violent incidents and the need for support and treatment.

Highlights

A man posing as a police officer kidnaps a girl in a motel, exhibiting controlling and aggressive behavior.

Aundreah Maes, a 19-year-old, becomes the unexpected hero in a real-life crime thriller.

The community is shocked by the disappearance of 23-year-old Kaylee Sawyer.

Police officer Isabel Ponce reveals her husband's involvement in Kaylee's disappearance.

Edwin Lara, a police trainee, goes on a violent rampage, leaving a trail of terror.

Aundreah's defiance and courage in the face of her kidnapper's threats.

Edwin's attempt to force Aundreah to undress and shower in front of him is met with her fierce resistance.

Aundreah's quick thinking saves her from a potentially fatal assault by claiming a false STD.

A desperate carjacking at a gas station escalates the manhunt for Edwin.

The police's race against time to locate Kaylee before it's too late.

Aundreah's strategic move to throw the hostages' phones out the window to aid in tracking.

Edwin's erratic behavior during the high-speed chase with the police.

Aundreah's arrest due to miscommunication between authorities, despite her innocence.

Edwin's confession to the murder of Kaylee Sawyer is dismissed due to police misconduct.

Kaylee's family sues the college, leading to the establishment of Kaylee's Law.

Aundreah's emotional journey from victim to survivor, with the support of Kaylee's family.

The courtroom confrontation where Aundreah faces Edwin, asserting her strength and resilience.

Transcripts

- Pay attention to the girl in the black dress.

To someone walking by,

this might look like a normal interaction.

A typical couple booking a room at a motel.

But notice how she keeps her distance from the man,

crossing her arms and looking around anxiously.

Seconds later, he orders her to stand closer to him,

and she quickly wipes away a tear, behind his back.

This security footage hides a disturbing secret.

This man claims to be a cop,

but he's not here to protect her.

- When officers arrived on scene,

they found a man had been shot in the stomach.

- Minutes later, another call

from a gas station just down the road.

- The young man stole a car

and went on a spree straight out of "Grand Theft Auto."

- An aspiring cop-turned murderer

is on the loose, killing and carjacking anyone in his way.

The only person able to stop him

is the one he expects the least:

His own hostage, 19-year-old Aundreah Maes.

- My phone was just pinging and pinging and pinging,

and the very first message that I looked at

was from Cam saying, "Have you seen Kaylee?

Have you heard from Kaylee?"

- The day before Aundreah's kidnapping,

July 24th, 2016, Juli Van Cleeve,

mother of 23-year-old Kaylee Sawyer,

received dozens of messages

concerning her daughter's recent disappearance.

- And I called her first,

and her phone went to voicemail.

The part that was hard, sometimes you would call,

and it would go straight to voicemail,

but sometimes you would call, and it would ring,

but nobody ever answered.

- This indicated some activity at the other end.

Either Kaylee intentionally avoided her mother

and boyfriend, or she was truly missing,

and somebody else was using her phone.

Worried, they both contacted the police.

- Later, the next day,

rookie police officer Isabel Ponce

burst into her local police station,

claiming she had learned crucial information

about Kaylee's disappearance

following a confrontation with her husband,

34-year-old police in training Edwin Lara.

- Isabel spoke to the detective for hours,

revealing that her husband

had hidden some of Kaylee's belongings

inside their shed,

and that he stole her service weapon and car.

They launched a manhunt for Edwin,

but he was already long gone.

In a straight line from Redmond, Oregon,

the man had already reached Salem by the evening.

There, oblivious to the fact that a potential killer

was on the run in her city,

19-year-old Aundreah Maes was hanging out in her car

after a long day at work.

- I was supposed to leave, like,

in the middle of the afternoon,

but I decided to stay and cover someone's shift.

It was just a long day.

I was on my Snapchat.

- With the temperature reaching almost 90º outside,

Aundreah opened her driver's side window.

Instantly, a figure wielding a gun

reached into the opening.

- That's when he unlocked the door

and sat in the car really fast

and he had a gun, just pointing it at me.

That's where he, like, handcuffed me

and had me hop to the passenger side.

And then the whole time, he was just talking to me,

trying to, like, find out who I was, my life, like siblings.

And I just kept telling him, like,

"I don't wanna answer your questions."

And that's when he got really upset,

and he put the gun on my thigh,

and he had told me, he's like,

"Do you think this is a game?

Do you think this is a joke?

Because I will shoot you.

I'm not joking."

- Convinced she wouldn't see the light of day,

Aundreah was terrified,

but this fear gave her an unexpected

surge of confidence.

- I never in a million years would've thought, like,

what was happening was actually happening.

I really thought, like, I wasn't gonna go home ever.

I wasn't gonna see my family.

They're probably gonna find my body

in a ditch somewhere

or find me dead in a motel or something.

So when I would feel like that in those times,

I would snap at him.

I would say things.

- Instead of crying or getting terribly upset,

you'd get mad?

- Yeah.

- After driving for hours, the kidnapper stopped

at a shoddy motel along the Interstate.

There, the establishment's CCTV

captured Edwin booking a room

and Aundreah wiping her tears

under the unassuming gaze of the clerk at the counter.

Once inside the room, Edwin ordered her to strip down

and take a shower in front of him.

- In my head, I thought, "I'd rather die

than shower in front of you."

And I told him, "I don't care

what you do to me at this point

because that would be honestly worse than dying."

- Frustrated, Edwin pushed Aundreah onto the bed

and forced her to take a sleeping pill.

- Before we continue with Aundreah's story,

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And now, back to the case of Aundreah.

- Unaware of Aundreah's kidnapping,

the police were still trying to locate Edwin's first victim,

23-year-old Kaylee Sawyer.

Without a body to speak of

or any evidence except the bloodied clothes

found in Edwin's shed, the DA in charge of the case

strongly believed that she was still alive.

- I was holding onto hope,

and every officer was holding onto hope,

that she might be clinging to life,

and if we could find her, we could race her to help

and bring her back from the point of no return.

- 23-year-old Kaylee Sawyer

is a dental assistant in Bend.

She hasn't been seen since the weekend.

Family says that Kaylee went for a walk

around Central Oregon Community College.

Shortly after Edwin Lara

was named a person of interest in her disappearance.

- Lara works as a security guard

at the community college.

- Meanwhile, Kaylee's family members in Bend

stood in anguish as the hours passed.

Years later,

when Keith Morrison from "Dateline" interviewed them,

each described how they attempted

to cling to their memories of Kaylee

as their first night without her lingered,

starting with her mother.

- She was probably 17

and she said to me, "Mom, when people describe me,

I want them to describe me as smart

and strong and funny."

For 23 years,

nothing made me smile more than my daughter.

- Jim and Sharon Walden, Kaylee's grandparents,

were looking forward to Cameron and Kaylee's wedding.

- Cameron and Kaylee loved each other.

They would probably be getting

engaged before too long.

- They were a beautiful couple together.

- Yeah.

- Kaylee's best friend, Naomi,

reminisced about how difficult it had been

for her friend to choose a career path

because she wanted to experience

everything life had to offer.

- She was gonna be a plastic surgeon.

She was gonna be a policeman.

She was gonna be a chef.

She was gonna be a photographer.

The world was hers.

She didn't pick one thing.

- As the DA and the police

were looking for Kaylee in Bend,

the situation became dire for Aundreah at the motel.

Seconds before Edwin forced himself upon her,

her phone suddenly rang, sending him off.

- I don't even know what that alarm was for,

but that alarm probably saved my life

because he saw it and was like, "What's this?

What does that mean?"

I don't know where I got the idea,

but I was like, "That's my timer.

I have to take medicine."

And he was like, "For what?"

And I was like, "Well, I have an STD."

- Did you think, "If I tell him that

he won't want to rape me?"

- Yeah.

- That was a lie, but enough to scare Edwin.

He jumped out of bed

and started pacing around the room.

Eventually, he grabbed his phone and made a call.

- Edwin seemed convinced that police choppers

were right outside the door,

even though the night was dead quiet.

Aundreah pleaded with him to let her go,

but his answer only made it worse.

- In another room, a man named Jack Levy

was preparing for a day out

photographing butterflies at the nearby national park.

At around 5:00 a.m.,

as he loaded his camera gear into his truck,

his plans took an unexpected turn when a strange man,

followed by a frightened girl in handcuffs,

came out of nowhere,

asking him to give up his car keys.

- The gun just went off,

and everything just kind of went black in my head.

And then I'm, like, thinking,

"Well, I just seen him shoot someone in front of me."

- In a panic, Edwin pulled Aundreah back

and started running, gun in hand.

They quickly reached a gas station

on the other side of the street.

There, Edwin spotted a car

with its passenger door opened.

He was just walking towards our car,

and I turned around,

and, like, 3 seconds later,

he had just thrown the girl into our car.

He slammed the door shut,

and he pointed a gun at my head, saying, “Drive or I’ll shoot.”

- At this point,

the police knew nothing of Edwin's recent crime spree.

They were convinced

something had happened to Kaylee,

yet no one declared Aundreah missing

until something major changed this situation.

Jack Levy, the man Edwin shot

right through the chest at the motel, survived.

911, what's your emergency?

At Super 8 Motel, there's a gentleman

who says you got shot in the stomach.

- Jack didn't know anything about Edwin,

but he told police about the fear-stricken young woman

who followed him around in handcuffs.

He saw them run toward a gas station across the street,

where Edwin carjacked a family

before taking them hostage.

- However, after interviewing Jack Levy

and multiple witnesses present at the gas station,

it became clear that the person

Edwin dragged along with him

wasn't Kaylee, but Aundreah.

With her last hope vanishing into thin air,

Kaylee's mother gave up.

- I told my husband,

"I'm not stupid.

I know she's not with us anymore."

- While police made their way

onto the Interstate, tension in the car escalated.

Edwin now had three more hostages:

Nima, the 17-year-old at the wheel,

his 14-year-old brother,

and their grandmother,

who didn't speak a word of English.

As Edwin waved his gun,

barking orders at her grandson,

the elderly woman started screaming at the kidnapper.

- She just really didn't understand what was going on.

I mean, who would?

- As he screamed over Nima's distressed grandmother,

Edwin grabbed all of the family's phones

and handed them over to Aundreah.

He then pointed his gun right between her eyes

and ordered her to throw them out the window.

- I was just trying to throw them

as hard as I could to the grass

to make sure that they wouldn't, like, break,

so maybe they could pinpoint

where we were going or something.

- Afterward, Nima pleaded with Edwin,

arguing that he should let them go,

now that he had their car.

And in a bizarre twist of fate, Edwin agreed.

He stopped along the road, asked everybody to step out,

took the wheel, and pointed his gun at Aundreah,

who followed Nima and his family outside.

- And go ahead of the suspect,

and then look down the road to put those spike strips-

- Edwin's time was running out.

Not long after he dropped off the other hostages,

police sirens could be heard in the distance,

so he took Aundreah's phone

and started recording himself.

- He then handed her phone to Aundreah

and, at gunpoint, ordered her to post it online.

- And so he wanted me to post that to my Facebook

and share it with everybody.

He was threatening to kill me if I didn't post it.

And I remember, I think he had me caption it

"Crazy murderer on the loose,"

or something to that effect.

- When police finally caught up with him,

Edwin sped up, grabbed Aundreah's phone again,

and called 911.

- He was going, like, 120 at that time now.

And he was just zooming in and out of cars,

honking at people, just driving reckless and crazy.

- After a 15-minute high-speed chase,

Edwin suddenly hit the brakes and stopped.

He handed her phone back to Aundreah,

put his hands in the air, and walked out of the car.

For the first time since Edwin kidnapped her,

the young woman was finally alone and gave in,

sobbing into the phone

as she tried to follow the 911 operator's instructions.

- But this couldn't further from the truth.

Even though Edwin clearly stated to the operator

that she was innocent,

miscommunication between the Oregon

and California authorities led to Aundreah's arrest.

- The police arrested both Aundreah and Edwin,

but to them, Kaylee's location

remained the most pressing matter,

so they immediately proceeded to question him.

- We were informed, actually,

as we were walking into the jail,

that, “He’s been asking for you.

Been waiting for you.”

- I'm Mac.

- I shouldn't introduce myself 'cause you guys know me.

- "I'm sure you guys already know who I am."

There's a really, really strong hint of arrogance

and ego behind that statement.

- Edwin didn't seem to mind being arrested

and immediately revealed Kaylee's location

to the detectives.

They sent officers and paramedics to the address

located along Highway 26 in Oregon,

and in a matter of minutes, they finally found Kaylee.

- Kaylee apparently clung to life

for as long as she could, but the police were too late.

Her body was recovered,

and her family informed of the tragedy.

The awful news also came with a warning from the DA.

- We asked when we can see her, identify the body,

and they would not let us see her.

Their words were, "You cannot see her

because she's unrecognizable."

- The last time I got to kiss my baby girl

on the forehead was through a black body bag.

- I just knew that if I went,

I might climb up on that table with her and not leave.

- As the Bend police in Oregon

recovered Kaylee's body,

the Redding police in California incarcerated Aundreah.

Due to miscommunications

between the two departments,

she had been labeled as an accomplice.

The police went as far as to declare her

a co-conspirator publicly,

flooding the media with false information

about the survivor.

- Lara's run from the law ended.

Authorities caught up with him and Aundreah.

- They were booked into the Tehama County Jail,

charged with attempted murder,

kidnapping, carjacking, and burglary.

- It's something out of the movies,

and it turns out he wasn't alone.

- The relationship between Edwin Lara

and Aundreah Maes is still under investigation.

- And this wasn't the last

of Redding's authorities' mistakes.

After his arrest, Edwin attempted to exercise his rights

but was ignored by police and prison staff alike.

Ashley Korslien, of NBC's "Urge to Kill" podcast,

explains it best.

- Unaware of the blunder,

detectives continued to pressure Edwin for answers.

So far, the prisoner kept claiming Kaylee's murder

was an accident.

That he hit her with his car, panicked,

and dumped her body in a hurry.

But the injuries she suffered told another story.

- "Now's your time to tell me the real story

because what you just said didn't happen that way."

And he begins to describe, to my shock

and quite frankly, terror,

listening to the things that he had done.

- Continuing from Kaylee's boyfriend's account,

in which she had a fight with him late in the night

and walked off,

Edwin, who worked as a campus security guard,

spotted her walking alone.

According to him, he approached her

and offered her a ride home.

She refused.

He then walked out of his vehicle

and ordered her to stop.

It is important to note that campus security uniforms

and vehicles were almost identical

to police at the time.

Edwin tried to fool Kaylee

by acting like an actual officer,

but she caught on and tried to flee.

- Edwin then pulled Kaylee into his car.

But the campus security vehicle

didn't just look like a police cruiser,

it had every feature of one, including a caged back seat.

Trapped and unconscious, Kaylee couldn't do anything

while Edwin drove her up to a secluded parking lot.

When she opened her eyes, it was already too late.

- He said she began coming to and tried to fight.

She started to crawl through

the plexiglass-caged backseat.

She was trying to turn emergency lights on,

trying to grab the radio, trying to honk the horn.

Anything that she could do because she knew.

- And he sexually assaults her there while she's dying

and drags her up behind a tree

and finishes the job with the big 60, 70-pound rock.

- The horrific details of the murder

shook county officials,

and the DA chose to seek the death sentence.

But this decision didn't take into account

Redding's police denial

of Edwin's right to an attorney on the day of his arrest.

Under these circumstances,

the judge dismissed his confession.

Though they knew for sure what had happened,

the DA and the detectives were back at square one.

- You know, they said, you know, "Look, we got this.

We can do it.

We have the evidence.

If we thought it was a death penalty case before,

there's no reason to back down now."

- Together, they rebuilt the case from the ground up

and presented it to Edwin's defense team.

Cornered, they offered the DA a plea deal.

If they agreed to drop the death penalty,

Edwin would plead guilty

and accept a sentence of life without parole.

The DA then explained the situation to Kaylee's mother,

Juli, and left the final decision in her care.

- He explained to me

what happens in a death penalty case and the appeals.

I would have had to show up to every appeal.

As long as he's living on death row, I would be too.

- Tough choice.

- Yeah.

- As this was happening,

Aundreah was eventually released from jail,

and all charges against her were dropped.

The Redding police never publicly apologized

for either her unlawful incarceration

or the denial of Edwin's rights

that led to the dismissal of his confession.

- I just got off of the phone with Aundreah's family,

not just a few moments ago.

They did confirm that Aundreah

has been released by police.

Aundreah's grandmother, Elizabeth Maes,

never believed her granddaughter

could have been involved.

- She's not a bad girl.

She doesn't drink, she doesn't smoke,

and we're church people.

And so she's a good girl.

She doesn't know nothing about the world.

- Afterward, the case lingered in court

for almost three years.

Although Edwin pleaded guilty,

statements still had to be heard,

and even Aundreah was asked to speak,

but the trauma she carried at the time

prevented her from doing so.

- This was the first time that I had seen him

since everything happened.

It was just hard even sitting there

because I could see him trying to look over here.

- During that period,

Aundreah fell into a dark hole.

She struggled with depression and severe PTSD,

slowly becoming a shadow of her former self.

- The same is true for Kaylee's family.

Together, they sued the college

for allowing Edwin to work there

without any background check

or psychological evaluation

and for letting untrained security personnel

use police-grade gear and vehicles.

Not only did they win,

but their case led to the creation of Kaylee's Law,

prohibiting the use of such equipment on campuses.

- In the height of their tragedy,

Kaylee's family stepped up

and said, "We're gonna make sure that no young person

has to go through what our daughter did."

- Nima and his family,

who had also been taken hostage by Edwin,

moved on with their lives.

And so did Jack Levy, the butterfly photographer

who almost died at the hands of Edwin

in the motel parking lot.

- Even Kaylee's mother

eventually learned to live without her daughter,

focusing on the glimpse of happiness

she still brought into her life,

instead of the loss she had been dealing with

since she'd been gone.

- Every morning, I wake up,

and I love her more and more each day,

just like I did when she was here.

You know, I have gotten to that point sometimes

where I look at a picture, and I smile,

and I'm so glad for that.

- On the last day of the court hearing,

Aundreah, who had recovered from the ordeal

in the years leading up to this day, finally spoke.

With the support of Kaylee's family,

with whom she struck a friendship over the tragedy,

she gathered her courage

and faced Edwin one last time

before his condemnation.

There was no camera allowed inside that day,

but she proudly repeated the words

she spoke to journalists

when she walked out of the courthouse.

- But, like, my main thing in there

was just like, "You know what?

Like, you tried to paint me as this victim

and this weak person, and that's not who I am."

I'm not a victim.

I am a survivor.

I'm a warrior.

I defeated him, and I am truly blessed.