On Oct. 31, 2020, at round 5 a.m. Livye Lewis was discovered unresponsive in her automotive on the aspect of a highway in Hemphill, Texas. Her ex-boyfriend, Matthew Edgar, stated he had no reminiscence of what occurred to Lewis or how he ended up within the fetal place behind her automotive.
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To seek out out what occurred to Livye, investigators needed to retrace her steps from the night time earlier than.
2:30 a.m. | A celebration turned bitter
About two hours earlier than Lewis was present in her automotive, she was at a buddy’s pre-Halloween social gathering. Edgar, her ex-boyfriend, and his ex-wife, Montana Bockel, have been additionally there. Lewis had damaged up with Edgar a number of weeks earlier than, and in keeping with the social gathering’s host, Bobby Ozan, Lewis and Bockel have been having fun with the night time whereas ignoring Edgar.
By 2:30 a.m., most individuals had already left the social gathering besides Lewis and Bockel. In accordance with Bockel’s first interview with investigators, Edgar all of a sudden returned to Ozan’s home and overheard that Lewis was going to spend the night time with Ozan.
Sabine County Sheriff’s Workplace
This made Edgar so livid that he began attacking Bockel, feeling she might have stopped Lewis. He was additionally kicking Bockel’s automotive.
Ozan tried to restrain Edgar, giving Bockel and Lewis an opportunity to flee. Bockel headed to Edgar’s grandparents’ house searching for refuge, however it’s unclear the place Lewis was headed.
As soon as inside Edgar’s grandparents’ house, Bockel started texting Edgar. These texts would turn out to be key proof within the case.
3:34 a.m. | Livye is “Lifeless”
Edgar was indignant at Bockel as a result of he stated she knew about Lewis and Ozan. Bockel and Lewis had a pleasant relationship.
Sabine County Sheriff’s Workplace
At 3:34 a.m., Bockel texted Edgar asking the place Lewis was. He responded: “Lifeless.”
3:30 to five a.m. | The crime scene
The textual content messages point out Edgar was on the scene at round 3:30 a.m.. A pickup truck that belonged to Edgar’s cousin was parked behind Lewis’ automotive.
Sabine County Sheriff’s Workplace
“I believe she pulled over to speak to him and I’ll inform you why,” Sabine County Sheriff’s Investigator J.P. MacDonough instructed “48 Hours.” She was simply sitting there along with her legs crossed. Effectively, it signifies to me she was not afraid … It was not a battle or flight factor the place she was ready to simply bolt out the automotive. She was truly, to a point, comfy with who she was talking with.”
5:15 a.m. | A passerby calls 911
Sabine County Sheriff’s Workplace
A 911 name was positioned round 5:15 a.m. The caller had seen a automotive on the aspect of the highway and stopped to assist. She found a grisly scene. Lewis didn’t have a pulse. She was lifeless from a gunshot wound to the neck.
Round 6 a.m | Proof on the scene
Sabine County Sheriff’s Workplace
When first responders arrived, they found Edgar on the bottom. Whereas Edgar was transported to the hospital, investigators processed the scene. They situated a rifle within the close by grass that they later linked to a bullet fragment discovered inside Lewis’ automotive.
7:39 a.m. | A mom searching for solutions
At round 7:30 a.m., Darci Bass arrived on the scene searching for her daughter Livye Lewis. Bass had gotten a name from a buddy saying one thing occurred to Lewis.
Sabine County Sheriff’s Workplace
Bass’ interplay with officers on the scene was captured on bodycam footage. She requested at the very least 23 occasions the place Lewis was, however authorities appeared reluctant to inform her. Lastly, as soon as they stated Lewis was sitting in her automotive, Bass dropped to the bottom, realizing her daughter had been killed.
7:28 a.m. | Hospital interview with Matthew Edgar
Whereas the scene investigation continued,. MacDonough met with Edgar on the hospital. He captured your entire encounter on bodycam.
Sabine County Sheriff’s Workplace
A bloodied Edgar claimed he didn’t keep in mind how he ended up on the bottom on the aspect of the highway. After admitting he drank a whole bottle of whiskey the night time earlier than, Edgar says the very last thing he remembers is falling asleep on his porch after which waking up within the ambulance.
MacDonough knowledgeable Edgar that Lewis was discovered lifeless in her automotive. Edgar seems to cry however MacDonough wasn’t shopping for his story. MacDonough arrested Matthew Edgar for Livye Lewis’ homicide whereas he was nonetheless on that hospital mattress.
Round 8:15 a.m. | DNA proof
Sabine County Sheriff’s Workplace
Whereas on the hospital MacDonough additionally gathered Edgar’s clothes as proof. DNA testing revealed a tiny drop of Lewis’ blood on Edgar’s pants that later turned key proof for prosecutors.
However Edgar’s protection legal professional, Rob Hughes, argued it was not possible to inform how lengthy the blood had been there.
Jan. 4, 2022: Matthew Edgar’s trial begins
Sabine County Reporter
Matthew Edgar was free on bail. On Jan. 4, 2022, Edgar went on trial, however he solely confronted the jury for 2 days.
On the third day of testimony, Edgar failed to point out as much as his personal homicide trial. His mom, Cindy Hogan, knowledgeable Hughes that her son was nowhere to be discovered.
Authorities say Edgar had let the battery on his ankle monitor die and escaped most probably on foot. The trial continued with out him, and he was discovered responsible.
2022 | The place is Matthew Edgar?
With Edgar on the run, Bass put up wished posters in hopes of discovering her daughter’s killer.
Darci Bass
“That point was — was horrible. It was scary. And I assumed that he was going to simply get away and no one was trying, and I used to be having to make wished posters and go hand ’em out on the flea markets or little occasions that that they had round city, put ’em up within the retailer home windows with individuals telling me to take it down,” Bass instructed “48 Hours.”
Dec. 29, 2022 | Matthew Edgar captured
Sabine County Sheriff’s Workplace
Almost a 12 months later, U.S. Marshals together with the Sabine County Sheriff’s Workplace and Texas Parks and Wildlife Recreation Wardens, discovered and arrested Edgar. It seems the home the place he was discovered was simply yards away from his grandparents’ house. Investigators later decided that the house belonged to a household buddy. Edgar’s mom Cindy Hogan was additionally discovered on the home when Edgar was captured.
Jan. 3, 2023 | Matthew Edgar formally sentenced
KJAS
On Jan. 3, 2023, Edgar was formally sentenced to 99 years in jail with the chance for parole after 30 years, for the homicide of Livye Lewis.
