On a tragic day in October of 2014, the quiet life of 70-year-old Martha Moreno and her husband, Godofredo, was brutally cut short in their south Wichita home. The Hispanic couple was discovered by their son on the morning of October 16th, lying lifeless on their bedroom floor. Initially, it was believed they had been stabbed to death, but the grim reality was later revealed by autopsies to be death by multiple gunshot wounds.
The investigation into the shocking double homicide quickly
uncovered a motive rooted in robbery. The couple’s car had been stolen and was later found engulfed in flames in a field in the southwestern part of Sedgwick County. There were no signs of a forced entry into their home, suggesting a more targeted and perhaps even personal crime. This theory was bolstered when investigators learned that one of the suspects was an acquaintance of the Morenos' son.
Within days, two suspects were in custody: 19-year-old Steven Wade Edwards II and 17-year-old Carlos Delacadena-Edwards. According to police reports, the two had gone to the Moreno residence with the intention of collecting a debt they claimed was owed to them by the couple's son. When they arrived, they were met at the door by Martha. Edwards then forced his way into the home at gunpoint, leading her to the bedroom where her husband was. He demanded money and their vehicle before shooting them both.
The subsequent legal proceedings brought a measure of justice for the grieving family and a shocked community. Steven Wade Edwards II was convicted for his role in the murders and received two life sentences, ensuring he would spend the rest of his days behind bars. His younger accomplice was also charged in connection with the heinous crime that ended the lives of a couple described by neighbors as generous and loving grandparents.
