Edward Wayne Edwards: A Detailed Account of His Crimes
Background
Edward Wayne Edwards was born on June 14, 1933, in Akron, Ohio. He had a troubled childhood, growing up in an orphanage where he was reportedly abused both physically and emotionally. Edwards escaped from jail in Akron in 1955 and fled across the country, holding up gas stations. By 1961, he was on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. He was captured and arrested in Atlanta, Georgia, on January 20, 1962. After his release from prison on parole in 1967, Edwards murdered at least five people between 1977 and 1996. He is suspected of several additional killings.
Confirmed Victims
- August 9, 1980: Timothy Hack and Kelly Drew, Watertown, Wisconsin. The couple was attending a wedding reception at the Concord House. Their decomposing bodies were discovered in a wooded area weeks later. The crime became known as the Sweetheart Murders.
- August 1980: Billy Lavaco and Judy Straub, Ohio. The couple was found shot to death in a park.
- 1986: Danny Boy Edwards, Ohio. Edwards' foster son was found shot to death.
- 1996: Ellen Matheys and David Knobling, Ohio. The couple was found shot to death in a park.
Apprehension and Conviction
Edward Wayne Edwards was apprehended in 2009 after DNA evidence linked him to the murders of Timothy Hack and Kelly Drew. He was convicted of five murders and sentenced to death. Edwards died of natural causes on April 7, 2011, while on death row.
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Account
