The loss of life of Livye Lewis: A celebration, a homicide, and a person on the run

On Oct. 31, 2020, at round 5 a.m. Livye Lewis was discovered unresponsive in her automobile 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 automobile.

To search out out what occurred to Livye, investigators needed to retrace her steps from the evening earlier than.

2:30 a.m. | A celebration turned bitter

About two hours earlier than Lewis was present in her automobile, she was at a buddy’s pre-Halloween get together. Edgar, her ex-boyfriend, and his ex-wife, Montana Bockel, had been additionally there. Lewis had damaged up with Edgar a number of weeks earlier than, and in accordance with the get together’s host, Bobby Ozan, Lewis and Bockel had been having fun with the evening whereas ignoring Edgar.

By 2:30 a.m., most individuals had already left the get together besides Lewis and Bockel. In accordance with Bockel’s first interview with investigators, Edgar all of the sudden returned to Ozan’s home and overheard that Lewis was going to spend the evening with Ozan.

Montana Bockel's dented car — Dents on Montana Bockel’s automobile after Bobby Ozan says Matthew Edgar “had kicked all the doors in her car and was punchin’ on the window.”
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 automobile.

Ozan tried to restrain Edgar, giving Bockel and Lewis an opportunity to flee. Bockel headed to Edgar’s grandparents’ residence in search of refuge, however it’s unclear the place Lewis was headed.

As soon as inside Edgar’s grandparents’ residence, Bockel started texting Edgar. These texts would grow to be key proof within the case.

3:34 a.m. | Livye is “Dead”

Edgar was indignant at Bockel as a result of he stated she knew about Lewis and Ozan. Bockel and Lewis had a pleasant relationship.

Matthew Edgar evidence texts — Timestamps present Matthew Edgar and Montana Bockel had been speaking by textual content at 3:34 a.m. on Oct. 31, 2020.
Sabine County Sheriff’s Workplace

At 3:34 a.m., Bockel texted Edgar asking the place Lewis was. He responded: “Dead.”

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’ automobile.

Livye Lewis crime scene — Livye Lewis was discovered shot useless inside her car (foreground). A pickup truck belonging to Matthew Edgar’s cousin is behind Lewis’ automobile. Matthew Edgar was discovered on the bottom within the fetal place between the automobile and the truck.
Sabine County Sheriff’s Workplace

“I think she pulled over to talk to him and I’ll tell you why,” Sabine County Sheriff’s Investigator J.P. MacDonough instructed “48 Hours.” She was simply sitting there together with her legs crossed. Properly, it signifies to me she was not afraid … It was not a battle or flight factor the place she was ready to only bolt out the automobile. She was really, to some extent, comfy with who she was talking with.”

5:15 a.m. | A passerby calls 911

Bodycam image of 911 caller — A picture from bodycam video of the passerby who known as 911 on Oct. 31, 2020.
Sabine County Sheriff’s Workplace

A 911 name was positioned round 5:15 a.m. The caller had seen a automobile on the aspect of the highway and stopped to assist. She found a grisly scene. Lewis didn’t have a pulse. She was useless from a gunshot wound to the neck.

Round 6 a.m | Proof on the scene

Matthew Edgar's rifle — Matthew Edgar’s rifle – the homicide weapon — was discovered on the crime 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 positioned a rifle within the close by grass that they later linked to a bullet fragment discovered inside Lewis’ automobile.

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.

Darci Bass bodycam image — Darci Bass says she was not notified by police of her daughter’s loss of life. As an alternative, she heard from a buddy that Lewis was in hassle and confirmed up on the crime scene. Her anguished cries for solutions had been caught on police bodycam video.
Sabine County Sheriff’s Workplace

Bass’ interplay with officers on the scene was captured on bodycam footage. She requested at the very least 23 instances the place Lewis was, however authorities appeared reluctant to inform her. Lastly, as soon as they stated Lewis was sitting in her automobile, 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 all the encounter on bodycam.

A bloodied Edgar claimed he didn’t bear in mind how he ended up on the bottom on the aspect of the highway. After admitting he drank a complete bottle of whiskey the evening 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 useless in her automobile. 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

Matthew Edgar evidence — Livye Lewis’ blood was discovered on the pants Matthew Edgar wore the evening of her loss of life.
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

Matthew Edgar and his moCindy Hogan — Matthew Edgar and his mom Cindy Hogan go away the Sabine County Courthouse throughout his trial. Edgar, who was nonetheless out on bond, walked out and in of court docket like a free man.
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 indicate 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 almost definitely 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 needed posters in hopes of discovering her daughter’s killer.

Darci Bass posted home made needed posters round city after Matthew Edgar fled.

Darci Bass

“That time was — was horrible. It was scary. And I thought that he was going to just get away and nobody was looking, and I was having to make wanted posters and go hand ’em out at the flea markets or little events that they had around town, put ’em up in the store windows with people telling me to take it down,” Bass instructed “48 Hours.”

Dec. 29, 2022 | Matthew Edgar captured

Matthew Edgar bodycam arrest — A nonetheless from physique digital camera video reveals Matthew Edgar’s arrest on Dec. 20, 2022, after evading authorities for practically a 12 months.
Sabine County Sheriff’s Workplace

Practically a 12 months later, U.S. Marshals together with the Sabine County Sheriff’s Workplace and Texas Parks and Wildlife Sport Wardens, discovered and arrested Edgar. It seems the home the place he was discovered was simply yards away from his grandparents’ residence. 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.