Austin Lee Edwards (born 1994), Virginia sheriff’s deputy, rose to prominence in 2022 after being involved in a horrific triple homicide. Austin Lee Edwards was born on , 1994 in Virginia, United States. Austin Lee Edwards died on , 2022 at the age of 28 years in Riverside, California. Check below for more deets about Austin Lee Edwards. Learn more about Austin Lee Edwards facts, biography, age, birthday, trivia and more.
Austin Lee Edwards Profile:
| Stage Name | Austin Lee Edwards |
| Real Name | Austin Lee Edwards |
| Profession(s) | Police Officer, |
| Birthday | , 1994 |
| Zodiac Sign | Capricorn |
| Death | Died on , 2022 (2 years ago) (Age: 28 years) in Riverside, California |
| Gender | Male |
| Birthplace | Virginia, United States |
| Hometown | Virginia, Virginia, United States |
| Nationality | American |
Austin Lee Edwards Family | |
| Father: | Not Available |
| Mother: | Not Available |
| Brother(s): | Not Available |
| Sister(s): | Not Available |
Family and Personal Life
- Austin Lee Edwards‘ father’s name is Not Available and Austin Lee Edwards‘ mother’s name is Not Available.
Austin Lee Edwards Trivia
- Austin Lee Edwards was born in Virginia, United States.
- Austin Lee Edwards’s birth sign is Capricorn.
- Introduction: Austin Lee Edwards, born in 1994, gained unfortunate notoriety as a Virginia sheriff’s deputy involved in a tragic triple homicide in 2022.
- Early Life: Limited information is available about Austin Lee Edwards’ early life, including his upbringing and family background.
- Law Enforcement Career: Edwards pursued a law enforcement career, eventually becoming a sheriff’s deputy in Virginia. He was serving in this capacity when the unfortunate incident occurred.
- Online Relationship: In the summer of 2022, Edwards initiated an online relationship with a California 15-year-old, falsely claiming to be 17, showering her with gifts.
- Escalation and Breakup: The relationship took a dark turn as Edwards pressured the teen for explicit photographs, leading to a breakup shortly after Halloween.
- Disturbing Suicide Letter: Disturbed by a breakup, Edwards discovered the teen’s address and sent him a troubling suicide letter, exacerbating an already difficult situation.
- Previous Arrest: Edwards was arrested in February 2016 for self-harm and threats stemming from problems with his then-girlfriend. This resulted in custody orders and a stay in a psychiatric facility.
- Employment at Washington County Sheriff’s Office: Despite a troubled past, Edwards found work with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office three years after his 2016 arrest.
- Catfishing Tactics: Edwards continued manipulating the situation, posing as a police officer and using his status to gain access to the teen’s home.
- Gruesome Homicide: Edwards brutally murdered Brooke Winek (38), the teen’s mother, and her grandparents Mark (69) and Sharie (65), employing stabbing, suffocation, and arson.
- Abduction and Desert Police Chase:Following the murders, Edwards kidnapped the teen, coercing her to pose as his daughter, resulting in a distressing police chase in the desert.
- Self-inflicted Gunshot: Edwards tragically ended his own life after a chase, leaving the teen physically unharmed but emotionally scarred.
- Legal Consequences: The teen filed a lawsuit seeking over $50 million, alleging negligent hiring practices and constitutional rights violations against Edwards’ former employer, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
- Legal Allegations: The lawsuit asserts negligent hiring practices, violation of the girl’s rights, false imprisonment, assault, and battery.
- Preventable Tragedy: The lawsuit alleges that the tragedy could have been avoided with proper background checks and reference interviews.
- Violations: Alleged violations include Fourth Amendment rights and negligent hiring practices.
- Psychological Impact: Despite being physically unharmed, the girl was traumatized by the terrifying experience.
- Damages Sought: The lawsuit seeks damages for emotional distress, false imprisonment, and the preventable nature of the crimes.
- Cross-Country Abduction: Edwards planned to take the girl through multiple states before keeping her at his modified Virginia home.
- Modified Residence: He had modified his Virginia home with blacked-out windows.
- Police Surveillance: The Riverside Police Department tracked Edwards through surveillance footage during the desert chase.
- Quick Police Response: Edwards’ attempt to escape was thwarted when his Kia Soul got stuck on rocks under a bridge.
- Self-Inflicted Death: Facing imminent capture, Edwards took his own life by shooting himself in the head on November 25, 2022 according to a Riverside Police Department.
FAQs
Who is Austin Lee Edwards?
Austin Lee Edwards, a Virginia sheriff’s deputy, was involved in a shocking crime.
What is Austin Lee Edwards’ age?
Austin Lee Edwards was born in the year 1994. He was 28 years old when he died.
What’s Austin Lee Edwards’ background?
Austin Lee Edwards had a troubled criminal record, which included a self-harm incident in 2016.
Why did Austin Lee Edwards commit these crimes?
The motive for Austin Lee Edwards’ crimes is not explicitly stated.