The Chilling Disappearance of Kaylee Sawyer: A True Crime Case from Bend, Oregon
In the peaceful city of Bend, Oregon, a place known for its low crime rates and seemingly safe environment, the disappearance of 23-year-old Kaylee Sawyer sent shockwaves through the community in July 2016. Kaylee, a vibrant young woman from a blended family and a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux tribe, had been working as a dental assistant while attending Central Oregon Community College. She lived near campus with her boyfriend of two years, Cameron Ryker Hoffer, and had a bright future ahead of her.
On the evening of July 23, 2016, Kaylee dressed in a black dress and brown boots to attend a bachelorette party downtown. After a disagreement with Cameron following the party, she decided to take a walk near their apartment to cool off around midnight—a routine the couple had practiced before during arguments. When she didn't return and stopped responding to texts after 1:00 a.m., Cameron's concern grew into fear, eventually leading to a missing person report that would uncover a shocking connection to a campus security guard named Edwin Lara.
Key Takeaways
Kaylee Sawyer disappeared after a night out and an argument with her boyfriend in Bend, Oregon on July 23, 2016.
Despite the area's reputation for safety, Kaylee's failure to return home or appear at work raised immediate concerns among her close-knit family.
The investigation took an unexpected turn when attention shifted to a campus security officer whose behavior had changed dramatically the morning after Kaylee's disappearance.
The Tranquil Town of Bend, Oregon
Nestled in the picturesque landscape of Oregon, Bend presents itself as a peaceful college town with approximately 10,000 students. The community is known for its low crime rates and safe neighborhoods where residents often feel comfortable taking late-night walks.
In July 2016, this serene town became the setting for a disturbing case. Kaylee Sawyer, a 23-year-old dental assistant at Opry Dental and student at Central Oregon Community College, lived near campus with her boyfriend of two years, Cameron Ryker Hofer. She was the eldest of five siblings in a blended family and had deep roots in the area, having lived in Bend her entire life.
On July 23, 2016, Kaylee attended a bachelorette party downtown wearing a black dress, brown boots, and carrying a distinctive green purse. After midnight, following a disagreement with Cameron who had picked her up, she decided to take a walk to cool off—a common practice in their relationship and something considered safe in their neighborhood.
Timeline of Disappearance:
12:14 AM: Cameron and Kaylee arrive at their apartment after arguing
12:24 AM: Kaylee hasn't returned from her walk
12:30 AM: Cameron texts her, beginning a series of increasingly worried messages
1:00 AM: Kaylee's final text to Cameron reads "are you kidding because that's BS goodbye"
Despite searching the area, Cameron couldn't locate Kaylee. The next morning, her side of the bed remained empty. Her car was still parked where she had left it, but Kaylee was nowhere to be found. Cameron contacted her parents and eventually called 911 in the early afternoon of July 24th.
The police investigation began immediately, especially after Kaylee's mother Julie mentioned her daughter's history of epilepsy to ensure officers treated the case with urgency. Investigators interviewed Cameron, ruling him out as a suspect, and also spoke with a man Kaylee had danced with at the bar.
As the search continued without leads, authorities hoped Kaylee might appear for work on Monday, July 25th. Her failure to show up confirmed everyone's worst fears—something terrible had happened to her.
Coincidentally, that same Monday morning, Isabel Pichardo Lara began noticing unusual behavior from her husband Edwin Lara, a campus security guard at Central Oregon Community College. Though initially attributing his withdrawn demeanor and strange actions—like keeping car windows cracked open—to work stress, she would soon discover these peculiarities were connected to something far more sinister.
Kaylee Sawyer's Personal History
Life and Family Connections
Kaylee Sawyer spent her entire life in the scenic town of Bend, Oregon. As the eldest of five siblings in a blended family, she often served as the centerpiece of family gatherings. Her parents had separated during her childhood and both eventually remarried, creating an extended family network. Family members described Kaylee as a vibrant presence who brought warmth and joy to their gatherings.
By 2016, at age 23, Kaylee had established a serious relationship with Cameron Ryhehofer. They had been dating for approximately two years and shared an apartment near Central Oregon Community College. Her parents viewed Cameron positively and believed their relationship had promising long-term potential.
Professional Path and Aspirations
Kaylee worked as a dental assistant at Apex Dental, demonstrating dedication to her career in healthcare. She had also decided to further her education by re-enrolling at Central Oregon Community College. Her professional trajectory showed someone committed to building a stable future.
The combination of steady employment and continued education reflected Kaylee's determination to advance professionally. Her work ethic was evident in how seriously she took her responsibilities at the dental office, with colleagues expecting her reliable presence each workday.
Native American Heritage
Kaylee maintained strong connections to her indigenous roots as an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of South Dakota. Her lineage traced back several generations to Chief Joseph Forbear, making her the great-great-great-granddaughter of this significant historical figure.
This tribal affiliation represented an important aspect of Kaylee's identity and cultural background. Her Native American heritage formed a meaningful part of who she was, connecting her to a rich cultural tradition and ancestral history.
The Disappearance of Kaylee Sawyer
Kaylee Sawyer, a 23-year-old dental assistant from Bend, Oregon, had deep roots in her community. She came from a large blended family and was the eldest of five siblings. As an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux tribe of South Dakota and a descendant of Chief Joseph, Kaylee maintained connections to her heritage while building her future.
In July 2016, Kaylee was working at Opry Dental while attending Central Oregon Community College. She lived near campus with her boyfriend of two years, Cameron Ryf Hofer, in what her parents viewed as a promising relationship.
The Night She Vanished
On July 23, 2016, Kaylee dressed in a black dress and brown boots to attend a bachelorette party in downtown Bend. Friends later remembered her distinctive green purse. After visiting several bars, Kaylee was seen dancing with a stranger shortly before midnight.
At 12:04 a.m., Kaylee contacted Cameron asking for a ride home. When he arrived, they argued in the car about her behavior that evening. The tension continued until they reached their apartment at 12:14 a.m., where Cameron suggested she take a walk to cool down—a common practice during their disagreements.
By 12:24 a.m., Kaylee had not returned to their apartment. Their text exchange grew increasingly strained:
Cameron (12:30 a.m.): "Where are you? Please come home and talk to me." Kaylee (1:00 a.m.): "Are you kidding because that's BS goodbye." Cameron: "Kaye please."
This would be their final communication.
Cameron's Desperate Search
When Cameron woke on July 24th, Kaylee's side of the bed remained empty. After calling her at 9:00 a.m. with no response, he visited her friend's house. Kaylee's Subaru Impreza sat where she had parked it previously, but there was no sign of her.
Growing increasingly concerned, Cameron contacted Kaylee's parents. Her father Jimie received the call during church service, telling his wife afterward, "Cam can't find Kay."
Throughout the morning, all attempts to reach Kaylee failed. Her phone went straight to voicemail—unusual behavior for someone who maintained close contact with family members.
A Desperate Call for Help
By early afternoon, Cameron made the decision to contact emergency services:
911 Operator: "This is 911, how can I help you?" Cameron: "I'm not sure if this is quite the right number to call. Last night I got home from the bars with my girlfriend and she got upset at me and ran off..."
During the call, Cameron explained that Kaylee was last seen around 1:00 a.m. near their Alpine Meadows apartment complex on College Way. He had already checked with her family and closest friends.
Kaylee's mother Julie informed police about Kaylee's history of epilepsy, suggesting she might be at risk. While Kaylee had experienced only one seizure years earlier and the condition was well-managed, Julie's maternal instinct told her something was wrong.
Police interviewed Kaylee's family, friends, and Cameron. Though initially under scrutiny as her boyfriend, Cameron was quickly ruled out as a suspect. Investigators also questioned the man Kaylee had danced with at the bar, but he maintained he hadn't seen her after she left with Cameron.
With few leads, police decided to wait until Monday to see if Kaylee would appear for her scheduled shift at the dental office. Meanwhile, a campus security officer named Edwin Lara was displaying unusual behavior that his wife, rookie police officer Isabel Ponce Lara, had begun to notice—behavior that would soon prove significant in the investigation.
The Investigation Unfolds
Examining Important Individuals
After Kaylee's disappearance, police initiated a thorough investigation into all possible leads. Authorities first interviewed her boyfriend Cameron, who had last seen her after their argument around midnight. Despite being initially scrutinized as is common in missing persons cases, investigators quickly determined Cameron was not involved. He had actively searched for Kaylee, sent multiple text messages, and promptly reported her missing when she didn't return. Lieutenant Devin Lewis concluded that Cameron genuinely had no knowledge of her whereabouts.
Investigators then tracked down the unknown man Kaylee had been dancing with at the bar earlier that night. This individual acknowledged flirting with Kaylee but firmly stated he hadn't seen her after she left with Cameron. With these initial leads exhausted, police found themselves at a temporary standstill.
A Mother's Intuition
Julie, Kaylee's mother, felt an overwhelming sense of dread from the moment she learned her daughter was missing. To ensure police took the case seriously, she emphasized Kaylee's history of epilepsy, describing her as an at-risk person. While Kaylee had experienced only one seizure years earlier and her condition was well-managed, Julie's strategy helped prevent authorities from treating this as a routine case of a young adult taking time away.
"The First 48 hours are the most critical for locating a missing person," Julie understood this principle well, and her maternal instinct told her something was deeply wrong. She refused to accept the possibility that Kaylee had simply chosen to disappear for a few days.
The Waiting Period
With few leads to pursue, investigators established a critical test: would Kaylee show up for her dental assistant job on Monday? As a dedicated employee at Opry Dental, her absence would confirm something was seriously wrong. The dreaded Monday morning arrived with no sign of Kaylee, confirming everyone's worst fears.
That same Monday morning, across town, Isabel Lara noticed disturbing changes in her husband Edwin's behavior. Edwin, a campus security officer at Central Oregon Community College, had been unusually quiet after his weekend night shift. During their Sunday activities—church, lunch at Pizza Hut, watching Netflix, and a movie in Bend—he remained withdrawn and affectionate. The only peculiarity Isabel noticed was his insistence on keeping the car windows cracked open, something he never normally did. When questioned, he simply replied, "Oh, it's hot." These seemingly minor behavioral changes would soon take on much darker significance.
A Shocking Discovery
Edwin Lara's Growing Discomfort
Edwin Lara's behavior showed subtle but concerning changes in the days following July 23, 2016. His wife, Isabel Ponce Lara, a rookie police officer, noticed her husband's unusual demeanor after he returned from his night shift as a campus security guard at Central Oregon Community College. During their typical Sunday activities—attending church, eating at Pizza Hut, and watching Netflix—Edwin displayed uncharacteristic quietness and withheld his usual affection. When questioned about his mood, he provided no explanation, leading Isabel to attribute his behavior to work-related stress.
The couple later decided to see a movie in Bend. During the drive, Isabel observed another peculiarity: Edwin had cracked the car windows open, something he never typically did. When she inquired about this unusual habit, he simply replied that he felt hot.
Suspicion and Disclosure
The following morning brought a dramatic shift in their routine. Isabel began to notice more troubling signs in Edwin's behavior. His actions became increasingly erratic and difficult to ignore, moving beyond the subtle withdrawal she'd observed the previous day.
These behavioral changes coincided with the desperate search for 23-year-old Kaylee Sawyer, who had disappeared after midnight on July 24th. Local authorities were growing increasingly concerned as Kaylee had missed work at Opry Dental on Monday—something completely out of character for the dedicated dental assistant.
As investigators expanded their search efforts, they remained unaware that the answer to Kaylee's disappearance might be connected to a campus security guard whose wife was growing increasingly suspicious of his strange behavior.
