Fred Jason Edwards murdered Esperanza Chavez, police said. (Images: Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake)
A man shot his girlfriend in his pickup truck and then tried to put her body in a dumpster, but after a couple of attempts he quit, left her next to the dumpster, and drove to a psychiatric hospital to admit himself, according to cops in the city of Millcreek, Utah.
Officers said that the incident is the “culmination of an elongated violent domestic violence history” between the defendant, Fred Jason Edwards, 46, and victim, Esperanza Chavez, 25.
According to a press release obtained by Law&Crime, officers received a call Saturday at 6:20 a.m. regarding a body found near a dumpster at 3994 South 300 West. They found Chavez dead at the scene.
“Detectives initiated their investigation, canvassing the area for surveillance footage,” they wrote. “A business in the vicinity provided crucial footage showing a black truck arriving at 12:28 am today. The male figure was observed pulling a body from the vehicle. Attempts were made to dispose of the body in the dumpster, however the suspect left the scene, leaving the victim beside the dumpster.”
Using footage, officers got the license plate number and learned that Edwards owned the vehicle, police said.
“Preliminary findings suggest the incident occurred within the vehicle belonging to Mr. Edwards,” they wrote.
Police were able to locate Edwards at the University of Utah hospital “where he was attempting to be evaluated,” police wrote. “Mr. Edwards is currently in custody and will be booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on the charge of Murder.”
In an interview after his Miranda warning, Edwards allegedly denied being involved in Chavez’s death and denied discarding the body, according to documents obtained by Gephardt Daily. He allegedly denied involvement even after cops confronted him with the existence of the surveillance footage.
Edwards allegedly belonged to the King Mafia Disciple gang, and his criminal history included “many assaults, mayhem, resisting arrest, threats, retaliation against a witness and escape from custody.”
One prior incident was from September 2020, when an ex-girlfriend entered a 7-Eleven in West Valley City, according to documents obtained by Salt Lake City CBS affiliate KUTV. Suffering from a bloodied mouth, she yelled to call 911 because Edwards was about to kill her. He had allegedly punched and dragged her by her hair to make her enter a vehicle.
“[Edwards] told [the victim] to call her mother because it was the last time she was going to speak to her,” the probable cause statement reportedly said. “[The victim] feared for her life and jumped out of the moving vehicle.
He also allegedly threatened his mother by messaging her that he would chop her in half if she contacted his probation officer.
From cops:
Unified Police would like to remind individuals in relationships of domestic violence that help is available. UPD has countless resources and assistance which can be provided. Additionally, the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition can provide support.
For further information or assistance please contact the Unified Police Department at 801.840.4000. Or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1.800.799.7233
