Pictured is the Franklin County Cold Case Unit Friday, Dec. 11. Back row, from left, are Ken Hotsenpiller, Jim Schumacher, Capt. Chuck Subke, Gary Toelke, Tom Yoder and James Lashley. Front row, from left, are Tom Thacker, Sheriff Steve Pelton, Maj. Trevor Wild and Larry Cook.
Missourian Photo/Julia Hansen.
She had been raped.
Her son was just one month shy of his third birthday.
Credit: Edwards family
“People pass away and they get killed, and it s not flippant,” Julie Edwards said. “It s a stain on your life forever.”
This month, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced a newly-formed statewide Cold Case Unit had worked with Franklin County prosecutors to finally secure charges against Avery.
“This was the same man suspected of this 34 years ago, but there was no way to prove this man did this,” said Julie Edwards, refusing to say Avery’s name. “Our family’s biggest concern was that this man would do this to someone else as well.”