- Frederick Jason Edwards was sentenced to 15 years to life for the killing of his girlfriend.
- Esperanza Chavez's body was found near a Millcreek dumpster on Jan. 20, 2024.
- Edwards admitted to shooting her during an argument, and charging documents say he attempted to hide her body.
SALT LAKE CITY — A West Valley City man was sentenced to prison after admitting to killing his girlfriend, Esperanza Chavez.
Frederick Jason Edwards, 49, was ordered to serve 15 years to life for murder, a first-degree felony, and was given credit for the almost two and a half years he had already spent in jail since the killing.
Chavez, 25, was found next to a dumpster at 3994 S. 300 West on Jan. 20, 2024, and Edwards was identified in surveillance video pulling up to the dumpster and trying to place a body inside, dragging it behind when he could not. In interviews with police, Edwards admitted that he had shot her during an argument and attempted to hide her body, according to charging documents.
Prosecutors said Edwards should be treated as a habitual violent offender, citing his lengthy criminal record.
Third District Judge Todd Shaughnessy denied a request from his attorneys shortly before the hearing to reduce his conviction to a second-degree felony allowing a lighter sentence.
Edwards' attorney made the request arguing that he had "a lifetime of serious psychiatric disorder" and had "severe psychotic symptoms" from schizophrenia when he killed Chavez. They argued a lengthy prison sentence would counteract his therapy.
Edwards pleaded guilty with a mental condition in October as part of a plea deal that dismissed charges for discharge of a firearm causing serious injury, a first-degree felony; obstruction of justice and possession of a weapon by a restricted person, second-degree felonies; and abuse or desecration of a dead body, a third-degree felony.
The judge did dismiss a separate case against Edwards at the request of prosecutors where he was charged with attempted mayhem, a second-degree felony, and three counts of assault, a third-degree felony.
Charging documents in that case allege that on Oct. 22, 2023, Chavez told an officer she and Edwards were arguing in the car and he "repeatedly punched her while he was driving." When they arrived at their destination, Chavez said he slammed her head into the steering wheel and grabbed her face in a way that made her feel like he was trying to take out her eyeball. Charges said she had scratch marks and a bloodshot eye.
Edwards was arrested at that point, but was released on bail on Dec. 1, 2023, pending a trial in that case, and then bail was revoked two months later after his arrest on the murder charges.
