After being reported missing for several days, police were called in to inspect Deeble's home, only to find her apartment door slightly open and her body lying on the floor.

[6] On January 25, 1993, Edwards broke into the Kanoe Resort condominium of 67-year-old realtor Muriel E. Delbecq, an Indiana-born employee for Heritage Real Estate in Anchorage, Alaska who often vacationed in Kihei.

[2] After he was done violating the corpse, Edwards stole her wedding ring and several articles of clothing, including a pair of panties and a bra, which he later dumped in a nearby trash bin.

[8][9] On February 2, Edwards was arrested and charged with Delbecq's murder, in addition to two counts of sexual assault, robbery and kidnapping relating to the case.

[13] During the proceedings, Maui Deputy Prosecutor Joseph Barbaro presented the autopsy report of Delbecq's body, which showcased the many severe injuries she had suffered both pre and post-mortem, in addition to an abundance of physical and DNA evidence located at the crime scene.

[15] In response, Edwards' defense attorney Daniel P. Bates pointed out that there were obvious differences, such as Deeble's neck being broken, as well as having bite marks and scratches, which Delbecq's body lacked.

[2] As he was facing a possible death penalty, one of his attorneys, Tim Severin, pleaded that the jurors be willing to spare his life, pointing out Edwards' history of abuse at the hands of his father, his drug and alcohol addictions, and most notably, his undying love for his young son.