More than a month after Australian Shanae Edwards was found dead abroad, a man was arrested for allegedly killing her.
A man has been arrested for the murder of Australian Shanae Edwards, who was found dead more than a month ago in the eastern European country of Georgia.
Ms. Edwards, a 31-year-old from Melbourne who had taught English in Georgia, disappeared on July 30 after hiking in Mtatsminda Park in the capital, Tbilisi. She was last seen at a popular starting point for hiking, across from Mikhail Tver Church.
She is said to have left her house around 3:35 p.m. An hour later, a friend who lives in the United States received a panicked call from Ms. Edwards saying “yelled for help” and asked someone, “Please let me go.”
The next day, a search party found her body.
The Georgian Interior Ministry announced overnight that it had arrested a “Georgian citizen residing in Tbilisi” for “premeditated murder” of Ms. Edwards. The defendant was identified only by the initials RM and his year of birth, 1988.
He faces up to 15 years imprisonment.
The ministry also outlined the investigators’ steps to identify the alleged perpetrator.
“On the afternoon of July 31, the body of a young woman with traces of violence was found during intensive searches,” it said.
“The interior ministry investigator inspected the crime scene and the body of the deceased with the help of forensic experts, and a number of objects and biological traces relevant to the case were found. The murder weapon, a knife, was also confiscated by the law enforcement authorities in a damaged condition.
“After the crime scene was investigated, the body was transferred to the Levan Samkharauli National Forensics Bureau, where a corresponding physical examination was carried out. Objects and genetic traces taken from the crime scene were subjected to a range of investigative procedures, including biological, spurological, genetic and fingerprint tests.
“More than 200 people were interviewed, including friends, work colleagues, neighbors of the deceased woman, as well as people who were employed in Mtatsminda Park on the day of the crime and were staying on the day of the crime. To establish identity based on the information they received identify the perpetrator, a composite sketch was drawn up, which was sent to all operational units.
“Shanae Edwards’ movement routes were examined, as well as footage showing her movement on the day of the incident. Investigators also examined several dozen surveillance camera videos.”
The biological traces obtained at the crime scene were sent by Interpol to 194 member states in order to compare them with existing DNA databases. Investigators also took biological samples from “several dozen” people, all of whom were subjected to “detailed interrogation.”
“The alibi information given by these people about their whereabouts at the time of the murder was checked by various investigative measures,” said the ministry.
“Due to the complex and multi-layered investigative work, the group of possible perpetrators was reduced to a minimum. The genetic test confirmed the identity of the perpetrator beyond any doubt. “
After Mrs. Edwards’ death, friends posted online tributes to her, describing her as kind and generous.
“You were the strongest woman I know, an amazing person, always the life of the party, always bright and positive, no matter what life throws at you,” said one person.
“My heart is heavy with grief to know that she has left us. I know that she will be missed very much and I send my deepest condolences to her family at this tragic time,” said another.
“I’m really honored to have crossed myself with such an incredible woman.”
“I wish Shanae could see what we all shared and wrote about her,” said someone else.
“I know that it would have reflected all that love unconditionally.
“My heart is heavy with sadness to know that she has left us.”