On July 23, 2018, Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office detectives were notified by the parents of a teenage daughter that Richard Edwards, age 55 from Cottonwood had sexually assaulted their daughter in a Prescott area home.
Detectives conducted an extensive interview with the victim who explained that earlier this year, Edwards, contacted her on the Snapchat social media application expressing sexual desire for her. Eventually, Edwards showed up unannounced at the victim’s front door. When she opened the door, he grabbed her and forced her into a bedroom, sexually assaulted her, and threatened to kill her if she talked. No other family was home at the time.
In the weeks that followed, Edwards was able to be present in situations that allowed him to continue molesting the victim at other locations. The victim was so scared of Richard’s actions, she eventually told a trusted family member and the Sheriff’s Office was contacted.
On July 24, 2018, detectives located Edwards at his Cottonwood home and placed him in-custody for charges including Sexual Assault, Sexual Conduct with a Minor, Sexual Abuse, Lure Minor for Sexual Exploitation and Threatening. He remains in-custody on a $500,000 cash bond.
If anyone has further information on suspect Edwards in context to this arrest, please call detective David Moya at 928-771-3278.