Hemphill, TX — In a tragic encounter that seems ripped from a crime drama, Darci Bass faced the man accused of murdering her daughter in a local convenience store, nearly a year after her daughter’s death. The incident underscores the enduring agony and the quest for justice that can follow such a horrific loss.
The journey to justice began on Halloween 2020, when 19-year-old Livye Lewis was found deceased in her car on a quiet road in Hemphill. Positioned in a seemingly relaxed posture, she had succumbed to a fatal rifle shot to the neck. This horrifying discovery shocked the small Texas community and puzzled investigators.
Darci Bass learned of her daughter’s demise in a devastating fashion — not through official channels, but from a concerned friend. She rushed to the scene, a moment of heart-wrenching grief captured by police body cameras as she demanded to see her child and know her fate.
Initial investigations led officials quickly to a suspect. Matthew Edgar, 23, the boyfriend of the deceased and a father figure to her children, was found near the scene, huddled behind the vehicle in a fetal position with his rifle lying beside him. Despite his proximity and the recovery of his weapon at the scene, Edgar professed a complete loss of memory regarding the event, complicating the case.
As Edgar was rushed to a hospital, he was recorded on police bodycam footage, dazed and bloodied, insisting he remembered nothing of how he ended up behind Lewis’s car. During his interaction with Sabine County Sheriff’s Investigator J.P. MacDonough, the complexities of the case began to surface. Although Edgar was nearby, with no physical evidence tying him directly to the murder, like fingerprints or DNA on the gun, the evidence was initially not definitive.
Further complicating the case was the voice of Shaun Dunn, a close friend to Edgar, who argued that Edgar, too, was a victim of circumstance, suggesting someone else at the scene could have pulled the trigger. Despite these claims, MacDonough felt confident enough in the circumstantial evidence to arrest Edgar while he was still in the hospital.
The judicial process, however, did not move smoothly. Edgar was released on bail as the COVID-19 pandemic caused significant delays in court proceedings, notably affecting the convening of grand juries necessary for indicting suspects.
This delay set the stage for the troubling encounter between Bass and Edgar at the convenience store, when Bass, overwhelmed by grief and the sight of the accused, confronted and chased Edgar, leading to her brief arrest on charges of assault and criminal mischief, though these were later dropped.
Months after this confrontation, the legal process resumed full force, and Edgar was eventually indicted by a grand jury for the murder of Livye Lewis. Yet, Edgar eluded immediate capture by manipulating his ankle monitor and fleeing during his trial, a move that prolonged his sentencing. He was ultimately convicted and sentenced in absentia to 99 years in prison, reflecting the gravity of the crime. It took almost a year for authorities to apprehend him so he could begin serving his sentence.
The emotional and legal turmoil surrounding the murder of Livye Lewis highlights the complexities and pains of seeking justice amidst tragedy. Each development in the case brings a mix of relief and renewed grief for those who loved Livye, as they continue to grapple with their loss while seeking closure in the shadow of ongoing legal proceedings.