Escaped Minnesota Sex Offender Captured in Missouri

May 18

A man who escaped from the Minnesota Sex Offender Program in Saint Peter on Friday has been captured in Missouri.

Authorities say 53-year-old Steven Loren Edwards was last seen around 6:53 p.m. on Friday, May 16, on the grounds of the Saint Peter Regional Treatment Center campus.

Saint Peter Police say they were not notified of the escape until about 5:20 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, nearly 24 hours later, which delayed the response and limited the search window.

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Officers began searching the area immediately after receiving the report. Edwards had reportedly acquired a silver 2004 Dodge Stratus with a Minnesota temporary license plate. Investigators confirmed he was seen earlier Saturday in Albert Lea, and law enforcement there joined the effort to locate him.

Officials had urged the public not to approach Edwards and to call 911 with any sightings. Numerous tips were received following the alert, helping investigators locate Edwards.

Just before noon on Sunday, Edwards was located and taken into custody in Missouri. The exact circumstances of his capture have not been released.

According to Minnesota court records, Edwards was convicted in 2001 in Washington County of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and kidnapping. In a separate case that same year in Scott County, he was convicted of second-degree criminal sexual conduct. He has been civilly committed to the Minnesota Sex Offender Program since 2011.

This marked the second escape from a Saint Peter-based sex offender facility in just over a week. On May 9, 45-year-old Beau-Jacob Edward Zimmer fled from Community Preparation Services, a non-secure program that houses up to 89 clients who have been approved by the courts to live outside the campus’ secure perimeter.

Zimmer cut off his GPS ankle monitor and was later found to be carrying a kitchen knife that he had checked out from the facility earlier that evening—a practice permitted under program rules. He was located several miles west of Saint Peter early the next morning and taken into custody without incident.

Law enforcement agencies involved in both cases thanked the public for quickly reporting tips and assisting with the investigations.

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