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| Released Murder Suspect Speaks Out |
| By KITV |
| Published: 09/23/2002 |
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Former Kaneohe Marine Delmar Edmonds spoke with KITV about what it was like to be held in a Hawaii prison for more than a year, knowing he was 'innocent' of the brutal murder of a 13-year old girl. Edmonds found out September 6 his DNA did not match the DNA of sperm taken from the body of a Dawn Bustamante. Bustamante was raped and fatally shot in Kailua, Hawaii more than 27 years ago. DNA tests were difficult because the sperm sample from Bustamante's body was so minute and from so long ago. Edmonds had been accused of the crime, extradited from his home in Indianapolis, and held in Oahu Community Correctional Center until his release last week. 'I really didn't feel much than anything other than crying. I cried for quite a while after it happened. I was just overjoyed, just ready for it to be over,' Edmonds said. Edmonds said he spent his first weekend free from prison relaxing in a hotel room, watching movies and calling his family. 'All the inmates aren't guilty. One of the guys explained that this wasn't just a victory for me it was a victory for everyone in there. There is always hope,' Edmonds said. The entire time Edmonds was held at Oahu Community Correctional Center he was kept in a separate protective custody unit because of threats from other prisoners. Edmonds said his strong faith as a born again Baptist kept him going. 'It has brought me and my family closer, me and some of my friends closer, but no bitter feelings at all,' he said. Public defender Susan Arnett said she will soon ask the court to permanently dismiss the case against Edmonds or to put a time limit on when he could be reindicted. 'We think Mr. Edmonds now deserves some closure on this, to not have this hanging over his head in some way,' Arnett said. Edmonds said he is looking forward to returning to Indianapolis to his wife and six children and job as a big rig truck driver. Police sources said Edmonds is still a suspect. They said he could have killed Bustamante even though the DNA sperm sample does not match. Police said now they will compare the DNA sample from Bustamante with other acquaintances of Bustamante's. They will also compare the sample with the sex offenders registered on the state's database. |
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