NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Police have released a photo of a homeless man they believe brutally killed another homeless man in September and violently attacked a woman earlier this week.
Lane Walter Edwards, 47, was arrested in East Nashville Friday night and booked into jail early Saturday morning.
Officials said the registered sex offender killed a man at a homeless camp under the Jefferson Street Bridge just north of downtown Nashville.
Investigators found 46-year-old Robert Johnson dead at the site in September. He had been beaten to death with a large rock.
Court records said Edwards told police he wanted to "execute" Johnson.
Edwards was also charged with aggravated rape after police said he attacked a 23-year-old woman who was walking down Woodland Street near the Juvenile Justice Center just Monday night.
During the assault, the woman said Edwards used a razor blade or box cutter and asked her if she wanted to die.
Police also said Edwards told them he felt the impulse to attack her without provocation.
"Edwards has given a full confession, not only to the Johnson murder, but to the attack on the 23-year-old woman," said Don Aaron, spokesperson with the Metro Nashville Police Department. "he details he gave clearly indicate that he did these crimes."
Aaron said other homeless people led police to where Edwards was staying.
Edwards has been in trouble before. He had an arrest record dating all the way back to 1984.
State records showed convictions for attempted aggravated rape, reckless endangerment, auto theft and evading arrest.
