Broward Man Sentenced to Life for Murder and Beheading of Girlfriend

A Broward County judge has sentenced Paul Edwards to life in prison for the brutal murder of his girlfriend, Lisa Spence, whose disappearance in 2009 led to a disturbing investigation that shocked South Florida.

Edwards was convicted of first-degree murder last week. Prosecutors said Spence vanished in October 2009 after living with Edwards in Miramar. When questioned by police, Edwards initially claimed Spence had left him and moved out.

Investigators later determined that Edwards stabbed Spence to death, beheaded her, and concealed her body inside a barrel. The barrel was then dumped in a field in Miami Gardens, prosecutors said.

Authorities say Edwards attempted to cover up the crime by using Spence’s cell phone to send text messages to her family, creating the impression that she was still alive. That effort ultimately led to his arrest.

According to the South Florida Sun Sentinel, detectives cloned Spence’s phone and sent a message that prompted Edwards to respond. Police tracked him to a friend’s house located near the field where Spence’s body was later discovered.

The case drew widespread attention due to the extreme violence involved and the calculated steps prosecutors say Edwards took to hide the crime.

During sentencing, the judge imposed the maximum penalty allowed under Florida law. Edwards will spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole.