New details emerge in Khyler Edman’s murder

A man accused of killing a Port Charlotte teenager that heroically saved his younger sister in September told detectives, the day of the killing, he blacked out after buying drugs, waking up in the hospital with no recollection.

The suspect, Ryan Cole, 27, is accused of fatally stabbing Khyler Edman, 15, while the victim was trying to protect his sister during the home invasion. Cole was formally charged with second-degree murder and burglary at an arraignment Monday morning.

The sister of the victim, who was hiding in her room, told investigators Cole was heard knocking and opened the front door on Sept 26. Moments later, Cole pointed a firearm at her brother, saying, “Put your hands up,” according to the affidavit. Using a knife, the victim tried to defend himself from Cole. However, Khyler Edman was later found with several stab wounds to his torso area.

According to the affidavit, the mother had an interactive surveillance camera. When she saw a Facebook alert about a suspicious person in the area, she checked in on her camera, but neither of her children responded despite them both being at home. After several attempts, Khyler’s sister went into the view of the camera, saying that her bother is dead, with his eyes open, and needs an ambulance. The victim’s mother rushed home from work. She found her teenage son’s body in the living room.

“There’s nothing we’ve been able to identify as to why he chose that house,” said Sheriff Bill Prummell, of Charlotte County Sherriff’s Office.

A detective later interviewed Cole. Before the murder, Cole said he met with a person at Bayfront Hospital where he purchased around $40 worth of heroin and meth, per the affidavit. In the 10 years he has been doing drugs, Cole said he has never blacked out until that day. His next memory was waking up at a Lee County hospital, with no recollection of the murder he is accused of committing.