Account
Jan 28, 2026
Jan 28, 2026
Shanitia
Mikell Eure-lewis
35
35
5'7 inches
145 lbs
Black
Female
In the summer of 2022, Shanitia Mikell Eure-lewis, a devoted 35-year-old mother of two teenage boys, disappeared from Newport News, Virginia, leaving her family and community enveloped in a painful mystery. Known for her active role as a clerk at Gethsemane Baptist Church, Shanitia was a familiar and cherished presence to those around her. On the morning of July 17, 2022, she attended the 8 a.m. worship service as usual, even making an announcement to the congregation. Friends and fellow church members saw her leave the church around 9 a.m., with the intention of picking up her sons from her sister's house and returning for the next service. However, after leaving the church, Shanitia was seen by her children having an argument with her husband, Adrian Lewis, and then departing in his truck; she was never seen or heard from again. The days following Shanitia's disappearance were filled with escalating concern, which quickly turned into a homicide investigation. An Ashanti Alert was issued, signifying that authorities believed her to be in "extreme danger". The investigation soon focused on her husband, Adrian Lewis, from whom she had expressed a desire to get a divorce just weeks earlier. The couple's marital strife had become increasingly tense, with Adrian reportedly placing a tracking device in her car and telling a friend that if he ever caught her cheating, he would kill her. The day after she went missing, investigators found Adrian Lewis at an airport, attempting to travel to Jamaica with his wife's passport and credit cards. Further investigation uncovered Shanitia's blood in his truck, and his search history revealed queries about murder sentences in Virginia. Adrian was arrested on July 19, 2022, and charged with first-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Although Adrian Lewis maintained his innocence, the evidence presented during his trial painted a grim picture of the final weeks of Shanitia's life. Friends testified about his controlling behavior and threats, and the pastor of their church recounted a chilling phone call in which Adrian said, "I just hope she rots in hell". In September 2023, a jury convicted Adrian Lewis of first-degree murder, and he was subsequently sentenced to life in prison. Despite this legal conclusion, the case remains a source of profound grief for Shanitia's loved ones. Her body has never been recovered, leaving her family without the closure of a proper burial. They continue to hold services in her memory, remembering her as a beloved mother, daughter, and friend, while grappling with the tragic reality that the full story of her final moments may never be known. The case of Shanitia Eure-lewis is a heartbreaking account of a life cut short, and the enduring pain of a family left without answers.
Jul 17, 2022
Newport News
Virginia
Newport News
Newport News Police Departmen
757-247-2500
06/01/2026
