In the early morning hours of September 20, 2017, Alisha Michelle Canales-McGuire, a 24-year-old female, was tragically killed in what would later be revealed as a horrifying case of mistaken identity. A newlywed with dreams of starting her own family, Alisha was staying at her sister's home in Everett, Washington, to babysit her nieces and nephew while their mother was away on a business trip. Shortly before 2 a.m., a knock came at the door.
When Alisha answered, she was fatally shot in the doorway. The children inside the home were unharmed but were left to discover the horrific scene.
The investigation into Alisha’s death soon uncovered a sinister plot, not targeting her, but her sister, Amanda Canales. Suspicion quickly fell on Amanda's ex-husband, Kevin Lewis, with whom she had a tumultuous and abusive relationship. Although Lewis had an alibi for the time of the murder, investigators believed he had orchestrated the crime. For months, the case progressed with few leads, until a crucial tip emerged from the Spokane area. A witness reported that a young woman had been bragging at a party about being hired to kill someone in Snohomish County.
This information led investigators to a 17-year-old female, Alexis Hale, and her then-boyfriend, Jerradon Phelps, who was Kevin Lewis's cousin. Detectives discovered that Lewis had hired Phelps and Hale to murder his ex-wife for a payment of $2,400. Cell phone records tracked the pair as they traveled from Spokane to Everett on the night of the murder. Further evidence was found on social media, where Phelps had posted photos of himself with several hundred-dollar bills just hours after the shooting.
Ultimately, Kevin Lewis, Jerradon Phelps, and Alexis Hale were arrested and charged in connection with the murder-for-hire scheme. Investigators concluded that Hale had knocked on the door, and when Alisha, unfortunately, answered, Phelps shot her multiple times. All three were eventually convicted for their roles in the crime. Phelps and Hale were convicted of murder, and Kevin Lewis was found guilty of first-degree aggravated murder, conspiracy, and solicitation to commit murder, receiving a life sentence in prison without the possibility of parole. The tragic death of Alisha Canales-McGuire was a devastating consequence of a domestic violence dispute that was never meant to involve her.
