In the quiet community of Keeling, Virginia, a chilling series of events unfolded, leading to the untimely death of 25-year-old Charles 'CJ' Lewis. On the night of October 30, 2002, Charles, a male, was brutally murdered alongside his 51-year-old father, Julian Clifton Lewis Jr., in what was later revealed to be a calculated murder-for-hire scheme.
The crime was orchestrated by Julian's wife and Charles's stepmother, Teresa Lewis.
The motive behind the gruesome act was a $250,000 life insurance policy. Teresa Lewis conspired with two men, Matthew Shallenberger and Rodney Fuller, to have her husband and stepson killed so she could be the beneficiary. On that fateful night, Teresa left the back door of their home unlocked, granting the two hired gunmen easy access to the unsuspecting victims. Shallenberger shot Julian, while Fuller was responsible for the death of CJ, who was an Army reservist visiting before a deployment to Iraq.
Despite being severely wounded, Julian Lewis was able to inform a sheriff's deputy that his wife was aware of who was behind the attack before he succumbed to his injuries. Teresa's behavior following the incident raised suspicions, as she waited over an hour to call 911 and her account of the events was inconsistent. Her demeanor was described as callous by investigators. A failed polygraph test further implicated her in the crime.
The investigation unraveled the plot, leading to the arrests of Teresa Lewis, Matthew Shallenberger, and Rodney Fuller. It was discovered that Teresa had provided the money for the purchase of the shotguns and ammunition used in the murders. In the subsequent legal proceedings, both Shallenberger and Fuller were sentenced to life in prison for their roles in the double homicide. Teresa Lewis was convicted for her part in masterminding the murders and received a death sentence. Her case garnered significant media attention, partly due to her gender and claims of a low IQ. Despite numerous appeals, Teresa Lewis was executed by lethal injection on September 23, 2010, becoming the first woman to be executed in Virginia in nearly a century. One of the gunmen, Matthew Shallenberger, later died in prison in 2006.
