Authorities in California have charged a 41-year-old man with murder after the body of a missing woman was found behind a “secret wall” inside his home.
The deceased victim, identified as Renia Lewis, was found by detectives behind a wall in the attic of the Vallejo home of the suspect, Douglas Irwin Shaw, KTVU reported.
Lewis’ mother told the news outlet she managed to trace her daughter’s whereabouts with Life360, the family location safety app. Lewis disappeared on September 28, and police also said that “indications” suggested that the deceased victim was at the suspect’s home before she was last seen.
“What did she do to you for you to kill her, and then put her in a wall?” Lewis’ mother, Teri Lewis, said. “And she’s been gone since Friday, so we were out here looking for my daughter, and she’s in the wall, dead. I know she fought.”
Vallejo police, in a statement, said that they found Lewis’ body in a “concealed entry into the attic.”
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“This was a heartbreaking, senseless act of violence that has no place in our community,” Police Chief Jason Ta said. “Above all, our thoughts are with the decedent’s family during this incredibly difficult time.”
Lewis’ family informed the news outlet that she was not romantically involved with Shaw, who faces one count of murder in the death of the 28-year-old.
“You would miss it, because my baby girl was hidden behind a wall. A secret wall they placed her behind,” Lewis’ cousin, Latoya Lewis, also said.
“The person that they have in custody is being cooperative, stated that he did indeed kill Renia, he threw her phone on top of the school, that’s the most information that I have,” Latoya said, adding elsewhere in the interview that she was “hurt.”
“You would have never thought you would be out posting flyers, and it would be your own family member. My stomach was in knots.”
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