Naman Shrestha
The episode titled ‘Second Chance at Death’ of Investigation Discovery’s ‘Fatal Vows’ delves deep into the double homicide of Julian Clifton Lewis Jr. and his son, Charlie James “CJ” Lewis, in late October 2002. The tragedy rocked the entire community of Keeling, Virginia, to its core, while the remaining Lewis family was left devastated. The investigation soon uncovered a shocking murder-for-hire plot and financial motives that eventually led the detectives to the perpetrators.
Julian and CJ Lewis Were Found Dead in Their Apartment With Gunshot Wounds
Julian Clifton Lewis Jr. was born on January 1, 1951, in Danville, Virginia, to Julian Clifton Lewis Sr. and Jeanette Ridgeway Wood. Growing up alongside his sister, Helen Cope, in the Danville area, he became an electrician and worked at Dan River Mills. At the age of 19, he married Paula Jo “PJ” Walker, but the marriage soon ended in divorce. In 1972, he married for the second time, this time with Joyce Dale Evans Lewis in Caswell County, North Carolina. Together, the couple had two sons — Jason Clifton Lewis and Charles James “C.J.” Lewis — and a daughter named Kathy Lewis Clifton.
The Army veteran suffered a huge loss when Joyce passed away on January 26, 2000. That same year, he tied the knot with his third wife, Teresa Michelle Wilson Lewis, who had two children from previous relationships — a daughter named Christie Lynn Bean and a son named Billy Wayne Bean Jr. In December 2001, Julian Lewis, who was a member of Faith Church Ministries and the Praise and Worship Team, was devastated when his son, Jason, met with a fatal car accident.
As for Julian’s other son, Charles James “CJ” Lewis, who was born on April 16, 1976, in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, he worked as a security guard at Unique Packaging Company for a while. Following in his father’s footsteps, he also served for a couple of years with the US Army and for 18 months with the National Guard of Danville. He was also known for his musical talents. CJ Lewis was also a proud and doting father to his daughter, Cathryn Marie Briarton. Unfortunately, their lives came to an abrupt end on the fateful night of October 30, 2002, as they were killed at their residence on 903 Loop Road in Keeling, Virginia. Teresa reportedly dialed 911 and reported the situation. After the investigators arrived at the crime scene, they learned that Julian and CJ Lewis died of gunshot wounds.
Three Individuals Were Linked to Julian and CJ Lewis’ Murders
At the crime scene, they reportedly heard Julian Lewis’ say his last words, “My wife knows who done this to me.” However, Teresa Lewis told the detectives that he and his son, Charles James “CJ” Lewis, were attacked and killed by unidentified assailants who had broken into their trailer in Keeling, Virginia. Still having doubts about her account, the investigators dug deeper into Teresa’s life and learned that in the fall of 2002, she had begun a sexual relationship with two men — 21-year-old Matthew Jessee Shallenberger and 19-year-old Rodney Lamont Fuller. Soon, Teresa hatched a plan to get her husband and stepson killed for the life insurance money and hired Matthew and Rodney to carry out the crime.
On October 30, 2002, Teresa left the back door of her family trailer open, through which the two hired hitmen entered the residence. While Matthew shot Julian to death in his sleep, Rodney killed CJ in his bedroom with a shotgun. Teresa paid for the murder weapons and ammunition that the two men used. As per reports, Teresa waited about 45 minutes before dialing 911. While the police were on their way, she allegedly stole a few hundred dollars from Julian’s wallet and divided them with the two hitmen before they fled the scene. Not long after her husband’s passing, she reportedly withdrew $50,000 from her late husband’s account with a forged check. During her interrogation, Teresa led the detectives to Matthew, who admitted to having a passionate affair with her but claimed that he had nothing to do with the murders.
Upon searching Matthew’s room, the detectives discovered two shotguns and a pair of yellow rubber gloves. When the shot shells found inside the shotguns matched the ones found at the crime scene, the police took him into custody. When they pushed Teresa further, she told them that Matthew had hired his friend, Rodney, to help him with the crime. After Rodney was arrested, he cooperated with the detectives and confessed to helping Matthew with the murders and confirmed that it was all orchestrated by Teresa. Thus, while Teresa was charged with two counts of capital murder, the two hitmen were charged with conspiracy to commit murder.
While Matthew Died by Suicide, Teresa Met Her Demise Through Lethal Injection
A few months later, in May 2003, Teresa Lewis pleaded guilty to orchestrating the murders in order to avoid getting the death penalty. By then, her two accomplices had also agreed to plea deals that would result in reduced sentences for their crimes. They were eventually sentenced to life in prison in separate trials. In early June 2003, despite her plea deal, Teresa was sentenced to death for getting Julian and CJ Lewis killed. Moreover, her daughter, Christie Lynn Bean, was also sentenced to five years in prison for failing to report the murder-for-hire plot after she learned about it.
In 2006, while serving his sentence, Matthew Shallenberger took his own life in his prison cell at Wallens Ridge State Prison in Big Stone Gap, Virginia. Four years later, on August 25, 2010, Teresa filed a clemency plea, claiming that she had an IQ of 72 and could not have possibly planned the murders. However, her clemency plea was rejected by the Supreme Court. Less than a month later, on September 23, 2010, 41-year-old Teresa Lewis had her last meal and was executed at 9:13 pm by lethal injection at Greensville Correctional Center near Jarratt, Virginia.
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