Shivangi Sinha
In September 2015, Tera Lewandowski’s mother received a troubling text from her daughter that raised concerns for her safety. When Tera couldn’t be found the following day, she was officially reported missing. As police began their investigation, interviews with various individuals gradually revealed a strange and unsettling story. Authorities soon suspected that multiple people might be involved in her disappearance. The case and its resolution are explored in detail in the episode titled ‘Six Pounds of Pressure’ from ID’s ‘Homicide Hunter: American Detective.’
Tera Lewandowski Sent a Concerning Text to Her Mother Before She Went Missing
Tera Kristine Lewandowski was born to Vanda Holt on July 5, 1981. She was a cheerful, easygoing child who always had a smile for everyone she met. Known for her intelligence and ambition, she had big dreams for her future. She had a deep love for animals and had just begun pursuing studies to become a veterinarian. Unfortunately, her life took a turn after being involved in two serious car accidents, which were both allegedly caused by drunk drivers. Tera sustained significant injuries, requiring multiple surgeries on her back and hips, and was subsequently prescribed ongoing pain medication.
Before long, Tera became dependent on the painkillers and found it hard to feel like herself again. In 2015, determined to turn her life around, she made the decision to check into a rehabilitation center. She was hopeful, motivated, and eager for a fresh start. While there, she formed a close friendship with another resident, Crystal Griffin. As their time at the center came to an end, Crystal made her an offer—she and her boyfriend, Daniel “DJ” Meyer, were planning to get a house in Loveland, Colorado, and invited Tera to move in with them. Seeing it as a promising opportunity, she agreed. Along with her beloved chihuahua, Diablo, she settled into a bedroom on the first floor of their new home.
In the early hours of September 30, 2015, around 1 am, Tera’s mother received a text from her daughter’s phone that read, “Stay by your phone. I think something’s going to happen.” She didn’t see the message until the following day and immediately became concerned. When she called the pain specialist Tera was scheduled to see that morning, she learned the latter had never shown up. Alarmed, she reported her daughter missing. Months later, on April 13, 2016, police discovered Tera’s remains in a remote, snowy area of rural Wyoming. She had suffered multiple stab wounds, including one to her spine, which was determined to be a fatal injury.
Details About a Biker Gang Helped Police Get Answers in Tera Lewandowski’s Murder Case
When Tera was first reported missing, police launched their investigation by speaking with her roommates, DJ Meyer and Crystal Griffin. Meyer claimed that in the early hours of September 30, he had dropped Tera off at an emergency clinic in Greeley, Colorado. However, when he returned about an hour later to pick her up, she was nowhere to be found. He suggested to police that she may have gone to meet a drug dealer and failed to return. Investigators followed up on that lead, but it led nowhere. A few days later, a farmer responded to the missing person posters put up by Tera’s mother, Vonda Holt and reported that he had found Tera’s dog wandering alone in the Pawnee Grasslands.
Police initially found no clues during their search of the area where Diablo was discovered. But the investigation progressed when Crystal’s brother, Richard, came forward. He told authorities that his sister had confessed to him that Tera had been murdered inside the house. Detectives brought Crystal in for questioning, and during the interrogation, she revealed a much darker side to the story. Despite DJ Meyer’s image as a respectable city council member, Crystal claimed he was deeply involved with a biker gang called the 21 Biker Club. According to her, the club’s president was Tom Vassil, with his son Mike Vassil acting as second-in-command and Meyer served as the group’s enforcer.
One of Tera Lewandowski’s Killers Gave a Detailed Account to the Police
According to Crystal Griffin’s statement, the events of September 30 took a violent turn after Tera got into an argument with Karly Hanchett, the girlfriend of Mike Vassil. Crystal alleged that Karly demanded Tera be “taught a lesson,” and in response, Tom ordered DJ Meyer to kill her as he was the enforcer. Crystal claimed she stayed downstairs while the rest of the group entered Tera’s room and fatally stabbed her. Afterward, they carried her body out to a car and disposed of it, and she alleged that she was forced to join them. Scott Hanchett, Karly’s brother, was allegedly told to kill the dog, but instead, he chose to let it go free. When police later searched Tom’s home, they discovered a partially burned iPad belonging to Tera in a trash pile.
Police also reviewed surveillance footage from a nearby gas station, which confirmed the presence of all the individuals Crystal had named, supporting her account of events. When investigators brought Meyer in for questioning, he initially tried to shift the blame onto his girlfriend. However, he eventually confessed to the crime. His statement matched Crystal’s version of the events. He admitted that the group had entered Tera’s room and attacked her, with Scott Hanchett allegedly delivering the fatal stab to her spine.
Blood evidence found in the bed of his truck further implicated him in the murder. Police arrested six people in connection with the case: DJ Meyer, Crystal Griffin, Tom Vassil, Mike Vassil, Karly Hanchett, and Chad Iler. Despite their arrests, none of them were able to reveal the location of Tera’s remains. After 187 days of searching, authorities discovered her body in the snowy mountains of rural Wyoming. Based on other testimonies, the police were also able to recover the murder weapons from Pierce, Colorado.
DJ Meyer and Crystal Griffin Are Serving Their Sentences Today
DJ Meyer was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. In May 2017, he was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, along with an additional 48 years. Now 45 years old, he is incarcerated at the Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility in Crowley County, Colorado.
Crystal Griffin pleaded guilty to being an accessory to murder in 2016. She received an 18-year sentence with the possibility of parole. Currently 46 years old, she is serving her time at the Denver Women’s Correctional Facility in Denver, Colorado. She will be eligible for parole in 2027.
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