David Glenn Lewis was a successful lawyer, a family man, and a charity volunteer from Amarillo, Texas. He had a normal and happy life until he suddenly disappeared from his home in January 1993. Four days later, he was found dead in a hit-and-run accident in Moxee, Washington, 1,600 miles away from his home. His identity remained unknown for 11 years until DNA testing confirmed his name. But how did he get there? And why did he leave his home without any explanation?

The Disappearance:

On January 28th, 1993, David left work early, saying he was not feeling well. He also taught a government class that night at a nearby college. The next day, his wife Karen and his daughter Lauren left for a weekend shopping trip to Dallas. They did not see David before leaving, but they assumed he was at home watching his favorite football team, the Dallas Cowboys, play in the Super Bowl.

However, David’s behavior that weekend was strange and erratic. He was seen by a friend rushing through an airport terminal without any luggage. He also photographed his red Ford Explorer parked outside the Potter County courthouse. He returned home at some point, because his neighbors saw his vehicle in the driveway. But when Karen and Lauren came back on Sunday night, they found David’s wedding ring and watch on the counter, two turkey sandwiches in the fridge, and the TV and VCR still on. David was nowhere to be found.

Karen thought he might have gone to watch the game at a friend’s house and would be back soon. But when she learned that he had missed two appointments on Monday, she became worried and reported him missing to the police.

The Death:

Meanwhile, on February 1st, 1993, around 10:24 p.m., a man was walking along a two-lane highway near Moxee City, Washington, when he was struck by a car. The driver did not stop and fled the scene. The man died instantly from multiple injuries. He had no identification on him and no one reported him missing. He was wearing glasses that had a prescription label with the name of an optometrist in Amarillo.

The police tried to contact the optometrist, but he had retired and moved away. They also checked with local hotels and car rental agencies, but found no trace of the man. They took his fingerprints and DNA samples, but they did not match anyone in their databases. They released a sketch of his face to the media, hoping someone would recognize him. But no one came forward.

The man became known as John Doe #19-93-0050. He was buried in an unmarked grave in Terrace Heights Memorial Park in Yakima.

The Identification:

For 11 years, John Doe’s identity remained a mystery. Then, in 2004, a breakthrough came when a forensic genealogist named Colleen Fitzpatrick contacted the Yakima County coroner’s office. She had read about John Doe’s case online and offered to help with DNA testing.

Fitzpatrick obtained John Doe’s DNA profile from the coroner’s office and uploaded it to several genealogy databases. She also contacted the optometrist who had prescribed John Doe’s glasses and obtained his records. She found out that John Doe’s real name was David Glenn Lewis.

Fitzpatrick then contacted David’s family in Texas and asked them for DNA samples to confirm the match. They agreed and sent their samples to Fitzpatrick. The results showed that John Doe was indeed David Glenn Lewis.

Fitzpatrick notified the coroner’s office and the police of her findings. She also informed David’s family of his fate. They were shocked and saddened by the news. They had no idea how or why David ended up in Washington or what happened to him there.

The Mystery:

David Glenn Lewis’ identification solved one part of the puzzle, but it also raised more questions. How did he get from Texas to Washington? Did he fly or drive? If he flew, where did he get the money for the ticket? If he drove, where did he leave his car? Why did he leave his home without telling anyone? What was he doing in Washington? Was he running away from something or someone? Was he involved in any illegal or dangerous activities? Was his death an accident or a murder?

The police have not been able to answer these questions conclusively. They have not found any evidence of foul play or criminal activity in David’s background or in his death. They have not been able to locate the driver who hit him or the car that was used. They have not been able to trace his movements or his motives.

David Glenn Lewis’ case remains a mystery to this day. His family and friends are still searching for answers and closure. His grave has been marked with his name and a plaque that reads:

Sources:
1. https://thecrimewire.com/true-crime/The-Strange-Disappearance-and-Death-of-David-Glenn-Lewis
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_David_Glenn_Lewis
3. https://wickedness.net/murders/david-glenn-lewis/
4. https://unidentified-awareness.fandom.com/wiki/David_Lewis