David Lewis claimed he found his mother stabbed to death. Detectives say he was the one holding the knife — and then spent time trying to make sure no one would ever know.
Key Facts
- Victim: Valerra Lewis, 60, stabbed multiple times inside her own home
- Suspect: Her son, David Lewis, who initially told police he “found” her body
- Evidence: Blood-soaked knife found at scene; strong smell of cleaning products detected
- Cover-up: David allegedly cleaned the home and destroyed evidence after the killing
What Happened
When officers arrived at a home on Three Rivers Court in New Castle County, Delaware, they were greeted by a grim scene — a 60-year-old woman lying in a bedroom, covered in blood, with multiple stab wounds. Her name was Valerra Lewis. The man who called police was her son, David Lewis, who told investigators he had returned home and made the horrifying discovery.
But detectives weren’t buying it.
Along with Valerra’s body, officers found a blood-covered knife and large amounts of blood spread throughout the home. What stood out just as much, though, was something they smelled before they even looked closely — the sharp, unmistakable odor of cleaning products.
The Lies Unravel
As investigators dug deeper, David’s story began to fall apart. Detectives determined that David had not simply come home to a tragedy — he had caused it. According to New Castle County police, David fatally stabbed his mother multiple times with a knife inside their shared home.
After the killing, police say, he did not call for help. Instead, he allegedly set about trying to erase what he had done — cleaning surfaces, sanitizing the home, and attempting to destroy physical evidence linking him to the murder. Only then, investigators believe, did he call in the false report of “finding” her body.
Charges Filed Against David Lewis
- Murder (First Degree)
- Possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony
- Providing a false statement to a law enforcement officer
- Tampering with physical evidence
Behind Bars
David Lewis was arrested and transported to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution, where he is currently being held. A judge set his bail at over one million dollars — cash only.
Bail Set At $1,055,178 Cash Only — Howard R. Young Correctional Institution
What’s Next
The case now moves toward prosecution. Given the nature of the charges — murder plus evidence tampering and providing false information to police — David Lewis faces the prospect of spending the rest of his life behind bars if convicted.
Investigators have not publicly disclosed a motive. The community on Three Rivers Court, where a mother was killed inside her own home by someone she trusted, is left grappling with a loss that few words can adequately describe.
