August 19, 2024 | By: Dominic Dacunto

This story is part of a collaborative project between Project: Cold Case and the University of North Florida’s Applied Journalism class.

Velecia “Lisa” Ann Lewis was only weeks away from giving birth to her first child, whom she was all too excited to meet. But on the evening of January 6, 1999, Velecia was stabbed and beaten to death in her Memphis, Tennessee apartment after an intruder broke through her door. Her unborn baby died, too. Their murders have never been solved.

Born in Memphis in 1971, Lisa was a stubborn and headstrong young woman but with an incredibly nurturing and caring side. Her cousin, Angela Lewis described her as a natural-born leader who was very forgiving to those in her life who had wronged her. As a child, Lisa displayed the characteristics of a true caretaker, always taking care of the cats that her family had and treating them like they were her patients at a hospital.

Lisa’s childhood life at home became volatile and unpredictable, so Lisa would often find herself at her grandmother’s house or at Angela’s house to find some semblance of peace. Lisa spent the bulk of her childhood with her cousin, Angela, and Angela’s mother, often staying with them nearby at their home. Angela and her family moved to Washington state when Lisa was 11. The move was rough on Lisa and Angela – they went from living within walking distance to across the country from one another. Lisa’s mother would often send updates and pictures of Lisa to Angela’s Mother in Washington, so she could see her cousin grow up.

After high school, Lisa briefly worked for a Memphis public assistance program before enrolling at the University of Memphis in hopes of becoming a veterinarian. Lisa displayed measures of restraint and forgiveness that surpassed what others expected of her. Lisa was a good aunt to her nieces and always ensured that they got all the gifts on their lists at Christmas.

“Lisa’s ability to love and forgive even those who had wronged her so badly was something I always admired about her; said Angela.

Lisa had been living with her mother, Bea, in a small apartment on Lauderdale Street in South Memphis. In 1999, Memphis had a homicide rate nearly four times the national average. The most troublesome areas of the city were downtown which was only a few blocks away from Lisa’s apartment, and the South Memphis area, where Lisa’s apartment was firmly planted within.

On the evening of January 6, 1999, according to Angela, Bea arrived home from work and noticed Lisa wasn’t home. Assuming she was asleep in her room, she attempted to open the bedroom door which was locked. After breaking down the door, Bea found the body of her daughter. She was 27 years old and nine months pregnant with a little girl. Police believed that Lisa may have been the victim of a burglary. Her family, however, believes the suspect was close to Lisa.

This year, 2024, marks the 25th anniversary of Lisa’s death and commemorates a hole in the Lewis family that will never truly be filled. For them, Lisa was a shining star, someone who strived to be the best version of herself she could be.

Through the decades since Lisa’s death, Angela has been hard at work keeping her cousin’s memory alive and well.

“In 1997 when I brought my kids to Memphis to meet her and the rest of my extended family, she took all three of my kids as soon as I walked in the door and spent the next hour playing with them and getting to know them,” Angela said. “My second child still remembers the day he met her.”

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Anyone with information on Velecia’s case is asked to contact the Memphis Police Department at 901-545-2677. To remain anonymous and possibly be eligible for a reward, contact Crime Stoppers of Memphis at 901-528-2274.

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