Joe Hunter competed on “Survivor” to honor his overdue sister. Now he is on a project to end up she was once murdered.

On a seashore in Fiji competing on “Survivor,” the truth display that, like “48 Hours,” airs on CBS, Joe Hunter’s grief over the demise of his sister Joanna got here out in complete pressure.

JOE HUNTER (“Survivor” season 48): I leave out you such a lot. I simply leave out you such a lot. 

JOE HUNTER (“Survivor” season 48): I’m so sorry for the issues I stated. … And I by no means were given the risk to mention “I really like you.” So, “I really like you.”

Joe continues to be grappling with how she died.

DISPATCHER: 911, What is your emergency?

CHURCH MEMBER: … I feel any person’s lifeless. 

A 911 name was once made on Oct. 6, 2011 at 9:25 p.m. in Vacaville, California.

CHURCH MEMBER:  My pastor simply got here out of the home, and he is in point of fact, in point of fact dissatisfied and he instructed me to name the police officers. He thinks his spouse’s lifeless …

DISPATCHER: What is his identify?

CHURCH MEMBER:  His identify is Mark Lewis.

DISPATCHER: Can I communicate to Mark?

DISPATCHER: … Are you able to inform me what took place?

MARK LEWIS: I don’t have any clue what took place …

MARK LEWIS:  Oh, I do not wish to discuss it. … I do not wish to discuss what she seems like.

THE SCENE AT JOANNA’S HOUSE

It was once a horrible sight. Mark Lewis’ 36-year-old spouse Joanna striking inside of a bed room closet.

MARK LEWIS (to 911): Ship anyone out right here fast.

DISPATCHER: Mark, they are at the method, honey.

14 mins later, at 9:39 p.m., consistent with the Solano County Sheriff’s document, a deputy was once at the scene. 

Captain Jackson Harris reviewed the case with “48 Hours.”

Capt. Jackson Harris: He minimize her down … attempted to search out any indicators of existence. … There weren’t any indicators of existence that have been there, sadly.

A bathrobe sash were the noose. The deputy’s document stated, “he didn’t apply any indicators of a fight.” There was once an open suitcase and a observe.

Capt. Jackson Harris: I imagine the observe stated, care for the canine.

Had Joanna taken her personal existence? Mark Lewis, the 36-year-old pastor of The Fellowship Baptist Church, was once handcuffed, positioned behind a patrol automotive, and in short wondered.

Capt. Jackson Harris: He supplied a commentary.

He stated his spouse “didn’t seem to be depressed,” “has no historical past of psychological sickness” and “hasn’t ever tried suicide.”

Natalie Morales | “48 Hours” correspondent: The husband is announcing … my spouse did this instantly. …

Capt. Jackson Harris: That — that was once his commentary that he supplied … folks dedicate suicide for quite a lot of causes. Some folks stay it to themselves … some folks inform the sector.

Within the document, Lewis stated he ultimate noticed his spouse at 1 p.m. And the church member who known as 911, stated he and Mark were outdoor the home enjoying basketball and speaking about their religion beginning at 3 p.m., till Mark went inside of and located Joanna lifeless.

Joanna’s mom, Patricia Hunter, knew not anything of what was once unfolding at her daughter’s space that night time. She wasn’t known as. An afternoon later, a deacon from the church, went to look her.

Patricia Hunter: He stated, “Joanna is lifeless.” … What?

At round the similar time, Joe, a Sacramento, California, firefighter, was once taken apart by means of the captain of his firehouse.

Joe Hunter: He stated, “your sister’s long gone.”

First, the intestine punch.

Joe Hunter:  I dropped to my knees.

After which, nearly right away, one idea, one identify: Mark Lewis.

Patricia Hunter: What did he do to her?

Joe Hunter: I knew. I knew he did it.

Patricia Hunter: And I fell to the bottom screaming, crying.

Joe Hunter: Part of me died proper there.

A couple of weeks later when Patricia and her overdue husband spoke to an officer, he confirmed her the observe.

Patricia Hunter: I if truth be told laughed. And I stated, “That is not a suicide observe.” … She was once leaving him. And that was once her observe to him, care for the canine. I will’t take them.

A HISTORY OF ABUSE AND RESTRAINING ORDERS

Joanna had attempted to depart Lewis repeatedly prior to, says Patricia. There was once a historical past of abuse and a cycle that started now not lengthy after the couple began seeing every different in highschool. At 17, Patricia says, Joanna got here house with a black eye.

Patricia Hunter: And I begged her. I stated, let’s pass to the medical institution. Let’s pass to the police … and he or she stated, “no, mother, no.”

At 20, Joanna documented Lewis “choking” her and were given a restraining order towards him. Even so, Joanna returned to him.

At 21, after she reported that Lewis “grabbed my neck and twisted it,” Joanna were given every other restraining order.

In 1996, when she was once 22, Joanna was once hospitalized with a sprained neck. Mark Lewis was once convicted on a home violence price and consistent with court docket paperwork, sentenced to 36 months within the Solano County Prison.

Once more, she returned to the connection.

Patricia Hunter: She instructed me that he had reached out to her from prison … Would she come talk over with him? She did. She fell proper again into it.

Joanna was once 25 when she married Lewis with out telling any individual in her circle of relatives.

Patricia Hunter: I needed to inform my husband, and we simply held every different and sobbed as a result of we knew now it could be that a lot more difficult to assist her and get her out.

Their concern persevered over the following decade, however Joanna would not confide in them.

Natalie Morales: You stated you feared in your daughter, however did you ever assume he would be capable to killing her?

Patricia Hunter: Completely.

That’s what Patricia believed. Regulation enforcement on the scene got here to the other conclusion.

Capt. Jackson Harris: There’s no proof on her frame that someone else used pressure to have killed her.

No murder investigators have been known as to the home, the bed room was once now not handled as a criminal offense scene, no fingerprints taken, no DNA examined and no telephones accumulated.

After his commentary, Mark Lewis was once launched. Lewis was once now not requested about his historical past of abuse or about his prior conviction.

That knowledge was once greater than 15 years previous, says Harris, and now not to be had to the deputy within the box.

Day after today, an exterior post-mortem made up our minds the ligature marks on Joanna’s neck have been in keeping with suicide.

A month later, when the toxicology document got here again blank, the case was once closed. And so started the tug-of-war between the circle of relatives and the sheriff’s division that may pass on for years yet to come.

Patricia Hunter: From this second, once we could not get any individual to hear us and act on it, we’re going to paintings to get justice for Joanna.

Natalie Morales: Do you assume she was once ever suicidal?

Joe Hunter: You recognize … I am certain she were given in lots of darkish puts, however by no means, form, or shape, was once she able to that mindset as a result of I do know my sister deep down simply sought after to depart.

And within the yr prior to she died, Joanna nearly stored herself, says Joe. Nearly.

Joe Hunter: My mother known as me and stated, “Joanna’s coming house.” I stated, “Oh, in point of fact?” “Yeah, she’s performed.” And I stated, “she’s in point of fact, in point of fact performed this time?” … And I believed, guy, like we were given her again. We win.

Patricia Hunter: Inside two weeks, mother, I — I am going again. And I believed she supposed to get extra issues. … And he or she stated, no, mother, I’ve to return to stick.

Joe Hunter: My mother begged her now not to return. … on her knees, begging her. … And my mother stated, OK, neatly, I will power you.

Natalie Morales: How a lot do you recall to mind that second and that power, taking her again?

Patricia Hunter: Always.

Patricia Hunter: At the excess of … I used to be sobbing and I stated, honey … I am afraid if you happen to return, I will by no means see you once more.

Joe Hunter: And we by no means noticed her once more.

A FAMILY’S ANGUISH 

Joe Hunter: Joanna … was once the easiest particular person. … She was once the lifetime of the birthday celebration, however she was once additionally on the similar time … some of the compassionate, heat particular person I have ever identified.

From the minute he was once born, Joanna relished being Joe’s large sister.

Patricia Hunter: She idea Joseph was once her present. … Any person gave her this cute little boy and he belonged to her.

Joe Hunter: I all the time attempted to be in price, however she would not let that occur. … Anyone that known as the home … they needed to undergo Joanna first. … “and also you wanna communicate to my brother? Why?” (laughs) … She secure me so much. … we have been the easiest group.

Mark Lewis, the son of an area preacher, was once Joanna’s first boyfriend. At the beginning, Joe did not assume he had the rest to fret about.

Joe Hunter: The primary, possibly six to 8 months, she appeared in point of fact satisfied.

However after the abuse started, Joe faced Mark greater than as soon as.

Joe Hunter: After bodily going after him … him then taking it out on her. … I needed to go into reverse slightly bit from my sister. … I were screaming at her for see you later, two years immediately. … I hate this man, go away this man, please forestall. … I believed I am gonna lose her for just right. … So, I am simply gonna concentrate. … After which I in point of fact were given the deep, deep, deep, darkish secrets and techniques that she wasn’t even telling my oldsters.

And Joanna confirmed him her wounds.

Joe Hunter: She in any case confirmed me … the large indentations from him strangling her … it’s good to simply see obviously every define of every finger.

Mark Lewis had grown extra robust and influential on the Fellowship Baptist Church. He was once on his method to changing into pastor.

When they married, Patricia says she went to Lewis along with her fears.

Patricia Hunter: And I stated to him … how do I do know on this second that you are going to by no means lay a hand on her once more? … And I will by no means disregard. He more or less sneered, part smile and he checked out me and stated, when she’s a greater girl and a greater Christian, you will not have to fret about that.

Joe Hunter: My sister began announcing feedback that he would make to her like, good day, we will assist prevent. Since you’re part black, we will assist repair that via faith. On account of your hair and the best way you glance, we will repair that with faith. … And also you simply assume, how dare you?

Pastor Lewis, to listen to former church individuals inform it, was once a commanding and a challenging presence with fiery sermons and an insistence on loyalty.

Jacob Cantrell: Very lively, stand up there and screaming and sweating … that was once his taste.

Jacob Cantrell develop into a deacon there.

Jacob Cantrell: I regarded as much as him … he was once a … mentor … best to determine that I used to be a pawn.

In hindsight, Cantrell says, Pastor Lewis had an excessive amount of keep watch over over him.

Jacob Cantrell: I could not pass to my mum and dad’s space … with out asking Mark permission. … I used to be brainwashed. … he manipulated me for a few years and it — it — it — it twisted my mind up.

MARK LEWIS (preaching in church): There is not any injuries with God.

Jacob Cantrell: He can communicate his method out of the rest together with Leave out Joanna’s demise.

Natalie Morales: Now, you’re feeling that method?

Jacob Cantrell: Now, I think that method.

Daryl Snedeker: I got here to the realization that it was once most likely the nearest factor to a cult that I had ever skilled.

Natalie Morales: And he was once the chief …

Daryl Snedeker: The chief.

Daryl Snedaker was once a deputy within the Solano County Sheriff’s Administrative center and a member of the church on the time of Joanna’s demise. He wasn’t concerned within the investigation again then. On the church, he says, it did not take lengthy for him to lose all religion within the position and the pastor.

Natalie Morales: Used to be there an apprehension then among the individuals who attended the church, did they worry Mark Lewis?

Daryl Snedeker: I feel the folk that have been his puppets, I feel they acted out of worry so much.

Natalie Morales: You probably did no matter he requested then?

Jacob Cantrell: Sadly. … You do not query him.

MARK LEWIS (preaching in church):  It is crucial that you just concentrate up!

MARK LEWIS (preaching in church): What would you do if you happen to brought about your pastor to give up motive you would not obey? What would you do if you happen to brought about your Sunday Faculty instructor to give up motive you would not obey?

Daryl Snedeker: It is disheartening. It is surprising.

Joe already knew  Lewis all too neatly and the years after Joanna’s demise have been stuffed with anguish and frustration.

Joe Hunter: No person was once paying attention to us, nobody was once believing this.

There have been nonetheless such a lot of questions on what took place that night time. Why did not Lewis minimize Joanna down or attempt to administer CPR? And Joe discovered it specifically onerous to imagine Lewis was once if truth be told enjoying basketball for 6 immediately hours.

Joe Hunter: You by no means went inside of to make use of the restroom, get a pitcher of water … enjoying basketball for this obscene period of time … is absurd to me.

However all their makes an attempt to get the sheriff’s place of work to take every other have a look at Lewis have been getting no effects — till Patricia were given a knock at the door.

Patricia Hunter: It was once … a reporter asking if we had heard about what had took place with him. I had no thought what he was once speaking about.

It was once 2014. Joanna were lifeless slightly greater than two years. Pastor Mark Lewis were arrested — accused of violence towards every other girl.

Natalie Morales: Do you’re feeling fortunate to be alive?

Sarah Nottingham: Oh yeah.

SARAH NOTTINGHAM’S HARROWING NIGHT

On that crisp fall day in 2011 when Pastor Mark Lewis stated he discovered his spouse lifeless, he by no means known as Joanna’s circle of relatives. He did name Sarah Nottingham.

Sarah Nottingham: He had requested if I heard what took place, he sounded dissatisfied. He was once crying. 

On the time, Nottingham says, she believed in her pastor — Joanna had died by means of suicide. Sarah says she and Lewis turned into buddies, then started courting a few yr after Joanna’s demise.

Sarah Nottingham: To start with, it was once relatively thrilling considering that … I am seeing a facet of this person who nobody else is seeing.

Ultimately, Nottingham says every other aspect of Mark Lewis started to emerge.

Sarah Nottingham: Numerous … excessive manipulation, a large number of gaslighting, and a large number of verbal abuse, um, some bodily. … A push or a shove. … And it was once simply an increasing number of.

After which, she says, she came upon that Lewis were sending beside the point textual content messages to an underage woman.

Sarah Nottingham: You recognize, I am similar to, I have had sufficient, like, I am performed. And he stated, I am not in a position for it to be over. … I’d just stay telling him, you understand, that is, it is over, we are performed.

Lewis grabbed her, she says, and tightly wrapped his fingers round her.

Sarah Nottingham: It was once supposed to be threatening. He squeezed me tight and instructed me, “You will have created a monster.”

Nottingham and her two small children have been residing along with her oldsters in Vacaville because the pastor’s threats, she says, turned into extra common and horrifying. 

Sarah Nottingham (outdoor her former house): The primary time … my automotive was once vandalized, it was once if truth be told parked right here (pointing on the driveway).

Sarah Nottingham: He had, both himself or had anyone, destroy my windshield in on my automotive.

Nottingham was once granted an order of coverage towards Lewis. But it surely didn’t forestall what took place subsequent within the early morning hours of Jan. 9, 2014.

Sarah Nottingham: It was once 3 one thing within the morning. And I aroused from sleep to our um fireplace alarm going off … and there was once um smoke filling the hallway. And I checked on my children.

A Molotov cocktail had crashed via her oldsters’ bed room window.

Sarah Nottingham: We have been in a position to position the hearth out ourselves. … I had by no means observed my dad run so speedy out the door, seeking to see if he may just see anyone.

Vacaville Police pulled over a U-Haul van inside mins, arresting the motive force and two passengers. The trio briefly confessed, telling police they have been employed to firebomb Sarah Nottingham’s space — employed by means of the pastor, Mark Lewis. He was once wondered by means of native newshounds.

MARK LEWIS (KVOR information document): I by no means — I by no means gave them any cash to do the rest dangerous.

Lewis was once arrested, charged with arson, conspiracy, and stalking.

MARK LEWIS (KVOR information document): Numerous individuals are going to … throw accusations in the market. However till the information pop out, why do not we simply wait and spot how that is going and let the court docket come to a decision.

SARAH NOTTINGHAM (KOVR information document): I am residing in a nightmare. My children are so scared. My — my son is aware of that that is, this can be a pastor, his earlier pastor this is threatening his mommy and his circle of relatives.

Natalie Morales: What do you assume you and your circle of relatives survived at the moment?

Sarah Nottingham: In the long run, demise. … When the police got here into the home, considered one of them stated that is tried homicide and that is the reason precisely what it was once, not anything much less.

Surviving the assault, Nottingham says, helped solution a lingering query about Joanna.

Natalie Morales: How do you spot her demise?

Sarah Nottingham: Via him. … There is simply now not a doubt in my thoughts.

Via January 2015, Lewis’ thundering sermons that echoed within the Fellowship Baptist Church have been reminiscence as he sat silently in a Solano County court docket. Lewis’ trial had begun for stalking Sarah Nottingham and hiring folks to firebomb her oldsters’ house.

Joe Hunter: I pay attention in regards to the arson price. I pay attention in regards to the stalking. … However I additionally really feel that he must be convicted … for what he did to my sister.

On day 3 of Lewis’ arson and stalking trial, he modified his plea from now not to blame to no contest — that means he would now not dispute the costs towards him but in addition would now not recognize guilt. Lewis was once sentenced to 8 years in jail.

Natalie Morales: How essential was once that building then in permitting you to then return to the sheriff’s place of work and insist that they reopen the case?

Patricia Hunter: It was once large, as a result of there was once — it is not continuously that you just examine a pastor hiring folks to firebomb any person’s space. … On account of media power, we felt that now’s the time the place we will return and say, “Take a look at Joanna’s case. Reopen it.”

The Solano County Sheriff’s Administrative center did reopen the case in 2014. Take into account the churchgoer who known as 911 the night time Joanna died? His identify is Andrew Alvarado. Again then he instructed government that he had performed basketball with Pastor Mark Lewis for roughly six hours. Detectives determined to reinterview him and recorded the decision.

DETECTIVE MEHL (telephone name): Used to be any individual else enjoying basketball with you?

ANDREW ALVARADO: Yeah, a pair different … youngsters.

This time, investigators realized a brand new element.

ANDREW ALVARADO (telephone name): I left to head drop them off. I suppose I needed to pass devour dinner or no matter.

He had if truth be told left the church grounds all through the ones six hours to power the teens house, he says, and wasn’t certain what the pastor was once doing whilst he was once long gone. “48 Hours” again and again reached out to Alvarado however by no means heard again.

Natalie Morales: So there have been gaps of time when he was once now not with Mark Lewis.

Capt. Jackson Harris: Proper. … That also does now not trade the truth that … the loss of proof on her frame does now not display a 2nd particular person enthusiastic about her demise.

Mark Lewis was once now not wondered all through the reinvestigation.

Capt. Jackson Harris: He … … exercised his constitutional proper to have his lawyer, who didn’t permit him to talk to us.

The sheriff’s place of work had every other forensic pathologist have a look at Joanna’s case. Dr. Scott Luzi agreed with the unique coroner: suicide. The case was once closed once more. After which in 2015, the county district lawyer’s place of work introduced its personal investigation, which incorporated DNA trying out on Joanna’s bathrobe sash. The effects? Her DNA was once discovered at the sash along side an unknown male — now not Mark Lewis.

Natalie Morales: Used to be the rest performed to analyze that additional, to … may just it had been anyone else related to Mark Lewis?

Capt. Jackson Harris: That DNA that was once accumulated from there, my figuring out is that it was once entered into the DNA — I imagine it is known as CODIS, the database.

CODIS is the FBI’s legal DNA database.

Capt. Jackson Harris: It didn’t get a hold of successful.

Captain Harris says the nameless male DNA hasn’t ever been recognized.

Daryl Snedeker: They will have to in finding out whose DNA is on that rattling — on that — on that gown.

Daryl Snedeker, former church member and retired Solano County deputy sheriff, says issues have been overlooked.

Daryl Snedeker: According to what I do know as of late, the totality of the instances … … I feel they did fail that circle of relatives. And I feel if they did not observe up and in finding out whose male DNA is on that night time gown, that is a catastrophic failure proper there.

And a group of professionals was once about to return ahead for the Hunter circle of relatives, providing assist and hope.

Dr. Invoice Smock: This can be a murder. There’s no query.

QUESTIONING THE INVESTIGATION

Dr. Invoice Smock is bound that Joanna Hunter was once murdered and says he can end up it.

Dr. Invoice Smock: Each harm will inform you a tale if you’re taking the time to investigate it.

In 2023, Smock was once employed by means of the Solano County Sheriff’s Division to take a look at the case. He’s a scientific physician, who, by means of his depend, has reviewed 1000’s of autopsies and tested forensic proof for police departments around the nation.

Smock additionally has been a professional witness in prime profile instances — together with attesting towards Derek Chauvin within the 2021 George Floyd homicide trial.

Dr. Invoice Smock: What I have spent 40 years doing is examining accidents, reconstructing how accidents happen.

And the place the Solano County Sheriff’s Division noticed a bathrobe sash, a observe and a suicide, Smock noticed one thing else: one thing new.

Dr. Invoice Smock: There was once a braided nylon marine rope 3 toes from Joanna. … The homicide weapon was once there within the room with Joanna. … While you have a look at the pictures of the mark that was once created on her neck, the one factor in that closet that can have created that was once the marine rope.

However as a result of he was once required to signal a non-disclosure settlement, nobody outdoor the sheriff’s place of work noticed Smock’s document.

Dr. Invoice Smock: I may just now not communicate to the circle of relatives … I may just best communicate to the lieutenant at Solano County referring to my findings.

Right here was once the entirety the Hunters were searching for … however they didn’t even know the rope existed. Or how Smock made his decision. Smock was once ultimately launched from the NDA and was once in a position to turn “48 Hours” the usage of mannequins and purple paint.

Smock says Joanna’s neck had two other ligature marks — one is from the sash and one is from the marine rope.

Dr. Invoice Smock: We are gonna follow the rope … and spot what form of imprint it creates. … You can understand alongside the brink that there is a distinct material imprint, which is the kind of material imprint we noticed on Joanna’s neck.

Invoice Smock: She was once lifeless —

Natalie Morales:  When the bathrobe —

Invoice Smock: — when the bathrobe sash was once carried out to her neck.

Invoice Smock: Joanna’s scene was once staged. She was once killed with a rope, after which to make it seem like a suicide, she was once hung up by means of the bathrobe sash after she was once already lifeless.

Casey Gwynn: Home violence homicides are the number 1 staged murders in The usa.  

Casey Gwinn was once certain Joanna’s case was once what he calls a hidden murder. He and Gael Strack are the co-founders of Alliance for HOPE World, an advocacy team for survivors of home violence and their households.

Casey Gwynn: If you happen to kill a complete stranger … No person is aware of who you might be … however if you happen to kill your spouse otherwise you kill your female friend, everyone is gonna be having a look at you as a suspect. … You must make it seem like one thing else.

Once they took up the Hunters’ motive, they believed that Joanna’s historical past of neck accidents instructed them they have been having a look at a strangulation.

Casey Gwynn: The reality is that if you happen to strangle a lady one time in an intimate dating, she’s 750 % much more likely to be killed by means of you.

Smock, who works for Alliance for HOPE, showed their suspicion.

But if the sheriff’s place of work agreed to rent Smock, it additionally commissioned every other overview. This one by means of Dr. Brian Peterson, a pathologist and previous president of the Nationwide Affiliation of Clinical Examiners. He disputed Smock’s findings.

“I see neither accidents nor toxicology findings that may give a boost to the bodily involvement of someone else,” the document stated.

And after hiring Smock —

Capt. Jackson Harris: Particularly in hindsight, I totally disagree with {qualifications}.

— the sheriff’s place of work took factor with the truth that Smock isn’t a forensic pathologist.

Harris additionally took factor with Smock’s strategies.

Capt. Jackson Harris: This isn’t any person who has their frame weight striking … That is merely draped over a model. That’s not how she was once killed.

Smock despatched “48 Hours” his contract with the sheriff’s place of work, which asked his “opinion as to the motive and means of her demise.”  He additionally instructed us the sheriff’s place was once “disingenuous” …  as a result of “I did not believe what they sought after me to mention.” 

Natalie Morales: So, Invoice Smock’s document, are you totally discounting the entirety that he reviews in it?

Capt. Jackson Harris: I am — I am disputing his conclusion that it was once a murder.

And so, what Dr. Smock known as the homicide weapon was once by no means tested.

Natalie Morales: However the place is the rope?

Capt. Jackson Harris: I would not have the rope. I have no idea. … We additionally would not have —

Natalie Morales: It wasn’t examined.

Capt. Jackson Harris:  —  each and every electric wire that was once there. We did not pass in the course of the storage to search for completely the entirety. …

Natalie Morales: What was once overlooked? What in regards to the historical past of home abuse, was once that overlooked?

Capt. Jackson Harris: I do not believe it was once overlooked.

As a result of 3 other forensic pathologists — and 3 separate evaluations beginning with the unique corners document in 2011, the 2014 reinvestigation, and Dr. Peterson in 2024 – all discovered suicide, Harris maintains that even though that they had to start with taken the home violence into consideration, not anything would have modified.

Capt. Jackson Harris: And rather then making a hypothetical state of affairs that Mark murdered her, there is not any proof to give a boost to that. …

Capt. Jackson Harris: The prior incidents of home violence, the ones have been — I am — I am — the ones weren’t thought to be on the time of the demise. You are proper. However that does not imply that they have been the reason for demise.

Natalie Morales: Understanding all that you understand now despite the fact that, you stated … You can’ve known as Mark Lewis’s previous into query and you possibly can’ve investigated it another way.

Capt. Jackson Harris: If I — if I may just rewind realizing what I do know now about Mark Lewis, sure, this is able to be a wholly other investigation.

However there is not any rewinding, says Harris.

Natalie Morales: So is that this nonetheless an open case now?

Capt. Jackson Harris: No, it is closed.

Strack and Gwinn’s revel in with Joanna’s case led them to create a tick list of 10 components to be thought to be by means of regulation enforcement. They’d begun drafting a brand new regulation — a regulation that incorporated the purple flags that would sign a murder. Amongst them:

Gael Strack: The primary one is any person dies in advance. Neatly, Joanna was once 36 years previous. The second, the scene gave the look of a suicide or an twist of fate. … Prior historical past of home violence. … prior historical past of strangulation. … The spouse is the ultimate particular person to look the sufferer alive.

Casey Gwinn: We have now by no means had a case with all 10 that wasn’t a murder. Joanna Hunter had all 10 components.

Mark Lewis has now not been charged with any crime in terms of the demise of Joanna. After serving 5 years for the firebombing of Sarah Nottingham’s space, he was once launched on parole.

He lately lives in Arizona, works for a plumbing and drain cleansing corporate, and has married once more. “48 Hours” attempted to achieve Lewis again and again and gained no reaction.

So, after suiting up with hidden cameras we determined to head in particular person.

ADVOCATING FOR CHANGE: JOANNA’S LEGACY

Casey Gwinn: It’s our earnest goal that at some point, pastor Mark Lewis can be charged with first-degree homicide within the demise of Joanna Hunter.

With hidden cameras rolling, there was once Mark Lewis.

NATALIE MORALES (hidden digicam): Mark Lewis? Hello, I am Natalie Morales with “48 Hours.”  We have now been making an attempt to achieve you.

MARK LEWIS: Oh no, it is all just right.

NATALIE MORALES: We have now despatched you a few letters and correspondence. … Would you be keen to talk to us on digicam, sir?

MARK LEWIS: No.

NATALIE MORALES: Did you might have the rest to do together with your overdue spouse Joanna Hunter’s demise, Mark Lewis?

MARK LEWIS: (turns his again and walks inside of house)

NATALIE MORALES: Mark, please … We wish your aspect of the tale, Mark …

NATALIE MORALES: Other people would in point of fact like to listen to your aspect of the tale. … We have now attempted to achieve you some ways.

With Lewis inside of the home, we approached his sweetheart’s father within the storage.

NATALIE MORALES: Hi sir … I am simply questioning in case you have any issues about your daughter’s personal protection given his previous historical past with home violence? His overdue spouse was once discovered striking to demise.

FATHER-IN-LAW: I — I do know the entire tale.

NATALIE MORALES: Sure.

FATHER-IN-LAW: I do know the entire tale. …

NATALIE MORALES: Do you know his overdue spouse, Joanna Hunter?

FATHER-IN-LAW: Sure, I did.

NATALIE MORALES: Did you pass to the church?

FATHER-IN-LAW: Yeah, I did.

NATALIE MORALES: You probably did.

FATHER-IN-LAW: OK, glance —

NATALIE MORALES: I do know, I do know this can be a tough state of affairs.

FATHER-IN-LAW: Neatly, if truth be told, you understand, I feel that is in point of fact needless. I in point of fact don’t have anything extra to mention.

NATALIE MORALES: I admire that, however I’m hoping you know there are a large number of questions nonetheless that the Hunter circle of relatives want to have solutions to. And so I am right here merely doing my process giving your son-in-law a possibility to respond to some questions.

FATHER-IN-LAW: I will really feel for them. However there is in point of fact not more to mention about it. It is over. It is performed.

Mark Lewis was once transferring on together with his new circle of relatives, whilst his earlier one was once aching for solutions.

Joe Hunter: For years, I used to be simply seeking to get to the following hour … to the following minute, for the reason that ache was once insufferable now and then.

The Hunters, so aware of grief, have been delighted when Senate Invoice 989 – Joanna’s Regulation – turned into California State regulation on Jan. 1, 2025, passing unanimously. 

Patricia Hunter: Joanna’s Regulation … gave us a way of, now we have performed one thing glorious for Joanna.

Joanna’s Regulation calls for investigators responding to reported suicides, drug overdoses or deadly injuries to test for a historical past of home violence.

Patricia Hunter: If there’s a documented historical past of home violence, to suppose that this can be a suspicious demise.

Joe Hunter: And that they … deal with that scene like a murder.

Casey Gwinn and Gael Strack, who helped write Joanna’s Regulation, are the usage of her case to focus on the relationship between suspicious deaths and home violence. 

At a convention in Denver, they are guiding regulation enforcement officials on the right way to determine the ones 10 purple flags that would divulge hidden homicides.

CASEY GWINN (to attendees in a packed convention room): What number of of you imagine that this example will have to have a whole unbiased murder investigation? Lift your hand. (Each hand is going up.)

“48 Hours” has realized the California Division of Justice has agreed to check the Solano County D.A.’s choice now not to deliver legal fees associated with Joanna’s demise. The Hunters hope that can transfer the case ahead.

Kayte Hunter: I have a look at it this manner. Not anything can also be saved in the dead of night perpetually.

Joe’s spouse, Kayte, is a sideline reporter for the Sacramento Kings, and a former participant within the WNBA. She skilled home violence herself in a teenage dating.

Natalie Morales: have you ever talked for your daughter about home abuse?

Kayte Hunter: In probably the most fundamental shape. She’s 6 at this time. However we communicate to her about … the way you deal with others and the way you will have to be handled. And that can evolve over the years.

Kayte Hunter: However it is also conversations that we have got with Jojo, with our son, as a result of it’s our duty to additionally train him what is appropriate conduct and remedy of girls. Duration.

JOE HUNTER (in “Survivor” chatting with Joanna): I am sorry that I could not offer protection to you from that monster.

Joe’s tribute to Joanna on “Survivor” season 48 moved thousands and thousands. This spring, he’s going to compete once more in a landmark season 50 to have fun the sport, which may also stay consideration on his sister’s case.

Kayte Hunter: In advocating for his sister, he is advocating for different sufferers, different ladies. … And our daughter’s gonna be so happy with it, our son.

Patricia Hunter: And he or she provides us such a lot love. Each day, I think it.

For so long as she’s in a position, Patricia will inform Joanna’s tale – continuously on the Sacramento Circle of relatives Justice Middle – a useful resource for survivors of home violence. 

Joe Hunter: So once we discuss her, I simply attempt to gentle the room up along with her.

They hope Joanna’s Regulation — and Joanna’s gentle — will assist save lives and shine the future of survivors of home violence.

Joe Hunter: She fought from the starting to her ultimate breath. So regardless of how onerous it will get, by no means surrender. That is her legacy.

RESOURCES:

Produced by means of Mary Murphy and Mead Stone. Michelle Fanucci is the improvement manufacturer. Emily Wichick Hourihane is the sector manufacturer. Greg Fisher is the improvement manufacturer. Doreen Schechter, Atticus Brady, Mead Stone are the editors. Patti Aronofsky is the senior manufacturer. Nancy Kramer is the chief tale editor. Jusy Tygard is the chief manufacturer.