Her family knew something wasn’t right when Joanna Lewis’ Oct. 6, 2011, death was quickly ruled a suicide after a brief investigation by Solano County law enforcement.
They noted her husband, former pastor Mark Wayne Lewis, had a history of domestic violence against Joanna. But it wasn’t until 2014, after he was was charged and pleaded no contest to arson following a firebombing of his ex-girlfriend’s house, that authorities agreed to open an investigation into Joanna’s death.
Now, 14 years after her death, the Hunter family has gained at least some measure of acknowledgment in a new law that took effect on Jan. 1.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 989 on Sept. 27, 2024, putting “Joanna’s Law” on the books. It was was sponsored by Alliance for HOPE International, a nonprofit that helps victims of domestic violence, and is regarded as the first statute in the country to set standards for addressing and investigating suspicious death cases where the victim dies after a prior history of domestic violence.
Immediately after the signing, Alliance President Casey Gwinn reportedly said, “Today, we made history in memory of Joanna Hunter.”
The law requires first responders and investigators to undergo training and possibly help to identify staged suicides, which can lead to killers going free. It takes advantage of new research that helps investigators understand when a crime scene has been staged. It also helps ensure that investigations into suspicious deaths are handled properly.
In a Facebook post, the Alliance for Hope International — a social service group that works to create communities of safety, hope and healing for survivors of domestic and sexual violence — touted the new law and a statewide training video created with the Sacramento Family Justice Center and the Sacramento Police Department to train professionals in the handling of suspicious death cases. Their post explained that the organization “is still awaiting compliance with Joanna’s Law by Solano County but a lawsuit may be necessary.”
Joanna’s mother, Patricia Hunter, a retired local teacher, and brother Joe Hunter (a Sacramento Fire captain) are featured in the video urging those who investigate such cases to check for documented history of domestic violence and demand that scenes in such cases be properly investigated as potential homicides.
Patricia shared a link to the video on her Facebook page saying, “We are now able to share this with you. It is the result of Joanna’s Law becoming a reality, thanks to so many who have worked to make this happen. We honor you, dear Joanna.”
It is not the only time that Patricia has spoken out on what her daughter endured. In a Feb. 26, 2014, Reporter story, she remembered the last time she spoke with her daughter, who she said had “lied about all the abuse” and hung up the phone. A month later, Joanna Lewis was dead at age 36.
At at meeting of the Vacaville Soroptimist organization, she shared that Mark Lewis was convicted of spousal abuse on her daughter in the early 2000s, which then-Superior Court Judge Peter Foor confirmed during a hearing. Lewis pleaded and served probation for the abuse charge.
Patricia Hunter told The Reporter she was unsure how many visits over the years her daughter made to the hospital to treat her injuries. She did know of three, however, and said her daughter had grown “increasingly isolated” after her marriage to Lewis in 2000.
For whatever reason, her daughter remained in the relationship with Lewis despite the obvious signs of physical abuse and also, very likely, emotional abuse.
Patricia Hunter told the Soroptimists, “Sometimes, like in my daughter’s situation, very loving people, very caring people are drawn to people who need help.”
In the training video for SB 989, produced with the help of the Sacramento Police Department, the Hunters, Casey Gwinn, president of the Alliance for Hope International, Gael Strack, CEO of the Alliance for Hope International, and others note that the family of the person who dies under suspicious circumstance should be interviewed.
They also cite 10 factors that may lead investigators to consider the death a homicide: 1) The person died prematurely or in an untimely manner; 2) The death scene appears to result from a suicide or accident; 3) One partner wanted to end the relationship; 4) There was a history of being victimized by domestic violence that included coercive control; 5) The person was found dead in a home or place of residence; 6) The person was found by a current or previous partner; 7) There was a history of being victimized by domestic violence that included strangulation or suffocation; 8) The current or previous partner of the person who died or their child was the last to see the person alive; 9) The partner had control of the scene before law enforcement arrived; and 10) The body of the person was moved, or the scene or other evidence was altered in some way.
In the video, David Cropp, of the Sacramento Regional Family Justice Center and a retired sergeant detective with the Sacramento Police Department, advised first responders to check for a family history of domestic violence.
The full video can be viewed on the Sacramento Regional Family Justice Center’s YouTube channel.
If you or someone you know is struggling with feelings of depression or suicidal thoughts, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers free, round-the-clock support, information and resources for help. Call or text the lifeline at 988, or see the 988lifeline.org website, where chat is available.