Saturday, March 8, 2014

Ericka Lewis, Myra's Mother Arrested






You can add this to the equation.

The mother of Myra Lewis has been arrested on an unrelated charge.  This comes only a short time after police publicly praised the family for being "extremely cooperative", a very thinly veiled attempt to gain more information from them.  Police should have no need to praise anyone for information, unless the praise is a public attempt to get them to talk.

Now, the next tactical step is taken by law enforcement, which is often used to pressure someone into giving up information.  Ericka Lewis, 35, was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon while being a felon.  She is now separated from Gregory Lewis, and it is likely that officials are hoping one or the other will now talk.

The weapon carrying was January 24th, 2014.  She was not arrested until today, March 8th.  They gave her time to think and time to come clean with them.

Perhaps she thought not to, and the patience of law enforcement grew thin, as the public praising attempt to gain information likely failed.

This looks worse, each day, for 2 year old Myra.  The mother is being held and it is likely that police want information from her, especially given her distancing language and the 4 1/2 hour delay in calling police to report Myra missing.

Gergory Lewis, her husband, has an arrest record including larceny and domestic violence, dating back from 1995.  Yesterday, police searched the home again, and took away a vehicle, as well as evidence from the home.

Those with lengthy arrest records are not often easily intimidated with threats of incarceration.  "Been there; done it"is the attitude, and the veteran of prior arrests is likely hardened.  This is what made Casey Anthony's stroll through Universal, with detectives, so very bold and unexpected.

"I was leaving to go grocery shopping and I saw her walk back into the house with her sister," said Ericka Lewis.

Note that she uses the pronoun "I" and says she was leaving to go grocery shopping.  She does not say she went grocery shopping.  
Please also notice that she does not use Myra's name.  Myra is missing at the time of this statement. 
"We just want her back home. We won't worry about pressing charges, we just want her back home safe."

Now we notice that she continues avoiding using Myra's name and instead of using the pronoun "I", she uses the pronoun "we", which is not expected from the mother of a missing child, as the missing baby, especially one so young, is very close to a mother's protective instinct.  




46 comments:

Unknown said...

Madison County Sheriff's department spokesman Heath Hall said 35-year-old Ericka Renea Lewis was arrested late Friday and it is in connection with another charge, for which she was on probation.

The Madison Detention Center website shows Lewis was charged with felony carrying a concealed weapon on January 24, 2014.

The Madison County Sheriff's Department has postponed a press conference that was scheduled for Saturday on the Myra Lewis disappearance.

We have been told the press conference will now be held on Sunday. We do not have a time at the moment

JoAnn said...

Whether it's successful or not in seeking justice for Myra remains to be seen, but I would still like to see LE use this tactic more often (Aliyah, Ayla, Lisa, Dylan, Hailey & so many more). Obviously, police feel the mother is either guilty or has guilty knowledge.

It was refreshing to read an article where Michaela Wells' mother apologized on behalf of her daughter and said her daughter will face consequences and seek counseling after leaving home for four days while police searched & the community worried. She will not be competing in the upcoming pageant. We can hope the whole family will participate in counseling, as there is no such thing as "one dysfunctional family member."

mainah said...

Reminds me of Justin Dipietro asking for immunity for the person who took Ayla Reynolds.

ima.grandma said...

"We can hope the whole family will participate in counseling, as there is no such thing as "one dysfunctional family member."

This is a profound statement JoAnn. :)

JoAnn said...

ima.grandma,
Thanks, that'll be my one for the year. Lol

polywog said...

Doubt they would have arrested a parent they truly felt was grieving such as Desiree or Terry Elvis. Tgey have known she had outstanding charges since the day she was reported missing, yet didn't arrest her on that day.

Nic said...

There is hope after all. It appears that the new strategy is to arrest "po's" on lesser chargers and let them sit and stew.

I wish they had employed the same strategy for Kyron Horman, Hailey Dunn... Or Susan Cox Powell and her boys.. and others.

Amen

elf said...

Billie Dunn did get arrested when she hid Shawn in her house and the cops were looking for him.

Kellie said...

Agreed Nic. And it looks like "obstruction of justice" is becoming a bit of an ace in the hole!

Unknown said...

Mom looks exasperated. Wish she speak, show some sort of emotion. I hope they interview her and release it.

Anonymous said...

http://www.realfarmacy.com/man-denied-job-as-police-officer-due-to-above-average-iq/

Here ya go. A quick google search confirms my friend didnt fib.
This guy had IQ of 125. No way were they letting him become a cop. Judge confirmed this is not discrimination. Story says average cop IQ is 104.
All I'm saying is dont act like LE necessarily has this case solved or is even looking at the right person.

Anonymous said...

I agree, she looks very exasperated and sad too. I wish she would speak more too.

Unknown said...

I really dont see sad... wish I did though

Anonymous said...

I feel like I see sadness in her eyes?

Unknown said...

Could be... maybe defeat????

JoAnn said...

Reporters are tweeting from the press conference that Sheriff Tucker said he is confident that Myra is in the "immediate area." They are continuing the search & are following leads.
Reporters also say family members of Ericka Lwis are present.

JoAnn said...

The sheriff also reportedly said they are shifting from search mode to investigative mode.

JoAnn said...

It is being reported via twitter from local news persons that the sheriff said they took the SUV because there had been speculation that the child was run over. He said no blood was found in the car. There are no quotes around his statements so it will be impossible to analyze his statements without a transcript of video.
Ericka Lewis' prior arrest was for welfare fraud.
Family members of the mother are angry that she was arrested, since she has a new baby.

John Mc Gowan said...

Here is some more JoAnn

From "Help find Myra"

Perrise Thomas WJTV @Perrise_Thomas 31m.

Sheriff Tucker says he's confident Myra is in the "immediate area."

pic.twitter.com/chTMDXCADy

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Myra-Lewis-Help-Find-Me/269052199921380

JoAnn said...

Thanks, John :)

ima.grandma said...

Isn't this one of the family members that spoke out early on?


Tiffany Frazier Doinme they were giving polygraph tests bt they never gave us there results
Like · Reply · 1 · 7 minutes ago

John Mc Gowan said...

UPDATE: Sheriff speaks about search for Myra Lewis.

Update at 5:30

http://www.wjtv.com/story/24926095/sheriff-speaks-about-search-for-myra-lewis

JoAnn said...

Reporters also tweeting that sheriff said all children living at the mt pilgrim home have been taken out of the home by DHS.
That is a very serious move.

John Mc Gowan said...

Myra Lewis " Help Find Me"
42 minutes ago

Annette Peagler @Annette_Eva 5m

Media just interviewed Ericka's mom, she stresses that her daughter had nothing to do with Myra's disappearance.
Expand

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Myra-Lewis-Help-Find-Me/269052199921380

JoAnn said...

The mother's family shows more concern for her being jailed than for this missing baby. Where are the cries of anguish for this two year old who hasn't been seen in a week? Their anger and frustration seems directed toward LE, but more on behalf of Ericka Lewis than Myra.

John Mc Gowan said...

It is difficult to make an accurate analysis at the moment, as we are only getting bits a pieces, and we don't know what questions if any, were asked?

TxTchr said...

More info about mom's arrest at http://www.wjtv.com/story/24926095/sheriff-speaks-about-search-for-myra-lewis
We also learned more about the arrest of Myra's mother, Ericka Lewis. Sheriff Tucker says Ericka was on probation for welfare fraud. Investigators found guns in the home, and Ericka was arrested on a probation violation for being a felon carrying a concealed weapon. She was still in jail Sunday afternoon.

Anonymous said...

@Joann, Probably because they realize the father is the likely suspect in Myra's disappearance.

JoAnn said...

Link to actual statements made by sheriff

www.wjtv.com/story/24927366/raw-madison-county-press-conference-on-myra-lewis

JoAnn said...

"We are satisfied that Myra is not around the residence."
......."but we feel confident that Myra's still around this area."

Anonymous said...

How come they dont say what the Mom was carrying?

Lanah said...

I think it was the Dad and his sister that took her and harmed her. Dad was smiling in interview=most likely guilty. His sister saying "pain of losing a loved one=probably guilty. The Mom carrying some kind of concealed weapon (was it mace)=maybe trying to protect herself from the violent (possible killer) Dad.

Lanah said...

The rumor that the Mom may have ran Myra over w car=probably lie the Dad told to cover his crime.

GeekRad said...

You are correct elf. However, her bond was so low she got out too quickly to have the pressure to talk. Sadly

Lemon said...

(snipped)
Tucker also said the arrest of the girl's mother, 35-year-old Ericka Lewis, on Friday on a probation violation was not connected to the disappearance. Tucker said she faced a warrant for a probation violation following a welfare fraud conviction. She also faced a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Online booking records indicated no bond had been set and there was no information available on whether she had an attorney.

"Nothing whatsoever," Tucker said when asked if the charges had anything to do with Myra's disappearance.

http://www.dailyjournal.net/view/story/02b98696364a4e80bcd5f60b08005567/MS--Missing-Toddler/

Anonymous said...

Thanks Lemon for the update.

Anonymous said...

I read somewhere I can't find it now, but guns were found not locked up in the home.

Anonymous said...

Anon @ 9:57, Thanks for update. I wonder why the dear old Dad wasnt arrested too? For unlocked guns?

Sus said...

http://www.wjtv.com/story/24927366/raw-madison-county-sheriff-press-conference-on-myra-lewis

Here is video of the press conference. Sheriff Tucker explains that the father does not have a felony so he may have guns. Rather, the father does not have a felony "on record" because he pled out before sentencing. To be counted as a felon you must be sentenced to at least one year in prison whether you serve it , or not.

Unknown said...

Updated: 03/10/2014 2:18 am EDT


Many questions were asked and some were answered Sunday during a press conference held at the Madison County Sheriff's Department, concerning the missing case of two-year-old Myra Lewis.

Myra went missing eight days ago.

She was last seen around 10 a.m. March 1, at her home on Mt. Pilgrim Road in Camden. She was last seen wearing a turquoise sweater with a bear on the front and khaki pants.

Madison County Sheriff Randy Tucker said, "We branch out following leads through the surrounding community, I won't get into what those leads are but we feel confident that Myra is still in this area." Tucker also said the case is progressing. During the conference Sheriff Tucker commented on rumors that he himself had heard about little Myra being run over. Tucker said a brown SUV was taken from the Lewis home on Friday and the vehicle was processed, but there was no blood found.

Ericka Lewis, the mother of little Myra, was arrested Friday.

"You know it's unfortunate the timing of it, you know I won't get into too much detail with the arrest, but she is not charged with anything related to the child at this point," Tucker added.

According to the Madison County Detention Center website, Lewis was charged with felony carrying a concealed weapon.

The charge is in connection with a probation violation.

Lewis was convicted last year of welfare fraud.

Lewis remains in police custody.

Tucker said Lewis' arrest has nothing to do with Myra's disappearance, but the family isn't buying it.

Family members of little Myra were also in attendance looking for answers. 

Our Annette Peagler spoke with Ericka Lewis' mother and she said the family is upset about Lewis' arrest.

Lewis's mother is upset because of the speculation on social media (Facebook and Twitter) that suggests the parents have something to do with Myra's disappearance. 

"My daughter loves her kids and she would never do anything to hurt them," Lewis' mother said. 

The children have been removed by the Department of Human Services from the Lewis home.

Sheriff Tucker said the search for Myra will resume on Monday. 

Unknown said...

"You know it's unfortunate the timing of it, you know I won't get into too much detail with the arrest, but she is not charged with anything related to the child at this point," Tucker added.


I am stuck on "at this point". Seems he expects that to change

ima.grandma said...

http://www.wjtv.com/story/24926095/sheriff-speaks-about-search-for-myra-lewis

"They should have waited because that even took their mind off Myra for a moment." says Martha Samders, Ericka Lewis' mother

Sheriff Tucker says the Department of Human Services became involved after Lewis was arrested.

Family members say Lewis' other children are in their care while she remains behind bars.

"They can pressure Erica, but she'll never give in. She'll never give in because she didn't do anything." says Sanders.

Anonymous said...

I dont think the Mom did it.
The Dad should have gotten charges too for having unlocked guns around kids. How do we know that the kids didnt play with the guns on the day Myra disappeared possibly accidentally shooting her? Or that the Dad didnt shoot Myra? Not smart for LE to not hold the Dad accountable in any way for guns being unlocked. Far better to lock up the Mom of a 2 month baby and make sure the baby ends up with serious lifelong psych problems from separation issues.
The Dad was grinning in the interview. Police might want to take a second look at him.

Kosmo said...

The dad wasn't the one that violated probation. What would they lock him up for? She isn't in jail because she had guns around the kids. I think the baby will have a whole set of issues just from having parents like these two...

Anonymous said...

Kosmo, As far as I know it is illegal to have unlocked guns around kids. If Im wrong about that, someone please inform me. If I am right, then the Dad should have been arrested. There were unlocked guns in the house, not only on the mother.

Anonymous said...

It is not illegal to have unlocked guns in your home. Kids are also permitted to hunt in MS. Finally, if you are not a convicted felon MS is an open carry state.