A Washington state man has been arrested four years after he allegedly committed a murder, transported the victim’s body about 200 miles, and buried her in a shallow grave with the help of another person. James Daniel Lewis, the suspect, is believed to have tried to make the crime scene appear as a drug overdose by scattering used syringes over the victim’s remains.
Lewis is now facing charges of second-degree murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful disposal of remains in relation to the death of 36-year-old Amanda Elaine Green. Green was reported missing to the Tacoma police in August 2021. The following year, Tacoma police informed the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office that Green had been killed in the Yelm area.
Despite having a person of interest, detectives lacked sufficient evidence, specifically a body, to make an arrest. However, in March of this year, the investigation was reinvigorated. Lewis was arrested last weekend on an unrelated warrant and during questioning, he confessed to killing Green at his Yelm residence. He then guided investigators to a shallow grave in Lewis County near Mt. Rainier, where they discovered human remains believed to be Green’s.
Witnesses who were either present on the property at the time of the murder or heard Lewis confess to the crime were interviewed by the police. They informed the police that Lewis had killed Green out of fear that she was attempting to seize the property that once belonged to his grandmother.
After being read his Miranda rights, Lewis initially accused another man of the shooting and claimed he was coerced into helping dispose of the body, according to a probable cause arrest affidavit. However, under further questioning, Lewis confessed to being the shooter and stated that the other man had assisted him in moving the remains. Lewis provided various reasons for killing Green, ranging from accusations of her stealing his firearms, to claims that she had threatened him with a gun, to allegations that she was trying to take over his property.
The man who allegedly assisted Lewis in burying Green and scattering the used syringes on her body was approached by the police for questioning. However, due to his mental health issues, the conversation did not progress significantly. As of now, he has not been charged.
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Investigators believe that Green was murdered in late May 2021, after she rented a U-Haul but failed to return it. Lewis is currently being held in the Thurston County Jail without bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday.