welcome to True Crime Case Files the podcast that delves deep into the most compelling true crime stories Julie Lewis was 18 years old she lived in pet Idaho a small town known for its friendly people and beautiful landscapes Julie was in her senior year of high school and was known for her beauty and intelligence she dreamed of going to college and starting a new life away from the troubles she faced at home Julie's life had been tough her mother died of cancer when Julie was only 14 this loss left a big in her life her
father Cony Lewis was a police officer who worked long hours Julie often felt lonely and started seeking the company of older men who could offer her the stability and comfort she missed some people thought Julie was manipulative using her looks and charm to get what she wanted others believed she was just trying to survive in a world that had not been kind to her in school Julie was an honor role student her friends described her as ambitious and determined always talking about her plans for the future she wanted to study business at the University of
Idaho and one day own her own company Julie's teachers saw her potential and often praise her hard work and dedication in the days leading up to her death Julie was busy preparing for her high school graduation she had bought a new dress for the occasion and was excited about the graduation ceremony she talked to her friends about their plans for the summer they planned to visit the local mall go to the movies and spend time at the nearby Snake River Julie jie also had a part-time job at a local Diner where she saved up money
for college she was well-liked by her co-workers and customers for her friendly and outgoing personality despite her troubles Julie tried to stay positive she had a close-knit group of friends who supported her they often hung out at local spots like the pay at skate park and the community swimming pool Julie was also involved in her school's drama club where she enjoyed acting and working behind the scenes Julie's dreams were big but her life was cut short she had PL plans and Ambitions but she never got the chance to see them through her death shocked the
small town of payet leaving everyone wondering what could have been on the morning of June 5 2012 Tony Lewis came home after his night shift as a police officer Tony expected to find his daughter Julie still asleep instead he found a horrifying scene Julie's lifeless body was on the floor of her bedroom the room was in disarray with items scattered everywhere Julie had been brutally attacked she was blood with a rock from outside their home and then strangled with a belt Tony was shocked and devastated he could hardly believe what he was seeing fighting through
his grief and panic Tony called 911 to report the crime his voice trembled as he told the dispatcher what had happened despite his training and experience as a police officer nothing could have prepared him for this the news of Julie's murder spread quickly through the small town of payet pet hadn't seen a murder in over 20 years and the community was in shock Julie was well known and likeed by many her death was a terrible blow to the town when the First Responders arrived they found Tommy outside distraught and in tears the sight inside Julie's
room was gruesome blood was spattered on the walls and the signs of a struggle were clear Julie's face was bruised and there were Olen around her neck from the belt used to strangle her the rock used in the attack lay nearby covered in blood the paramedics pronounced Julie dead at the scene Tony could only watch into despair as they did their job he was overwhelmed with grief unable to comprehend how someone could do this to his daughter neighbors started to gather outside the Lewis home drawn by the flashing lights of the police cars and ambulances
they whispered among themselves trying to understand what had happened reporters from local news outlets soon arrived their cameras and microphones capturing the tragic scene they interviewed some of the neighbors who spoke of their shock and sadness Julie's friends and classmates were devastated by the news many of them had seen her just the day before at school laughing and talking about their future plans now those plans would never come true the school counselors were brought in to help the students cope with their grief the entire town mourned the loss of a Bright Young Life taken too
soon the police arrived quickly at the Lewis home on the morning of June 5 2012 leading the investigation was detective Kelly Breezy Roberts a seasoned investigator known for her thoroughness and dedication she had solved many tough cases in her career and was determined to find Justice for Julie the crime scene was horrific Julie's bedroom was in chaos with items strewn everywhere blood spattered the walls and signs of a violent struggle were evident Julie's body lay on the floor her face bruised in neck mark from the belt used to strangle her the rock used to bludge
in her lay nearby covered in blood detective Roberts and her team began their meticulous work detective Roberts along with officer Olsen Benson a local officer with 15 years on the for started by securing the area to prevent contamination of evidence they took photos of the entire scene capturing every detail they used luminal to detect any hidden blood stains and collected fingerprints from various surfaces the investigators also bagged The Rock and belt as key pieces of evidence detective Roberts noticed several things right away the window in Julie's room was slightly open suggesting someone might have entered
or exited through it there were scratches on the window sill possibly from the killer climbing in or out outside footprints in the garden soil indicated someone had recently been there the team interviewed Tony Lewis who was still in shock he recounted finding Julie and calling 911 his grief was palpable and detective Roberts felt his pain as a father despite his emotional state Tony provided all the information he could hoping it would help catch his daughter's killer the local news outlets including the pay times covered the story extensively reporters interviewed residents and followed every development closely
the town was gripped by fear and sadness unable to believe such a brutal crime could happen in their peaceful community as the investigation continued detective Roberts and her team worked tirelessly they analyzed the evidence collected hoping to find clues that would lead them to the murderer they checked for any connections Julie might have had with known criminals and looked into her recent activities the community support for the police was strong people brought food and coffee to the officers work working long hours local businesses put up posters offering rewards for information leading to the arrest of
Julie killer the town of payet once quiet and Serene now United in their Quest For Justice the first suspect the police investigated was Harold Henderson Harold aged 70 was a retired used car salesman who lived in pad he was well known in the town for his flashy personality and competitive nature despite his age Harold had a reputation for being charming and Wealthy making him popular in the local Social Scene he was a widower living alone in a large house filled with memorabilia from his younger days Harold's connection to Julie Lewis came to light quickly it
was discovered that he had been romantically involved with Julie some residents of payet knew about their relationship and whispered about the odd pairing Harold's interest in jewy raised eyebrows but in a small town people often keep secrets detective Kelly Breezy Roberts and officer olssen Benson brought Herald in for questioning on June 6 2012 they wanted to understand the nature of his relationship with Julie and determine if he had a motive for her murder Harald arrived at the police station dressed needly his demeanor calm but slightly defensive during the interrogation Harold admitted to his relationship with
Julie but denied any involvement in her death he claimed they had a consensual sexual relationship started only after she turned 18 and that he cared deeply for her however Harold's competitive streak especially with his twin brother Allan suggested a possible motive Harold and Allen had a long history of rivalry and both had been buying for Julie's attention Harold's calm and confident demeanor began to waver as detective Roberts pressed him on his whereabouts on the night of the murder Harold stated he was at home watching a rerun of NCIS on CBS he insisted he had no
reason to harm Julie and was shocked by her death however his answers were vague and he couldn't provide a solid alibi the police also investigated herold's Financial records They found that he had been giving Julie money regularly which could have been a source of tension if he discovered she was manipulating him Harold's phone record showed multiple calls and messages to Julie in the days leading up to her death indicating frequent communication despite his denials the police felt Harold had the motive and opportunity to commit the crime his history of competitiveness with Allen and his romantic
involvement with Julie painted a troubling picture the investigators kept a close eye on Harold looking for any inconsistencies in his story and waiting for any evidence that might link him directly to the murder as the investigation continued Harold remained a prime suspect his flamboyant personality and competitive nature coupled with his involvement with Julie made him a central figure in the case the town of payet watched closely as the police worked to uncover the truth behind Julie's tragic death the second suspect in the investigation was alen Henderson Harold's twin brother alen also 70 years old was
a retired High School history teacher known for his intellect and passion for teaching Allan was respected and well-liked in pet he had a reputation for being levelheaded and scholarly a stark contrast to his more flamboyant brother Ellen had never married and was often seen as a bachelor who enjoyed his Solitude he spent much of his time reading and participating in community events despite his age Allan had a magnetic personal it that attracted people of all ages he was particularly fond of attending local book clubs and giving lectures at the Tom Library the police discovered that
Allan like his brother had also been romantically involved with Julie Lewis this Revelation shocked many in the town as Allan was viewed as a more reserved and dignified figure detective Kelly Breezy Robertson officer Olsen Benson brought Allen in for questioning on June 7 2012 to understand his relationship with Julie and his potential motives Ellen arrived to the police station looking composed dressed in a tweed jacket that hinted at his scholarly background during the interrogation he admitted to his relationship with Julie but insisted it was platonic he explained that he enjoyed her company and found her
bright and ambitious Allan's affection for Julie was evident but he denied any romantic involvement detective Roberts pressed Allan about his whereabouts on the night of Julie's murder Allan stated he was at home working on a lecture for the local Historical Society he mentioned reading a book about the Civil War a topic he was passionate about however his Alibi was weak as he lived alone and had no witnesses to confirm his story Allen's demeanor during the interrogation was calm but saddened he expressed disbelief that Julie could be dead he cooperated fully with the police providing them
with his phone records and access to his home the investigators found nothing suspicious at his residence but they continued to scrutinize his interactions with Julie the police also interviewed people who new Allen his colleagues and former students spoke highly of him describing him as a dedicated teacher who cared deeply about education despite his calm exterior the possibility of betrayal by Julie could have triggered a strong emotional response as the investigation progressed Allen remained a key suspect his scholarly nature and apparent innocence contrasted sharply with the dark motives uncovered the police continued to explore every lead
determined to uncover the truth behind Julie's murder murder and the Henderson Brothers involvement the third suspect in Julie Lewis murder investigation was her father Tony Lewis Tony 45 was a police officer in PE Ido known for his protective nature Tony was a well-liked figure in the community he had become close to the Henderson Brothers over the years often acting as a mediator between the two tomy's connection to Julie was evident as he was her father and lived next door to alen Henderson the police had to consider every possibility even the uncomfortable one that Tony might
be involved detective Kelly Breezy Roberts and officer Olsen Benson decided to question Tony on June 8 2012 Tony was still reeling from the shock of finding his daughter's body when he arrived at the police station he looked tired and grief stricken during the interrogation Tony recounted his actions on the night of the murder he had been working a night shift which he often did to provide for Julie after the death of her mother Tony insisted he had no reason to harm his daughter and was devastated by her death detective Roberts asked Tony about his relationship
with the Henderson Brothers Tony admitted he knew about their interest in Julie and had tried to keep the peace between them he expressed his frustration over their rivalry which had caused tension in the neighborhood despite this Tony was adamant that he had no involvement in the crime the police looked into Tony's background and found no History of Violence or misconduct his colleagues at the police department spoke highly of him describing him as a dedicated officer and loving father however the investigators had to consider the possibility that Tony's protective instincts might have driven him to a
Breaking Point Tony provided his phone records and cooperated fully with the investigation the record showed he had been on duty at the time of the murder but the police needed to verify this Alibi thoroughly they checked surveillance footage from the police station and confirmed Tony's presence there during the critical hours the police also interviewed neighbors and Friends of Tony most described him as a caring father who was deeply affected by his wife's death and determined to give Julie a better life some however mentioned that Tony had become more stressed and irritable in recent months possibly
due to the pressure of raising a teenager alone despite Tony's grief and cooperation the police had to keep all possibilities open his close proximity to the crime scene and his protective nature were significant factors in the investigation detective Roberts and her team continued to examine every piece of evidence knowing that solving the case required looking at every angle no matter how painful as the investigation unfolded Tony remained under scrutiny the small town of payet watched closely hoping for answers and justice for Julie the police were determined to find the truth and Tony's involvement if any
would be uncovered through their Relentless efforts on June 10 2012 around 3:00 p.m. new evidence came to light the weather was warm and sunny typical for payet in early summer detective Kelly Breezy Roberts received a call from a local hiker who had found something unusual near the Snake River he had been walking his dog when he noticed a small bag hting under some rocks detective Robertson officer olssen Benson rushed to the scene they found a small black bag containing a Blood Stained shirt and a pair of gloves the items were immediately taken into evidence the
police believed these items could be crucial in solving Julie's murder back at the station the forensic team examined the evidence the blood on the shirt matched Julie this was a significant breakthrough the gloves were tested for fingerprints and the results came back with a match to Harold Henderson this finding shifted the focus back to Harold who had previously denied being near the crime scene detective Roberts and her team reexamined Harold's Alibi they discovered inconsistencies in his story further analysis of his phone records showed he had been near Julie's house at the time of the murder
contradicting his claim of being at home watching TV the New Evidence prompted the police to search Harold's home again this time they found a hidden compartment in his garage with several items that raised suspicion including a second pair of gloves and a belt similar to the one used to strangle Julie these discoveries painted a clearer picture of Harold's involvement as the investigation deepened the police interviewed more witnesses they found out that Harold had been seen arguing with Julie the day before her death a neighbor Mrs Carter reported hearing raised voices and seeing Harold leave Julie's
house looking angry with the new evidence detective Roberts felt confident they were closing in on the truth the police brought Harold in for another round of questioning this time his demeanor was less confident confronted with the evidence Harold became defensive and struggled to maintain his earlier calmness the forensic team continued to analyze the evidence looking for any additional Clues they used Advanced Techniques like DNA testing and fiber analysis to ensure nothing was overlooked the detailed investigation paid off as more links between her and the crime were uncovered by the end of the week the police
were confident they had enough evidence to make an arrest the discovery of the bag near the Snake River had been the Breakthrough they needed the town of payet waited anxiously for justice to be served hey True Crime case solvers interested in more real life murder mysteries be sure to like And subscribe to our Channel and do you have any thoughts about this case or have a case of your own you'd like us to investigate leave us a comment stay safe True Crime case solvers on June 12 2012 the police were ready to make an arrest
detective Kelly Breezy Roberts had pieced together the evidence pointing to Harold Henderson as the murderer Harold 70 was a retired use car salesman known for his flamboyant personality and competitive nature his charm and wealth made him a popular figure in payad but his rivalry with his twin brother Allen and romantic involvement with Julie Lewis revealed a darker side Harold had been competing with Allan for Julie's affection he he had given Julie money regularly and felt betrayed when he discovered her plan to blackmail him and Allen on the night of June 4 Harold confronted Julie at
her home the argument turned violent leading Harold to bludgeon her with a rocky found outside and strangle her with a belt driven by anger and betrayal Harold committed the brutal murder detective Roberts had discovered inconsistencies in Harold's Alibi and found crucial evidence like the Blood Stained shirt and gloves linking him to the crime the DN and fingerprints on the gloves match herold's and the blood on the shirt with Julie surveillance footage also placed Harold near Julie's house at the time of the murder on the morning of June 12th detective Roberts and officer Olsen Benson went
to Harold's house to arrest him they arrived at 9:00 a.m. and Harold was at home when they told him he was under arrest for Julie's murder Harold looked shocked but didn't resist he was handcuffed and taken to the police station at the station Harold was formally charged with murder his reaction was one of disbelief and anger he insisted he was innocent claiming the evidence was planted despite his protests the overwhelming evidence convinced the police of his guilt Julie's father Tony Lewis was informed about the arrest he was devastated but relieved that the police had found
the person responsible for his daughter's death the town of ped which had been closely following the investigation felt a mix of shock and relief they couldn't believe someone they knew knew so well could commit such a heinous crime as Harold was taken into custody the town hoped for justice for Julie her friends and family gathered to support each other remembering Julie for her beauty intelligence and dreams of a better future the arrest brought some closure but the pain of losing Julie would remain with them forever the evidence against Harold was strong and the police were
confident they had the right person the case now moved to the courts where Harold would face trial for his actions the community waited anxiously for for the trial hoping for a verdict that would bring Justice for Julie Harold Henderson's trial began on July 15 2012 in payet County Court the courtroom was filled with Julie Lewis family and local residents eager to see Justice served the case received extensive coverage from local news outlets including the payet times and ktvboston for her strong courtroom presence and dedication to Seeking Justice Hackle nwork argued that Harold Henderson was guilty
of brutally murdering Julie Lewis she presented a clear case showing evidence such as the bloodstained shirt and gloves found near the Snake River Harold's fingerprints on the murder weapon and surveillance footage placing him at Julie's house on the night of the crime Hackle nwork described the crime as an act of rage and betrayal emphasizing how Harold's rivalry with his twin brother and his manipulative behavor Behavior towards Julie led to her tragic death the defense attorney Drew Mills 45 was a respective lawyer with a reputation for defending high-profile cases mels argued that the evidence against Herold
was circumstantial and that his client was being falsely accused he suggested that Harold's emotional state and previous arguments with Julie did not prove guilt Mills attempted to cast out on the prosecution's evidence arguing that it was possible someone else could have committed the murder Julie's family attended the trial every every day her father Tony Lewis appeared exhausted but Resolute he was seen comforting Julie's friends and family who were deeply affected by the trial the emotional weight of the case was evident as testimonies about Julie's life and dreams were presented in court after several weeks of
testimony and evidence the jury deliberated and reached a verdict on August 5 2012 Harald Henderson was found guilty of first-degree murder the verdict was met with a mixture of relief and sorrow from the courtroom Julie's family while devastated by her loss felt a sense of justice had been achieved sentencing took place on August 12th 2012 Harold was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole the judge honorable David Thompson stated that the crime was particularly heinous due to its brutality and the Betrayal involved the sentence was seen by many as a fitting punishment
for the crime the trial's conclusion had a profound impact on the Community Pet a town that had not seen such a violent crime in years was left to heal Julie's friends and family continued to honor her memory focusing on her dreams and aspirations rather than the tragic end of her life pay served as a stark reminder of the impact of violence and the importance of Justice in a close-knit community after Harold Henderson's trial and sentencing life and pay at Idaho began to slowly return to normal the town had been deeply affected by Julie Lewis murder
and the dramatic court case that followed payet known for its close-knit community and small Town charm was shaken by the violence and the Betrayal that came to light Julie's father Tony Lewis continued to cope with the loss of his daughter he took a leave of absence from his job as a police officer to focus on his grief and to support Julie's memory Tony began speaking at local schools about the importance of communication and the dangers of manipulation hoping to prevent similar tragedies in the future his efforts were met with support from the community who admired
his strength and resilience Harold Henderson's life took a dramatic turn after his conviction he was transferred to the Idaho State Penitentiary where he began serving his life sentence Harold's high-profile case and the nature of his crime made him a notable inmate but he kept a low profile in prison his flamboyant personality and competitive nature were replaced by a more subdued and reflective demeanor the prison system provided Harold with counseling but it did little to ease the weight of his actions alen Henderson Harold's twin brother also had to deal with the aftermath though he was cleared
of any involvement in Julie's murder bee had taken a toll on him emotionally Allan withdrew from the social scene and focused on personal reflection he continued to live in pet where he was known for his quiet and reserved nature the community remained supportive of Allen understanding that he had been a victim of his brother's actions as much as Julie's family had been as time passed pet slowly moved forward the town's recovery was marked by a sense of healing and unity with residents coming together to support one another the memory of Julie Lewis lived on through
the scholarship and charity event reminding everyone of her life and the impact of her tragic death