David Lewis' Unsolved Mystery

David Lewis, a well-respected attorney residing in Amarillo, Texas, lived with his wife Karen and their nine-year-old daughter in 1993. He was known for his devotion to his family and participation in various charitable endeavors.

When January 28th arrived, Karen and their daughter set off for a weekend trip to Dallas for some shopping. Despite usually joining them, David remained home to watch the Super Bowl on Sunday, January 31st. Upon their return after the game, Karen and their daughter anticipated finding David either straightening up or engrossed in post-game analysis. Instead, they found the television still on the channel that aired the Super Bowl, but David was nowhere to be seen. David frequently recorded important sporting events on the VCR, which was still used then. As she walked through the house, Karen called out for him, but she got no answer.

She went into the kitchen and found David's go-to snack, two freshly made turkey sandwiches, sitting on a plate inside the refrigerator. His watch and wedding ring were also visible to her on the kitchen counter. Strange as these details were, there was no sign of a struggle, forced entry, or burglary. Karen surmised that he might have watched the second half of the game at a friend's house and would return later. She waited a while before going to bed, sure he would return in the morning.

When David was still missing the following day, Karen called the police. Authorities found David's abandoned car close to the courthouse downtown in no time. Under a floor mat, they discovered his keys inside the car, neatly arranged alongside his driver's license, credit cards, and checkbook. The family's bank account had recently received a $5,000 deposit, and they had bought two plane tickets: one from Los Angeles to Dallas and the other from Dallas to Amarillo. It was unclear, though, if David had used either ticket.

Karen went on to say that David had recently voiced worries about his security. Later that month, in a case involving a conflict of interest between his former law firm and a wealthy client, he was scheduled to give a deposition in Dallas. At his previous company, David had faced pressure to hide some wrongdoing, but he refused, adamant about telling the truth even if it meant taking a chance.

The police were curious about this information, but they could not find any conclusive proof that David was in immediate danger. They looked for David for almost a year, but they found no new leads, no indications of his whereabouts, and no communication from him. The case was ultimately closed with the determination that David had left of his own free will, leaving his family to deal with the prospect that he might never return.

Then, in 2004, while browsing the internet for mysteries, a state trooper in Washington stumbled upon David's case. The trooper noticed that David looked a lot like a man who had been killed in a hit-and-run in Washington state back in 1993. Just one day after David vanished, this man, whose identity is unknown, was struck. 1,600 miles from Amarillo, he was discovered lost and alone on a highway, wearing military garb but carrying neither identification nor possessions.

The trooper was certain that David Lewis was this "John Doe." Subsequent examination indicated that the man had been donning glasses that matched David's. In the end, DNA testing proved that the victim who had not been identified was, in fact, David Lewis.

Although David's fate was finally clear thanks to this discovery, many questions remained. What caused David to arrive in Washington, a state he seemed to have no connection to? How in the world did he manage to cover 1,600 miles in such a short amount of time if he had the VCR set to record the Super Bowl? And why was he wearing military gear? Was he compelled to wear it, or was it his? Why was he strolling along that highway, and what had become of his possessions?

The official police position is that David left on his own and that his death was declared an accident, despite these unanswered questions. But given his prior concerns for his safety, the circumstances surrounding his disappearance haven't stopped conjecture about possible foul play.