DAVID "DAVE" EDWIN LEWIS: Murder & arson 13 miles east of Ashland, OR - 4 September 2008

David "Dave" Lewis was a 46 year old father of three. A jack of all trades and good man in any camp, Dave was well known and well respected in his mountain community where he lived on the summit of Dead Indian Memorial Road, 13 miles east of Ashland, Jackson County, Oregon for more than 20 years.

David was found dead after a fire at his rural cabin at 12801 Dead Indian Memorial Road. He had been murdered, shot & the cabin set fire.

David's remains were identified by DNA. There was also ANOTHER FIRE near Dave's cabin that same night, at a vacant vacation cabin at 18196 Dead Indian Memorial Road, about 5-6 miles away.

Edited to add media link: Dave Lewis was found murdered in his rural cabin east of Ashland, Oregon in 2008. His murder remains UNSOLVED!

 

[Tresir]

I just came across this video. It is very well made from 8 years ago. Wondering what you think of it.

 

[Tresir]

Three unsolved murders in three years

True Crime Diary

Troy Dean Carney, 44, was originally from Maine, but for the last several years he'd been crisscrossing the country working as a "lumper," someone who helps load and unload trucks. While waiting for more work, Carney was camping by the Greenway. He was last seen on videotape on September 1, 2008 walking away from the nearby Pilot Truck stop. His body was found three days later. Police believe he was shot in the head while sleeping in a sleeping bag hidden under some brush. There were no signs of struggle, or robbery.
[...]
On the same day Carney's body was discovered a 100 year old hilltop cabin burned in the mountains about 15 miles east of Ashland. An hour later a call came in about a second house fire on the same road. Both houses burned to the ground and were completely destroyed. The first house was an occasional summer home. But the second house, at 12801 Dead Indian Memorial Road, was owned by Dave E. Lewis, 46, a man with deep ties to the Ashland area; Lewis had rented the house for 23 years. His badly burned remains were discovered among the ruins. Police believe he was tied up and killed before the house was set on fire.

Two murders discovered on the same day in relatively close proximity in an area with normally very little violent crime sparked investigators' interest. Things got even more interesting when, 9 days after Carney's murder, someone returned to the scene and set fire to the campsites. Police believe it was set intentionally in an attempt to cover up evidence.

The Lewis and Carney murders now had fire in common as well. Investigators have also said they've discovered a piece of evidence linking the crimes, but they've stopped short of identifying it.

*full disclosure: I worked with David Grubbs at the time he passed in November 2011. He was a much younger co-worker who was on his way home from work walking along the bike path near Hunter Park in Ashland when he was attacked and killed.

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A third thread needed?

 

[Red Clover]

A third thread needed?

Yes. David Grubbs definitely deserves his own thread

 

[Tresir]

Three unsolved murders in three years

True Crime Diary

Troy Dean Carney, 44, was originally from Maine, but for the last several years he'd been crisscrossing the country working as a "lumper," someone who helps load and unload trucks. While waiting for more work, Carney was camping by the Greenway. He was last seen on videotape on September 1, 2008 walking away from the nearby Pilot Truck stop. His body was found three days later. Police believe he was shot in the head while sleeping in a sleeping bag hidden under some brush. There were no signs of struggle, or robbery.
[...]
On the same day Carney's body was discovered a 100 year old hilltop cabin burned in the mountains about 15 miles east of Ashland. An hour later a call came in about a second house fire on the same road. Both houses burned to the ground and were completely destroyed. The first house was an occasional summer home. But the second house, at 12801 Dead Indian Memorial Road, was owned by Dave E. Lewis, 46, a man with deep ties to the Ashland area; Lewis had rented the house for 23 years. His badly burned remains were discovered among the ruins. Police believe he was tied up and killed before the house was set on fire.

Two murders discovered on the same day in relatively close proximity in an area with normally very little violent crime sparked investigators' interest. Things got even more interesting when, 9 days after Carney's murder, someone returned to the scene and set fire to the campsites. Police believe it was set intentionally in an attempt to cover up evidence.

The Lewis and Carney murders now had fire in common as well. Investigators have also said they've discovered a piece of evidence linking the crimes, but they've stopped short of identifying it.

*full disclosure: I worked with David Grubbs at the time he passed in November 2011. He was a much younger co-worker who was on his way home from work walking along the bike path near Hunter Park in Ashland when he was attacked and killed.

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Well his COD wasnt shooting or arson but unsolved too, from 2011.

ETA found this video. Are you the coworker featured in this video?

ETA2 I just noticed the above article says Dave was tied up before he was shot.

 

[Red Clover]

Well his COD wasnt shooting or arson but unsolved too, from 2011.

ETA found this video. Are you the coworker featured in this video?

ETA2 I just noticed the above article says Dave was tied up before he was shot.

I have never seen this report. It's really excellent. No, I am not the co-worker featured in the video. Beau (in the video) and Grubbs were significantly younger co-workers.

I was interviewed by LE at least twice as were all my other coworkers, I am aware of one that was interviewed a 3rd time because she was leaving work at the same time as Grubbs and I think they were seen leaving and walking away through the parking lot (she to her vehicle and Grubbs to the bike path that was accessed from underneath a railroad overpass nearby.

I attended a gathering of co-workers at the place he was attacked on the bike path behind Hunter Park for an informal memorial in that first week after his death.

It was incredibly dark in that location at only about 5:30 pm, the same time DG was found.

Later a bench and street light were installed as part of a memorial there.

Something that I realized within the last few months is that David Lewis' marker was placed less than a block from the spot David Grubbs was attacked and killed.

 

[Red Clover]

No one is in "trouble". No worries. Just being safe.

There was a case at JT that I followed where I was sure the BF killed the GF. Come to find out, she was upset about a fight they had, hid in a school service truck and couldn't get out, and died from asphyxiation. Sometimes it's good practice to keep looking under every stone, not just the big one. I can't tell you how many cases I've seen where LE ends up arresting someone we never even heard of. The Long Island Serial Killer case is a prime example.

Carry on!

Exactly. A good reminder.
Thank you.
Anyone's guess is as good as mine until someone is arrested & convicted.

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[GrandmaBear]

The cabin at 18196 was very old, uninsured, and used as a vacation cabin AFAIK. I don't know that it had electricity, I am not certain.

I do know it was heated by woodstove and the owners stated in a very early article that the woodstove had not been used and there was no way for a fire to start from inside the house.

Dave's cabin was formerly used as a fire lookout for the forest service.
David had plumbed water into the house from the tank that he had set up. There was a spring on the property that he developed to feed the tank.

It's my understanding that an electric box may have been on the property for as long as four years before he passed but I never saw an outlet or anything that used a plug.

He was a craftsman, welder, firefighter, woodcutter, contractor & artist. David lived VERY simply.

He had vehicles; a jeep, a Ford truck and a work truck with a lift and equipment boxes that held his welding gear.

He had a motorcycle, dirt bikes, a snowmobile, fishing gear and every kind of equipment he needed for his work.

Dave just wasn't a town guy after so many years in the wilderness. He had a beautiful cast iron tub and he flushed the toilet in his bathroom by filling a bucket in the tub and pouring it in the back of the tank.

The winter before he passed was brutal. There was so much snow that it was a full time job keeping his roof & driveway cleared.

You could see the wear & tear on him, he'd lost weight and he said he hoped he'd never have to go through that again...

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Your first two sentences are about the other cabin right? Trying not to get confused and staying on Dave's but good to know.

I know the type he sounds like well and I can believe he was the salt of the earth. That kind of life doesn't always fly well with wives and children I will say that. So it was plumbed but probably not to the toilet. Personally it is better to force a flush imo from fast pouring water into the bowl. I've done this in the past two years at a rural property of mine until the water pressure was fixed lol. Jmo.

Maybe there was electric but he never had an account or turned it on or something.

So it was a hard winter before and that wore on him both with weight and visually you could see the wear and tear. It doesn't relate to any thoughts on suspects but it does kind of go with how nice it is to live in wilderness, free and simply but that it isn't always easy. And wouldn't have been with wife and kids as I've mentioned. I could tell a story I lived but no need. I am just getting a picture and we all know I think there's perks to it and drawbacks, a simpler life miles away from all without modern conveniences and such. I would imagine? Miles from schools, a decent sized grocery store, doctors, day cares and the like. I'd also imagine getting down or up some of those roads in a hard winter wouldn't be fun either. Again, nothing about the case, just getting a better picture or trying to of him, the home, area and so on.

Tell me this, are there a few up there like him living similarly or were most holdings used for part time getaways to "rough" it or owned by other entities? Were the resort owners out of the area people not the type to live simply like that and monied or more like he was?

I can't help but think and it comes from you as well that this could relate to that place and a night out or any issues with anyone that night or prior, etc. There's a few reasons for wondering that which I'm sure you see as well and I've said. Time of night, seems like a local that knew the roads and area well, you said there had been some issues, and so on. What other types hung here? Did they have a big Labor Day blowout party? Did they have a lot of tourists on a weekend like that? Just thoughts.

Thank you for all the answers and patience. It is helping with a better picture of him and just an overall one even.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I hope his 3 sons got those vehicles. That was all that was left of his things. Do you know if that happened?

Sorry about giving you the third degree. I have to ask the questions as I think of them. So noone knows when he was last seen by anyone? Did he have any social media? Twitter, Facebook, etc.

I have done much the same. Bombarded with questions and thoughts as they come to me and often that is as I am commenting, new thoughts and questions come to mind.

He apparently used nothing with a plug or electricity so I can't see a computer, etc. I have to wonder if he had a cell phone and how he even charged one if so unless in a vehicle.

She may have answered you already but I'm just catching up so if not, thought I'd share what was said that I know of.

For that matter, I guess I don't even know if @Red Clover is a she or he, I just kind of assumed as most people on here that talk are lol. Not all but most.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I have heard that he spoke with his exwife and or his youngest son the night before as the son was turning 12 that week and starting middle school.

I have been told that the relative in question told LE that they hadn't seen their relative for four years but told LW, Troy's mom that they hadn't seen/spoken with them for four DAYS.

Dave MAY have been at Hyatt Lake the evening/night of 9/3/2008

The VI in JT has suggested that Dave might have been at Hyatt Lake on Labor Day 9/1/2008.

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Well the son and ex thing sounds very plausible but I guess if not confirmed and know who said by any of it is not solid?

There's a lot of odd stuff here or rumors maybe and hearsay talk and website stuff maybe that is passed on? I don't mean that anyone who told you something isn't honest so much as when cases go on forever and are unsolved, it can get to be where a well meaning person thinks something is fact but picked it up over the years and just thinks it is. But IF a reliable source and someone close, the relative saying that is odd unless he or she meant hadn't seen Dave in four years but had talked to him four days before.

I have take it that his habit was to go to the Hyatt nightly almost? If not weekend days maybe too (that's a guess on my part but often for people weekends are different). In a recent post it hit me that this was a holiday weekend and that the Hyatt is a resort and so I'd imagine plenty of people would be there...?

I can't imagine your frustration through all these years as I'm finding it frustrating already with almost nothing from LE nor nailed down like date last seen, who claimed by and so forth. Basically nada for info that is solid.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Yes, I do know that at least the older two that were already adults each received a vehicle.

There was precious little left after the fire other than an enameled cup and some iron work. I asked his next of kin for a few pieces of chipped stone that had come through the fire and were in a small pile off to the side.

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This is a question that occurred to me before and I think I voiced, since the house burned and basically all was lost, there is no way to know if something may have been missing... Do you know of anything valuable he may have had or even received from his mom's estate or of his own? Was he like known not to bank and keep a lot of cash? I mean no offense at all but drugs? Did he have some pricey artwork, you said he was an artist. Maybe autographed sports memorabilia, just naming a few things as ideas or motive.... People I've known who prefer to live like this, I'd say the cash thing wouldn't be a bit unusual.... Cash jobs no bank nearby, etc. possibly? I mean he hadn't cashed checks from his mom's estate so it would kind of fit if he didn't bank much to speak of.

By the way are you sure the checks were sitting there uncashed and can I ask where that comes from...? If so, I'd assume they burned in the fire. How is it certain he never cashed them even in recent days? And had a bundle of cash in the home?

 

[GrandmaBear]

Sadly that is my supposition at this point. The whole thing is awful.

Your supposition is that it is a female?

 

[GrandmaBear]

David had absolutely zero interest in the internet or social media or cell phones. He had a landline and we talked on the phone pretty regularly.

He was the kind of guy who always had something to do; he would work from sunup to sundown.

He worked hard but also took time for himself to fish or enjoy friends or whatever. He definitely wasn't a hermit.

If the absolutely only way to contact him or him reach out was by landline then his phone bill would be of major importance and any Caller ID, etc. Did he have an old phone with a cord to a jack or a cordless landline? If so they plug into the wall to an electric outlet as we all know unless we are 30ish or younger lol. My kids SHOULD remember a cordless home phone at least. Not sure about corded ones lol.

LIke if he talked to ex and son, I'd think it would show up on the bill as they don't live up there right so it would be long distance.. Same for you or almost anyone I'd assume if not up in that area?

 

[GrandmaBear]

Somewhere back in the thread, @Tresir (I think?) asked about the newspaper article I have from September 5, 2008.

Hopefully it's readable.

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So the divorce was acrimonious only 9 years I think it was before? And he had a string of assault and harassment charges? And sister said he was outspoken and could have made enemies?

I'm not judging, just getting a fuller picture.

Had a growing pot charge and couldn't have a firearm.

Did he still like pot or grow it, this is a very private acreage with no easy entry with the gate and all. Again, no judgment, looking for motives of others. Heck pot is legal many places these days. So again not judging.

Very political it sounds like as well and that alone is dangerous to voice these days in he wrong place or situation or around the wrong types. It can be dangerous or heated with family and friends much less being outspoken amongst strangers and so on.

I hadn't been able to take time to read any links to speak of but did read this article just now as I do have a bit of time. Should be doing other things but still lol I did...

 

[Red Clover]

If the absolutely only way to contact him or him reach out was by landline then his phone bill would be of major importance and any Caller ID, etc. Did he have an old phone with a cord to a jack or a cordless landline? If so they plug into the wall to an electric outlet as we all know unless we are 30ish or younger lol. My kids SHOULD remember a cordless home phone at least. Not sure about corded ones lol.

LIke if he talked to ex and son, I'd think it would show up on the bill as they don't live up there right so it would be long distance.. Same for you or almost anyone I'd assume if not up in that area?

It was a landline, I assume LE would have his phone records.

It wasn't long distance for him to call me or someone in southern Oregon as his landline and address was listed as Ashland Oregon even though he lived 13 miles from town.

Kids in that area routinely ride the school bus from up on the mountain into town.

I have always wondered if his phone line was intact or if he made any attempt to call 911.

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[GrandmaBear]

His gf gave me her email back in 2008 and yes, I do know she still works locally in town.

I have no idea when the last time she saw him was or how they spent their time together, they didn't live together but they both lived on the mountain. In one of the early newspaper articles she describes meeting Dave.

I would assume that LE questioned her.

I haven't reached out to her yet but she's been on my mind, not as a suspect, I am just curious what she believes happened after all these years.

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Yeah I'd think she would be a good possible source of at least the last time she saw him, if she knew what he'd been doing that day or the days around it, and so on and if he mentioned anything to her of any issues or just whatever. If he worked sun up to sundown, I wouldn't imagine they spent a ton of time together, meaning not likely to have a lot of time and no communication means other than landline or in person. Unless she hung at the bar, he wouldn't be reachable during long work hours as he wouldn't be home and the same if he was at the bar. Also didn't live together. So I guess for all of these reasons, I'd think it wasn't too serious, more casual or at least or maybe just weekends or something. All guesses of course but logical ones based on the other info of how busy he was and all.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Dave would speak to me about their relationship to some degree but I didn't know her personally.

Strangely enough I found out later that her ex bf (before Dave I think) had been my landlord 02-06.

The person that has suggested that she was an ex gf is also the person who has cast aspersions & slandered & intimidated almost everyone that has ever been associated with Dave.

It's messed up. If you ever get a chance read some of the archived blog--

FAIR WARNING
please take this website/blog with a grain of salt

Depending on which page and which date has been archived, it's an endless dive...

New Page 2

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You have no idea how curious I am but I had better not as my life cannot afford an endless dive, I already spent too much time on here today and now again tonight.

And yes, it does sound like a lot is messed up. Due to this person and/or even years of online stuff with no answers gets all people wildly speculating and more. Some anyhow. Well many lol.

 

[GrandmaBear]

My present house has it's own septic tank but I do have mains water. However my immediate neighbour about 250 metres down the hill only has a water source from her hillside at the back which collects into a tank that then supplies the bathrooms etc. She has to buy bottled water for drinking, so I am the last house on the mains and it comes across the field to the side of my property via a private pipe. My water meter is at my other neighbour's house, also about 250 metres away, in the opposite direction.
So it is still not unusual here in country locations.

Heck I have a holding tank rather than a conventional septic but I do have a well that is all hooked up with pressure tank for normal water in toilets, sinks, tub, washer as automated as city and I'll drink my water but many people these days wont' drink anything but bottled. So yes, I do get what you mean, I am not on city anything but I do have all utilities. My property I mean of course. Electric, well, holding tank for septic (in ground), wifi, heat (LP and wood). No natural gas, it is rural.

No outhouse though lol.

I'm not as familiar with the collecting of water you talk of with your neighbor. Most all rural properties in our area have drilled wells.

 

[GrandmaBear]

WARNING
READ AT YOUR OWN RISK

DAVE LEWIS

The Murder of Dave Lewis website was created to generate leads, find witnesses and bring attention to Dave Lewis Murder

web.archive.org

OMG. I read the landing page and then clicked the "fires" part on the side and read all of that. Who wrote all this? Is it family with "nothing but FACTS" as the first page says? Is it the ONE relative or all or who?

This certainly points to knowing WHAT it was about, that it was a group, that it is local and a lot more and I didn't even read more than two links of it. I absolutely don't dare take the time to do the rest and in fact need to get off here or I will be down rabbit holes. I've spent enough time just here on this thread today lol.

Sounds to me like this is anything but some peaceful crime free little area. WTH!

He knew all men's and women's dirty little secrets?? And so much more.

 

[Red Clover]

So the divorce was acrimonious only 9 years I think it was before? And he had a string of assault and harassment charges? And sister said he was outspoken and could have made enemies?

I have always seen these statements as callous given that their loved one had just been found murdered the day before under pretty horrific circumstances. Maybe it's just me.

Did he still like pot or grow it,

He was never a pot smoker but he did grow weed with his brother in law in the extreme backcountry of Northern California in the 80's. They used pack mules to get their supplies into the backcountry.

They both served their time in federal prisons. AFAIK Dave wasn't involved in growing at the time of his death but I have seen speculation or rumors to that effect over the years so anything is possible I suppose.

Very political it sounds like as well

Not really. The comment in the newspaper article isn't necessarily accurate. I spoke with him about the same subject and that wasn't my takeaway at all. ‍♀

I'm only able to tell you all what I know and what I have gathered. I am always hopeful that more heads on this means it's more likely to be solved. I appreciate all your questions. Everyone has been asking all the right things l think.

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[Red Clover]

OMG. I read the landing page and then clicked the "fires" part on the side and read all of that. Who wrote all this? Is it family with "nothing but FACTS" as the first page says? Is it the ONE relative or all or who?

This certainly points to knowing WHAT it was about, that it was a group, that it is local and a lot more and I didn't even read more than two links of it. I absolutely don't dare take the time to do the rest and in fact need to get off here or I will be down rabbit holes. I've spent enough time just here on this thread today lol.

Sounds to me like this is anything but some peaceful crime free little area. WTH!

He knew all men's and women's dirty little secrets?? And so much more.

Please take everything on that blog with a grain of salt as it is also chock full of misdirection in my opinion