WALTERBORO, S.C. (Court TV) — A South Carolina man has been acquitted of charges he killed his wife by setting her on fire, causing injuries that took her life 10 months later.
Craig Lewis appears in court Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Court TV)
Craig Anthony Lewis, 47, was charged with murder and arson in the death of his wife, Terry Lewis. The jury deliberated for only a couple of hours before returning verdicts of not guilty on both counts.
Police had said Craig assaulted his wife over two days, beginning on Jan. 16, 2019. In documents reviewed by Court TV, police said that Craig hit her with “personal weapons and the butt of a firearm, shotgun,” breaking the weapon over her hip. Terry was bleeding and had trouble walking after the incident, police said.
The next day, Jan. 17, police said Craig lit his wife on fire inside their home in an attempt to kill her. The front of Terry’s body suffered severe burns, and she succumbed to her injuries 10 months later.
Terry’s daughter, Leigh Ann Cronkey, told FITSNews that her mother began fighting with Craig on Jan. 17 because Terry told him that she was leaving. The argument allegedly turned physical, and Terry said that Craig violently raped her before throwing a rag or a shirt lit on fire at her. Terry said that when she tried to throw the rag away, Craig would throw it back until she caught fire before finally stepping on her hand and crushing it.
Despite a criminal history with prior convictions, Craig was granted a $100,000 surety bond with ankle monitoring at a bond hearing and has been free since Feb. 26, 2019, FITSNews reported.
DAILY TRIAL HIGHLIGHTS
DAY 3 – 11/7/24
- The prosecution and defense delivered closing arguments.
- The jury reached its verdict.
DAY 2 – 11/6/24
- Terry Lewis’ daughter, Leigh Ann Cronkey, recalls defendant Craig Lewis calling to tell her that her mother had been badly hurt.
DAY 1 – 11/5/24
- The jury hears openings statements
- Forensic pathologist Dr. Thomas Beaver testified that Terry had burns covering about 38% of her body and her cause of death was delayed complications of thermal injury.
- WATCH: Burned Alive Murder Trial: Day 1 Recap
