Teresa Wilson Bean Lewis who became only the second woman executed by Virginia, when she was put to death in 2010, at the age of 41.
Teresa had first met Julian, a widower, in the Spring of 2000 at the Dan River Inc. fabric factory where they both worked. By June of that year, they were married and Teresa moved into Julian’s
trailer on five acres of land in Keeling, in rural Pittsylvania County, Virginia.Julian’s son, Jason, had died in an accident in December 2001 and his father had received his life insurance payout, a
sum in excess of $200,000, which he placed in an account that was only accessible by him. In August 2002, Julian's son Charles was required to report for National Guard duty so Julian made a
will and took out a $250,000 life insurance policy on him. Both only named Teresa as the secondary beneficiary. In other words, she would get nothing if Julian died and was survived by
Charles.
Sometime in the Fall of 2002 Teresa met Matthew Shallenberger in Walmart. She and Shallenberger soon became lovers and plotted the scheme to murder Julian, whom Teresa
claimed was an abusive alcoholic.
At around 3.15 a.m. on October 30, 2002, 51 year old Julian Lewis and his 25 year old son, Charles Lewis always known as C.J., were shot to death in Julian’s trailer home. C.J. was home on leave
from National Guard duty on this day. Teresa had left the door unlocked and then gone to bed with her husband. After the murders she waited for 45 minutes to call the police and removed Julian’s
wallet, sharing the money between Shallenberger and Fuller.
When the police arrived Julian was still alive and is reported to have said "My wife knows who done this to me." Teresa told the
officers that the killings had been the work of an intruder. The police noted that there was no sign of a forced entry nor any sign of grief from Teresa.
A week after the killings Teresa attempted to use a forged check to withdraw $50,000 from Julian’s account. Under questioning Teresa confessed that she had hired Matthew Shallenberger (then 22)
and Rodney Fuller to carry out the murders.
She denied that the $250,000 life insurance payout on the husband and stepson was the motive. "My motive was to get rid of Julian because I was a
prisoner in my own home," she said. "I didn't care about the money."
As a result of her confession Shallenberger and Fuller were soon arrested.
In jail, awaiting trial, Teresa underwent a psychological examination which found her to be of low IQ (72) but competent to plead.
As the evidence against her was overwhelming her attorney advised her to plead guilty at her trial which she did in May 2003. She was formally sentenced on June 5, 2003 by Circuit Court Judge
Charles Strauss. Judge Strauss said Teresa had no motive but greed for the killings and was even more culpable than the two young men she hired and described her as “the head of the serpent”,
hence presumably why he gave her the death penalty.
Rodney Fuller, entered into a plea bargain to get a life sentence for testifying against Matthew Shallenberger, who also got life, but committed suicide in 2006. Teresa’s daughter, Christie Lynn
Bean, received a five year sentence for failing to report her mother's plans to kill Julian and C.J. and was also housed in the Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women in Troy, where her mother
was incarcerated, as Virginia does not have a female death row.
Virginia capital cases move at rather greater speed than those of most other states. Teresa spent just seven years in prison. where she behaved well and was a model inmate. Virginia law allows
the condemned inmate a choice between lethal injection and electrocution. Teresa, unsurprisingly chose the former.
There was a vigorous campaign to save Teresa. Partially this was based upon the fact that the actual shooters got life, partially upon her relatively low IQ and also because she was female.
A petition with over 7,000 signatures was submitted to Governor Bob McDonnell.
In an interview a month prior to execution Teresa said she prayed and read her Bible and had nightmares about the murders. She thought of Julian and C.J. daily.
"I wish I could give Kathy
Clifton (Julian’s daughter) the world and take away her hurt," she said. "I can't even imagine the pain she's been through all these years." Kathy told reporters that she wanted to see Teresa die
for arranging the murders of her father and brother. If she is put to death, "I will be there, I want to see it finished.” “I want justice for my father and brother.”
Teresa also said "I don't think it's fair for the triggermen to get life, and I got the death penalty."
On September 17, 2010, Governor Bob McDonnell, despite international pressure, refused clemency, stating: "Having carefully reviewed the petition for clemency, the judicial opinions in this
case, and other relevant materials, I find no compelling reason to set aside the sentence that was imposed by the Circuit Court and affirmed by all reviewing courts."
Teresa was moved from Fluvanna to the Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt for her execution, which was carried out at 9 p.m. on September 23, 2010.
About 8:50 p.m., Teresa’s lawyer, James E. Rocap III, and her spiritual adviser, the Rev. Julie Perry entered the witness room after visiting with her.
At 8:55 p.m., after the death warrant was read out by Chief Warden George M. Hinkle, the door to the execution chamber opened and Teresa entered wearing a light blue prison issue shirt and dark
blue pants.
She was supported by corrections officers holding each arm. She appeared frightened and glanced around at the witnesses before being strapped to the gurney by five execution team
members, with heavy leather straps securing her ankles, legs, wrists and chest. At 8:58 pm a blue curtain was drawn, blocking the view from the witness room as catheters were inserted in each arm
and connected to IV lines. At 9 09 pm, the curtain opened and she was asked whether she had a last statement. Teresa asked if Kathy was present.
"I want Kathy to know that I love her and I'm
very sorry." Kathy was in an adjacent witness room on the other side of a one way mirror. As the first of the three chemicals then began flowing, Teresa’s left foot moved as if she were
tapping it, but the movement quickly stopped. A guard lightly tapped her on the shoulder as she slipped into death. She was pronounced dead at 9:13 p.m. and the curtains were redrawn, blocking the view.
After the execution, her attorney, James Rocap III said: "Tonight the machinery of death in Virginia extinguished the childlike and loving spirit of Teresa Lewis." He is also quoted as saying "A good
and decent person is about to lose her life because of a system that is broken ... it is grossly unfair to impose the death sentence on her while Shallenberger and Fuller received life”.
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