In this episode of Southern Mysteries, host Shannon Ballard delves into the perplexing case of David Glenn Lewis, a well-respected lawyer from Amarillo, Texas, who vanished under mysterious circumstances in January 1993. Despite being a beloved family man and community leader, David's disappearance left his family and law enforcement with more questions than answers.

David's body was found 1,600 miles away in Washington State, identified only years later through the use of Google by a determined detective. The discovery solved one mystery but deepened another: how did David end up in Washington, and what led to his tragic death by a hit-and-run driver?

Want more Southern Mysteries?

Hear the Southern Mysteries show archive of 60+ episodes along with Patron exclusive podcast, Audacious: Tales of American Crime and more when you become a patron of the show. You can immediately access exclusive content now at patreon.com/southernmysteries

Connect

Website: southernmysteries.com Facebook: Southern Mysteries Podcast Instagram: @southernmysteries Email: southernmysteriespodcast@gmail.com

Episode Sources

• Fort Worth Telegram Star: Amarillo Police Are Stumped in Search for Missing Lawyer. June 27, 1993.
• Juneau Empire: Experts say that Roberts may indeed have amnesia. July, 17, 1997
• NBC News: Google used to identify long-lost victim. October 8, 2004.
• The Crime Wire: The Strange Disappearance and Death of David Glenn Lewis. June 23, 2024
• Seattle Post-Intelligence Reporter: 1993 hit-run victim is finally identified. October 9, 2004
• NPR Morning Edition: For Man With Amnesia, Love Repeats Itself. December 13, 2012

Episode Music

Out of the Mines, courtesy of Ross Gentry, Asheville, North Carolina.

The death of Mary Ravenel remains one of Charleston’s most baffling mysteries. The 64 year old widow was found slumped on the sidewalk near her home on November 1, 1933. People stopped to help and transported Mary to the hospital. She complained of unbearable pain but doctors were unable to determine the source of her injuries and Mary died. Investigators struggled to answer the question of how Mary Ravenel died? Was it accidental? Or cold blooded murder?

Want more Southern Mysteries?

Hear the Southern Mysteries show archive of 60+ episodes along with Patron exclusive podcast, Audacious: Tales of American Crime and more when you become a patron of the show. You can immediately access exclusive content now at patreon.com/southernmysteries

Connect

Website: southernmysteries.com Facebook: Southern Mysteries Podcast Instagram: @explorethesouth Email: southernmysteriespodcast@gmail.com

Episode Sources

• South Carolina Bandits, Bushwackers, Outlaws, Crooks, Devils, Ghosts and other assorted characters By Carole Marsh
• South Carolina Killers: Crimes of Passion by Mark Jones
• Charleston Historical Exhibits and Information: The Mysterious Death of Mary Ravenel, 1933
• South Carolina Encyclopedia: Ravenel, St. Julien
• SC Picture Project: Palmer Home
• Charleston Raconteurs: William Ravenel House
• The Asheville Times: Bullet Pierced Body of Woman Found in Street, November 2, 1933
• Greensboro Record: Strange Death of Charleston Woman Is Veiled in Mystery, November 3, 1933
• The Charlotte Observer: Stray Bullet Kills Woman, November 3, 1933
• The State: Mrs. Ravenel Told Hospital ‘A Man Hit Me’, November 3, 1933
• Florence Morning News: Woman’s Death Still Mystery, November 4, 1933
• The Gazette: Mrs. Ravenel’s Slayer Never Apprehended, October 4, 1936
• The State: Ravenel Death Still Unsolved, April 5, 1938
• The Columbia Record: Charlotte Storm Kills 30, September 29, 1938

Episode Music

Out of the Mines, courtesy of Ross Gentry, Asheville, North Carolina.

In 1931, 18 year old Helen Spence became a household name, and Arkansas folk hero, after she sought vengeance for the death of her father and stepmother. Over the next three years, the media followed Helen’s trial, imprisonment, second murder charge, prison escapes, and her murder at the age of 22.

Want more Southern Mysteries?

Hear the Southern Mysteries show archive of 60+ episodes along with Patron exclusive podcast, Audacious: Tales of American Crime and more when you become a patron of the show. You can immediately access exclusive content now at patreon.com/southernmysteries

Connect

Website: southernmysteries.com Facebook: Southern Mysteries Podcast Instagram: @explorethesouth Email: southernmysteriespodcast@gmail.com

Episode Sources

• Encyclopedia of Arkansas: Helen Spence (1912–1934)
• People’s River History Project: A Secret History of American River People
• Denise White Parkinson: Daughter of the White River: Depression-Era Treachery and Vengeance in the Arkansas Delta
• Only In Arkansas: River of Redemption: The Helen Spence Story
• The Daily World: Decisions of the Arkansas Supreme Court, January 13, 1930
• The Shreveport Journal: Wounded Man is Thrown in River, April 24, 1930
• Hope Star: Body of Timber Worker, Drowned in River, Found, June 5, 1930
• The Columbus Ledger: Girl Kills Accused Slayer of Father in Courtroom, January 20,1931
• The Barre Daily Times: Young Woman Didn’t Trust Jury with Trial, January 20, 1931
• Sun Herald: Courtroom Slayer Gets Five Year Term, April 2, 1931
• Reading Times: Arrest Trusty for Killing Girl Who Fled Prison, July 13, 1934
• Daily News: Tragedy of Helen Spence Eaton, July 22, 1934
• Hope Star: Martin Acquitted in Eaton Slaying, September 28, 1934
• Arkansas Times: The river people, August 17, 2006
• Fox 16 TV: River Justice: pardon sought for Delta folk hero
• Malvern Daily Record: Helen Spence: An Arkansas Folk Hero for the Ages, March 6, 2023

Episode Music

Impromptu, Traveler and Unanswered Questions by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/