The next year Howick mother-of-three Tania Furlan was found dead in her home. Copyright 2023 PopCulture.com. Savini has famously apologized for having participated in it at all, despite its reverence among indie horror aficionados. No charges related to Diana Lewis death were filed, and none have been filed since. Christopher Lewis Death. The police case centred around a shoe print forensic scientists found at the crime scene, which matched a pair of Reebok Aztrek Plus sneakers Lewis owned. Actor Johnny Lewis was found dead on September 26, 2012, on the driveway of the home he was renting in Los Angeles. The police informant who gave up Lewis' name was Travis Burns. The story follows the familiar slasher pattern of murder, mystery, and artifacts. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Lorreta Young was a STAR, not a starlet.. After his suicide at Mt Eden the coroner made three recommendations to reduce the chances of further deaths occurring in similar circumstances, which led to a nationwide change to ensure prisoners were unable to access the junction boxes. As the charges were read to him, Lewis responded, "Only two charges, what? Lewis and some of his friends had formed a breakaway group of the National Independent Guerrilla Army, to challenge those in power. In the mid-80s, Christopher and his wife/business partner Linda saw the potential for an untapped market in extremely low-budget independent horror movies. The man who pointed the finger at Lewis to police was later revealed to be Travis Burns, a former Paremoremo prison mate who shared Lewis' interest in martial arts and cannabis. Christopher John Lewis' story is a troubled one - by all public accounts he was a crazed individual, a psychopath, a terrorist, arsonist, robber and, in the year of his death - a murder-accused. The Rumor Mill Was Wrong About the Death of John Lewis. All rights reserved. Then he notices his colour. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. The robbery happened just a week after the same three boys broke into a gun shop and stole a number of weapons. It's been a year since Frankie Pineda was charged with the murder of John Lewis in northern St. Francois County. October 2, 1981Lewis, 17, breaks into a gun shop with two friends and steals a number of weapons his first major crime. Prosecution awaiting lab results in murder case. Christopher Lewis may not be a household name by any stretch of the imagination, but his contribution to independent cinema cannot be ignored. Carolina was loved by so many and made an impact in everyones life. Major, replied Williams, I would like to have a word, can we have a word?. "I stand firm in my convictions that the present nightmare will soon be over. By using video rather than film, the cost could be drastically reduced, provided the video stores were willing to carry such products. . Register, Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout. The now Christchurch-based woman said her son was diagnosed with a mental disorder as a pre-teen, and was involved with criminal activity, but "never hurt anyone ever". Video / Luke Nola. Information found on CountyOffice.org is strictly for informational purposes and does not construe legal, financial or medical advice. But when this failed they "raised the stakes" and toyed with bomb-making, before coming up with the idea to shoot at the Queen. Some even traveled to Selma where two days later King attempted another march but, to the dismay of some demonstrators, turned back when troopers again blocked the highway at the Edmund Pettus Bridge. David, Carolinas mother Rosaria and younger sister Jade were organising a dual memorial in both the US and Auckland. Impressively, this proved to be a vast improvement in his style. Chris maintained that Judy had every right to publish the truth, but it was terrible timing to print it while their mother was alive. A Mt Eden prison guard finds Lewis in a "lifeless state in his cell" about 3.15pm on Tuesday September 23, 1997. Days after the boys' post office heist, Lewis' anti-royalist tendencies emerged when he fired a .22 rifle at the Queen during her visit to Dunedin. Jacob Scott is a reporter with the Daily Journal. PHOTO: JOHN SELKIRK. She was the light to everyones day, and there was never a moment without smiles and laughter when we were with her. Updated at 5:38 p.m. Chris revealed that his mother had a strong moral compass and never abandoned her faith. Lewis was married to his wife, Lillian, for nearly 50 years before her death in 2012. The final chapter in Stuff's five-part series on Christopher John Lewis. As we prepare to say our final goodbyes, we appreciate any assistance, prayers, and compassion. The circumstances surrounding his death were tragic, as his landlady, 81-year-old Catherine Davis, was also found dead at the scene. On January 28, 2021, we lost a filmmaker whose work inspired an entire subgenre of horror. He added that thanks to Lewis, "we now all have our marching orders to keep believing in the possibility of remaking this country we love until it lives up to its full promise.". In an interview with New York magazine published that same month, he said that his "health is improving" and that despite having good and bad days, he was, overall, feeling "good. The congressman's chief of staff . Twice a week we compile our most fascinating features and deliver them straight to you. He enjoyed walks in nature, music, was a fan of German opera singer Ivan Rebroff and was proficient in many musical instruments, including the ukulele, the piano, the clarinet, the guitar and a number of other brass instruments. It was only in the 70s that the judicial system was so perverted, especially in California. Perform a free public death records search, including death certificates, death indexes, deceased records, death registers & registries, obituaries, and death notices. You can cancel at any time. View history Christopher John Lewis (7 September 1964 - 23 September 1997) was a New Zealand criminal who made an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II in 1981. Female college students on a Midwestern college campus are being murdered, and the police detective investigating the crimes finds himself deeper into the mystery than he expected. Not washing his hands, failing to feed the guinea pig, being minutes late home from school. When the cops came knocking, Lewis was wearing his Reeboks. He alleged Lewis posed as a delivery man, with a hammer in a cardboard box. December 1997 Christopher John Lewis' book is published by Howling at the Moon Productions. Following this, assistant police commissioner Stuart McEwan, called for the complete file on the shooting. Days later, on September 23, 1997, he was dead. At the same time, his half-sister Judy pursued acting before becoming a writer and professional child counselor. Lewis described in his book how he was frequently whipped with a belt until he had deep purple welts on his back, stomach and legs. The inmate, who has a Japanese Kanji tattoo on . Christopher John LEWIS Murderer Kidnapping 1 July 1996 1965 Tania Furlan, 27 Hitting with a hammer Howick, Auckland, New Zealand Committed suicide in his cell by on September 23, 1997 In July 1996, Mrs Tania Furlan 27, was found battered to death in her Howick home. Blood Cult (1985) was not the first shot-on-video horror movie, but it made an impact and has since risen to prominence among fans of low-budget horror. She said her son had an "untreatable" mental disorder and described him as "psychologically disturbed". When his store was finally empty of customers, one local shopkeeper confided to Washington Star reporter Haynes Johnson about the citys institutional racism, Everybody knows its going on, but they try to pretend they dont see it. Nearly 50 million Americans who had tuned into the films long-awaited television premiere couldnt escape the historical echoes of Nazi storm troopers in the scenes of the rampaging state troopers. Authorities viewed him as a serious threat and he remained on the intelligence services' watchlist. Johnny Lewis was released from jail on Sept. 21 and also underwent a recent stint in rehab. Carolina moved to the United States Hilton Head with her family in her teens. | Photo: Getty Images. According to the medical examiner's report, per Scientology Money Project, there was no evidence that Lewis intended to jump to his death, nor was there proof that there was foul play. As they began to cross the steel-arched bridge spanning the Alabama River, the marchers who gazed up could see the name of a Confederate general and reputed grand dragon of the Alabama Ku Klux Klan, Edmund Pettus, staring right back at them in big block letters emblazoned across the bridges crossbeam. Christopher Lewis appears at Auckland District Court on December 19, 1996,accused of the murder for Tania Furlan. "He could have done really good things, but he chose to do really bad things.". 2023 County Office. Carolina Lewis the 23-year-old niece of former New Zealand tennis pro and Wimbledon finalist Chris Lewis died unexpectedly last week during a trip to Washington DC, the New Zealand Herald reports. It is speculated that the actor suffered from a brain injury from his accident that was undetected, and therefore was left untreated (via Film Daily). He once decapitated a sparrow, shot at the Queen and was believed to have plotted to kill Prince Charles, and in 1997 became embroiled in the murder of an Auckland woman - which he denied all culpability for until the day he died. October 9, 1981The three boys raid a local post office, hold staff at gunpoint and steal $5000 they planned to use the money to fund a "revolutionary" organisation to "overthrow" the government. The Christchurch woman, who did not want to be named, said doctors couldn't pin down what was wrong with him as his behaviour didn't match any psychiatric condition. [7], Lewis was eventually released, and when a third royal visit occurred the government sent him to Great Barrier Island to keep him away from the royal family. "He hit her another five times, because he knew he had f.. The Herald has delved into its archives and Lewis' self-written memoir, Last Words, to detail the life and death of a man who could have been the Queen's assassin at just 17. Christopher Lewis may not be a household name by any stretch of the imagination, but his contribution to independent cinema cannot be ignored. Despite this, she said she still loved her son. He fired through the window at the Queen as she was exiting a car. Authorities concluded that Lewis fell to his death after attempting to flee the scene. All Rights Reserved. However, this time, he reached out to special effects legend Tom Savini to play the starring role. up.". His famil y has made no mention of coronavirus; there's no reason to believe that coronavirus played a factor in. The shot did not impact near the Queen or anyone else, but a loud crack was heard; local police told journalists that the noise had been caused by a sign falling down. An article in The Press after Lewis, wanted over several bank robberies, disappeared on the West Coast in 1987. He was born on September 7, 1964 to a teen mother in Dunedin. While Revenge firmly treads in the same slasher territory of its predecessors, it probably best represents Christophers vision in these films. The juxtaposition struck like psychological lightning in American homes, wrote Gene Roberts and Hank Klibanoff in The Race Beat. We are still waiting on a result back from the crime lab, dealing with some blood that was recovered from a weapon, Mahurin said. During the interview, Lewis said that he had "a wonderful doctor and nurse, and everybody taking good care of me" and was "very hopeful and very optimistic." "He's my son, I still love him and I always will.". Those who knew Lewis through his fairly troubled childhood described him as a "true psychopath" who "fancied himself as an outlaw". PHOTO: SUPPLIED. Lewis maintained his innocence. Four days later, they reached Montgomery with the crowd growing to 25,000 by the time they reached the capitol steps. Lewis served three years in prison, with the last part in a psychiatric prison. They had two children, Adam Reuel Tolkien and Rachel Clare Reuel Tolkien. It takes a while to do a full DNA spectrum on it.. Without him, we may have never seen the wave of shot-on-video horror that dominated local video stores in the late 80s and early 90s. Taane's memories of the criminal-to-be included him pointing a shotgun at an old lady and demanding a ride to the shop. Then the troopers' pace quickened. Around 9:30 p.m., ABC newscaster Frank Reynolds interrupted the networks broadcast of Judgment at Nurembergthe star-studded movie that explored Nazi bigotry, war crimes and the moral culpability of those who followed orders and didnt speak out against the Holocaustto air the disturbing, newly arrived footage from Selma. The rising racial tensions finally bubbled over into bloodshed in the nearby town of Marion on February 18, 1965, when state troopers clubbed protestors and fatally shot 26-year-old Jimmie Lee Jackson, an African American demonstrator trying to protect his mother, who was being struck by police. Perhaps his most lavish production is that rare shot-on-video period piece that strives for accuracy by retaining the central elements of intrigue, Dutch angles, and femme fatales. Disturbing Details Found In Johnny Lewis' Autopsy Report. "Damn," he told her "damn . Her first feature was in a silent film when she was only four years old! It was sent off, but blood and DNA evidence takes a long time. Eight years later, in 1995, Lewis was secretly exiled to Great Barrier Island in the Hauraki Gulf because of police fears for the Queen's safety during the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Auckland. However Lewis' name popped up when a man held by police on a different matter claimed his former inmate had confessed to the killing. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. The group stole weapons, sent a threatening letter to the police, and robbed a post office of $5,244. He had a fractured skull as well as multiple rib fractures, which were most likely caused by his fall. Larsa Pippen ruffled feathers when she went public with her new flame, the son of an NBA legend and a former teammate of her ex. In the years that followed Lewis tried to make a life for himself, removed from his criminal past, but couldn't seem to stay on the straight and narrow and committed a series of burglaries. His father left when he was young, and his mother later remarried a man who said he had been physically abused as a child and went on to do much the same to his stepson. Accompanied by two mates from school, he brazenly carried out an armed robbery on Dunedin's Andersons Bay post office during recess. They struck them with sticks. Carolinas younger sister Jade, also a former professional tennis player, said Carolina was an avid traveller and came from a strong Italian and Kiwi background. During his time at the hospital, near Whanganui, Lewis reportedly put a knife to the throat of a guard, but was disarmed by other guards. By [5] Eight days after firing the shot, Lewis was arrested and charged with public possession of a firearm, and public discharging of a firearm. On March 7, 1965, when then-25-year-old activist John Lewisled over 600 marchers across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama and faced brutal attacks by oncoming state troopers, footage of the violence collectively shocked the nation and galvanized the fight against racial injustice. Jonathan Tucker, an actor and Lewis' close friend, said, "It was another person completely. The woman, who Stuff is not naming, said Lewis was driving her to a yoga class at the time police say Furlan was murdered. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. You will always be with us.. In 1997, he was charged with the murder of Tania Furlan and the kidnapping of her daughter, though a friend was found to be responsible. THE DEATH OF CHRISTOPHER JOHN LEWIS. For months, the efforts of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) to register Black voters in the county seat of Selma had been thwarted. Police were puzzled over the brutal death, but their investigation soon zeroed in on Lewis, after they talked to one of his former Paremoremo cellmates. September 24, 1997. Christopher is survived by his wife Linda, who actively participated as producer in all his projects. Chris described Carolina's death as "one of life's unthinkable and cruellest moments". The trio held staff and two children at gunpoint and stole $5000. All Rights Reserved. Jade has set up a GoFundMe page to help the family. Although acknowledging the poor prognosis for the disease, he also offered hope, stating that "recent medical advances have made this type of cancer treatable in many cases" and that he had "a fighting chance." Structurally, the film blends classic slasher elements of both Herschell Gordon Lewis and Sean Cunningham with the mystery of Alfred Hitchcock and Dario Argento. Those impressions on the note pad included the references "come alone", "when you get money you will get child 36 hours later" and "no ringing pigs". Still, his true talent shows through here best with surprisingly stunning camerawork and decent dialog for a shot-on-video film, as well as a memorable performance from John Carradine. Police also alleged that while at the hospital he developed a plot to shoot Prince Charles. Lewis said his mother always said she loved him, but he often felt he was the source of all her woes. It was the revelation that Loretta had lied about the adoption of her daughter, Judy. He planned later attempts at assassinating other British royal family members but was kept away from them by the authorities in New Zealand. Lewis was sentenced to three years in prison, but spent the final year at Lake Alice psychiatric hospital. "He always wanted to know what it would be like to take someone's life.". His partner, a first offender, was fined $350 plus court costs. Visit our full length Privacy Policy to get informed on our policies regarding the collection, use and disclosure of information we receive from users. As it happens, John Clark Gable, 58, was most recently in the headlines in 2013, when he was arrested on charges of driving under the influence after hitting several parked cars in Malibu, the Los . That included his notorious attempt to shoot the Queen in Dunedin, back in 1981. Police also recovered a notepad from Lewis' home with indentation, indicating a ransom note had been written. died following a months-long battle with cancer, his stage 4 pancreatic cancer diagnosis in December of 2019, Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes Should Remain On-Air Couple After ABC Exit, According to TV Host, King Charles' Reported Reason for Evicting Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Revealed, Hoda Kotb Makes Brief 'Today Show' Appearance Amid Family Health Matter, 'Creed III': Why Sylvester Stallone and Rocky Balboa Are Missing From Latest Film, Disney World Brings Back 'Beauty & the Beast' Experience for First Time Since COVID-19 Pandemic Began, QVC Hosts Call it Quits After Nearly 20 Years, Florida Residents Urged to Use Caution With Tap Water After Man Dies From Brain-Eating Amoeba. Investigators concluded that Lewis killed . There was no other clear motive for the crime. He was just 15 at the time. Carolina. Former President Barack Obama, in a Medium post, called Lewis "one of my heroes." He was also my cousin. Lewis had just been released from jail days prior to the incident.