True Crime Garage – Episode: David Glenn Lewis /// Part 1 /// 816

Release Date: January 29, 2025
Hosts: Nic and the Captain
Podcast: True Crime Garage

Introduction

In the inaugural segment of the two-part series on David Glenn Lewis, hosts Nic and the Captain delve into a perplexing true crime case that intertwines a mysterious disappearance with an unresolved death spanning over a thousand miles and a decade. The episode sets the stage for an intricate exploration of evidence, speculation, and investigative ingenuity.

Case Overview: David Glenn Lewis Disappearance and Moxie John Doe

[02:52] Nic kicks off the episode by presenting the central mystery: the baffling disappearance of David Glenn Lewis, a 39-year-old attorney from Amarillo, Texas, and his subsequent appearance as an unidentified dead man in Moxie, Washington, known as "Moxie John Doe."

Key Points:

• Background on David Glenn Lewis:

  • Profession: Attorney and former judge
  • Personal Life: Described as a "nice guy" and family man
  • Last Seen: Super Bowl weekend, January 30, 1993

• Discovery of Moxie John Doe:

  • Date Found: February 1, 1993
  • Location: State Route 24 near Moxie, Washington
  • Condition: Dressed in military-style camouflage fatigues and work boots
  • Cause of Death: Struck by a vehicle in a hit-and-run incident
  • Identification: No ID found; remains unidentified for over a decade

Notable Quote:

[04:20] Detective Pat Ditter: "It would take over 10 years to connect the two cases."

Detective Pat Ditter’s Investigation

[04:42] Nic introduces Detective Pat Ditter, a seasoned investigator from the Washington State Patrol with a 13-year tenure marked by tenacity and attention to detail. Inspired by a 2003 Seattle Post-Intelligencer series highlighting flaws in missing persons investigations, Ditter embarked on an unconventional approach to solving the Moxie John Doe case.

Challenges Identified:

• Low Prioritization: Missing persons cases often neglected due to high caseloads.
• Database Inefficiencies: Lack of communication between law enforcement databases hindered cross-referencing missing persons with unidentified remains.
• Jurisdictional Barriers: Difficulty connecting cases across state lines.

Innovative Approach: Ditter leveraged the burgeoning power of the internet and search engines like Google to scour online missing persons databases, leading him to potential matches previously overlooked by traditional methods.

Notable Quote:

[10:42] Nic: "Moxie John Doe was found with no identification on him, and he was found dressed in army fatigues."

Connecting the Dots: David Lewis and Moxie John Doe

[15:09] Captain: Emphasizes the variability in eyewitness reports, highlighting discrepancies in descriptions of how the unidentified man was behaving on the road—whether he was "wandering," "walking," or "running."

[21:05] Captain: Points out that David Lewis is not from the Moxie area, raising questions about how he could have traveled such a vast distance in a short time.

Key Similarities Identified:

• Physical Attributes: Height and weight closely match.
• Eyeglasses: Detection of distinctive glasses found with John Doe resemble those worn by David Lewis in missing persons photos.
• Timeline: David Lewis was reported missing on January 31, 1993, just a day before John Doe was found.

Notable Quote:

[33:58] Nic: "Detective Ditter thought, 'Wow, is it a coincidence we got to figure this thing out?'"

Speculative Insights and Implications

[35:06] Captain: Acknowledges the bizarre nature of the case, noting the improbability of David Lewis traveling from Amarillo, Texas, to Moxie, Washington, in less than 24 hours.

[40:10] Nic: Discusses the role of online communities like Reddit in fueling speculation, emphasizing the importance of distinguishing between factual information and conjecture.

[52:31] Captain: Highlights potential oversights in law enforcement procedures, such as failing to confirm if the deposit was made by David Lewis himself, raising doubts about the integrity of the initial investigation.

[58:30] Captain: Reflects on the rapid timeline of events—from David Lewis’s disappearance to his unidentified death—underscoring the complexities and unanswered questions surrounding the case.

Notable Quote:

[59:35] Captain: "This case is just so bizarre."

Critical Examination of Evidence and Gaps

[45:42] Captain: Questions the behavior of the unidentified John Doe, particularly why he would photograph his own vehicle, suggesting abnormality in his actions.

[52:59] Nic: Raises concerns about the deposit of $5,000 into David Lewis’s bank account, pondering the legitimacy and the identity of the depositor.

[57:38] Captain: Expresses skepticism about eyewitness accounts, questioning the likelihood of David Lewis being the man seen photographing his own car.

Conclusion and Tease for Part Two

As the hosts navigate through a labyrinth of evidence, witness testimonies, and investigative dead-ends, they lay the groundwork for unraveling one of true crime’s most confounding cases. The episode concludes with an acknowledgment of the deep mysteries yet to be explored, promising a continuation in Part Two that will delve deeper into the unexplored facets of David Glenn Lewis’s disappearance and death.

[59:35] Captain: "This case is just so bizarre."

[60:02] Nic: "And until then, be good, be kind, and don't litter. Sa."

Stay Tuned:
The second part of this series is set to delve deeper into the investigative efforts, uncover new evidence, and explore potential motives and theories that could shed light on the enigmatic fate of David Glenn Lewis.

Notable Quotes Summary:

• Detective Pat Ditter [04:20]: "It would take over 10 years to connect the two cases."
• Nic [10:42]: "Moxie John Doe was found with no identification on him, and he was found dressed in army fatigues."
• Nic [33:58]: "Detective Ditter thought, 'Wow, is it a coincidence we got to figure this thing out?'"
• Captain [35:06]: "This case is just so bizarre."

This comprehensive summary captures the intricate details, critical discussions, and engaging banter between the hosts, providing listeners with a clear understanding of the complexities surrounding the David Glenn Lewis case without needing to reference the original podcast.