DAVID "DAVE" EDWIN LEWIS: Murder & arson 13 miles east of Ashland, OR - 4 September 2008

David "Dave" Lewis was a 46 year old father of three. A jack of all trades and good man in any camp, Dave was well known and well respected in his mountain community where he lived on the summit of Dead Indian Memorial Road, 13 miles east of Ashland, Jackson County, Oregon for more than 20 years.

David was found dead after a fire at his rural cabin at 12801 Dead Indian Memorial Road. He had been murdered, shot & the cabin set fire.

David's remains were identified by DNA. There was also ANOTHER FIRE near Dave's cabin that same night, at a vacant vacation cabin at 18196 Dead Indian Memorial Road, about 5-6 miles away.

Edited to add media link: Dave Lewis was found murdered in his rural cabin east of Ashland, Oregon in 2008. His murder remains UNSOLVED!

 

[Tresir]

Thank you for sharing Dave's obituary @Tresir ️

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/david-lewis-obituary?

David Edwin Lewis
Dec. 23, 1961-Sept. 4, 2008
David was born and raised in Wilmington, Del., and after journeying across the country, he settled in Ashland, Ore. Here, he met the "love of his life", J.F. They moved to the summit of the "Indian" where they were blessed with three beautiful sons. Dave shared his life with his boys and passed on his passion for the mountains. Dave made everything fun: ice fishing, snowshoeing, riding snowmobiles, dog-sledding, adventuring on motorcycles, all while teaching his sons survival skills and respect for the land.
Dave was also an avid sports fan who instilled the "love of the game" in his sons. He nurtured and encouraged their natural athleticism by tossing footballs and baseballs, even playing ice hockey in the winter. He remained loyal to his "team," the Philadelphia Eagles, through winning and losing.
As time went by, life took many twists and turns. Seasons came and went, his boys turned into young men, and all the while, Dave took pleasure in the watching. He spent his time enjoying simple things and finding beauty everywhere. Dave was an artist by nature, and a man with a unique vision who could make art with every little "treasure" he found: old scrap metal, leather, rocks, wire, string or even chain saw chains, anything worked!
A "good man in any camp," Dave was an animated storyteller with a keen wit and sense of humor. He lived from the depths of his being, stood up for the things in which he believed and shared himself and all he had with the family and friends he cherished.
A "Jack-of-all-trades" and wildland firefighter, David worked hard and played hard. He was intense and unforgettable, a rascal and a live wire. He was a sweet, sweet man who will be greatly missed. Life will go on without Dave, but the ride won't be as much fun.

View attachment 21262

Here's another archived article I just found dated 9/4/2008

One man dead, two homes burned in early-morning fires | KDRV

web.archive.org

Officials say the fires broke out within minutes of one another, just before 3 a.m. It wasn't until just before 4 a.m. that crews from Fire District 5, the Oregon Department of Forestry, and Greensprings Fire were dispatched. Crews say both structures were considered total losses on arrival.

The first fire occurred at a 100-year-old log cabin. No one was home at the time. The second occurred at a home about six miles away, where the body of a man was found in one of the bedrooms. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office is not yet releasing the name of the victim. However, neighbors say he was the 'watchdog' of the neighborhood. One man tells NewsWatch 12 the victim had lived on Dead Indian Memorial Road for more than 20 years. Neighbors say he was very fire conscious and protective of the area.

The log cabin's owners say there was nothing that could have started the fire from the inside of the cabin. The building did not have electricity, and no one had used the stove. They say they don't have insurance on the building.

This is the bit at the bottom of the obit that lists his family members so I am posting here too.

A "Jack-of-all-trades" and wildland firefighter, David worked hard and played hard. He was intense and unforgettable, a rascal and a live wire. He was a sweet, sweet man who will be greatly missed. Life will go on without Dave, but the ride won't be as much fun.
David was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Vivian Lewis; and survived by his three sons, Beau, Casey, and Skyler Lewis; and by his three siblings, James, Paige, and Linda Lewis.
There will be a memorial gathering at noon on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008, at the Summit of the Indian.

 

[Tresir]

I have a couple more questions. The inheritance checks that Dave had, were they from a parent's death? If not, who was the inheritance from?

On JT there is a particular VI still posting all the time. Is that a relative of Dave? If not, who are they and why are they a VI over there?

 

[Whatsnext]

I have a couple more questions. The inheritance checks that Dave had, were they from a parent's death? If not, who was the inheritance from?

On JT there is a particular VI still posting all the time. Is that a relative of Dave? If not, who are they and why are they a VI over there?

I just came from that thread and are wondering as well. If it's "that" relative?

 

[Red Clover]

I have a couple more questions. The inheritance checks that Dave had, were they from a parent's death? If not, who was the inheritance from?

On JT there is a particular VI still posting all the time. Is that a relative of Dave? If not, who are they and why are they a VI over there?

Hey @Tresir
Yes, AFAIK the checks were received after his mother's death but the parent's property in Wilmington Delaware had not been sold at the time of David's death.

JT? I assume you mean @Sleuth••••?

Yes, they are a VI and a relative of Dave's.

Please notice what this person does not say and does not answer; IMO- it's very telling. JMO ️

It's my personal opinion that they are the person who Dave was expecting "to just show up"

They have been on WS since late 2009, and didn't apply for VI status until they were asked to, AFTER I came to the thread in late January 2023.

I applied for VI status almost immediately as was suggested by someone that became one of my favorite members, @Lilibet.

This person posted there for approximately 14 years before becoming a VI.

Their writing style and vocabulary is very distinctive and so I recognized who I was dealing with early on. JMO

To say that we're not friendly with one another is an understatement at this point.

In 2009 I sent this person a message on MySpace asking them to not contact me in any way, etc...

MySpace messages from that time are no longer available but I have a copy/paste version that I had shared in a conversation with Dave's ex-wife in early 2010, as this person had apparently also hacked into Dave's ex-wife's MySpace account and posted as JF on the MySpace page that was set up to find information about what happened to Dave.

MySpace, lol, that's how long ago this was.

I hope this makes sense. Questions are always welcome.

️
Edited for spelling, punctuation & grammar

 

[Red Clover]

I just came from that thread and are wondering as well. If it's "that" relative?

Yes. IMO, and from what I have gathered, it's the person who Dave was expecting to just show up.

️

 

[Tresir]

I just came from that thread and are wondering as well. If it's "that" relative?

Yes, that is what I wondered. They dont seem to ever answer anything do they? The thread is going in circles.

A question I have is with Troy, it seems he slept in his sleeping bag, moving around, so how did the murderer know where he was sleeping that night, in order to shoot him?

 

[Tresir]

Hey @Tresir
Yes, the checks were received after his mother's death but the parent's property in Wilmington Delaware had not been sold at the time of David's death.

JT? I assume you mean @Sleuth••••?

Yes, they are a VI and a relative if Dave.

Please notice what this person does not say and does not answer; IMO- it's very telling. JMO ️

It's my personal opinion that they are the person who Dave was expecting "to just show up"

They have been on WS since late 2009, and didn't apply for VI status until they were asked to, AFTER I came to the thread in late January 2023.

I applied for VI status almost immediately as was suggested by someone that became one of my favorite members, @Lilibet.

This person posted there for approximately 14 years before becoming a VI.

Their writing style and vocabulary is very distinctive and so I recognized who I was dealing with early on.

To say that we're not friendly with one another is an understatement at this point.

In 2009 I sent this person a message in MySpace asking them to not contact me in any way, etc...

MySpace messages from that time are no longer available but I have a copy/paste version that I had shared in a conversation with Dave's ex-wife in early 2010, as this person had apparently also hacked into Dave's ex-wife's MySpace account and posted as JF on the MySpace page that was set up to find information about what happened to Dave.

MySpace, lol, that's how long ago this was.

I hope this makes sense. Questions are always welcome.

️

JT is Jonestown LOL. You'll get used to the nickname. Thanks for confirming. So to become a VI he had to prove he was a family member, presumably?

It's funny but I recognised the BS in the posts from your descriptions. "Know it all, knows nothing" is what we call people like that in my neck of the woods.

I did also notice how you got along so well with that regular poster.

Ok, I was asking about the inheritance origin so we can try and look for probate in Delaware too.

 

[Red Clover]

Yes, that is what I wondered. They dont seem to ever answer anything do they? The thread is going in circles.

A question I have is with Troy, it seems he slept in his sleeping bag, moving around, so how die the murderer know where he was sleeping that night, in order to shoot him?

Re: Troy
This is the question? Troy's mom had spoken with him that afternoon/evening.

LW, Troy's mom has said on his thread and otherwise to me personally that he would have had to trust someone for them to know where he was sleeping as he was very discreet about his camping spots (as a traveler that'd make sense safety wise) AND would break camp very early to avoid being seen.

So, it has been my speculation that either he had made friends with someone or someone was watching him very closely.

️

 

[Red Clover]

JT is Jonestown LOL. You'll get used to the nickname. Thanks for confirming. So to become a VI he had to prove he was a family member, presumably?

Ok, I was asking about the inheritance origin so we can try and look for probate in Delaware too.

Sorry to have laughed, nothing about this is funny except the reference to Jonestown. I am with you

I would assume that this person had to prove their identity, I did, so, yes.

I knew from their posts almost instantly, and as soon as I posted something from the whomurdereddavelewis blog and they came unglued.

I knew then it could only be one person who would react the way they did.

I would LOVE it if you could find anything about the probate, I think that would be huge.

It's been my assumption that the actual estate was divided between the three surviving siblings. I don't know that for a fact.

I am also very curious IF this person was also able to secure guardianship of their oldest sibling PL (who passed, IMO, prematurely in 2014) and thereby had access to their share of the inheritance AND the estate. (AND any money this person had as income or had saved over their lifetime)

The oldest sibling lived in GA near another sibling at the time of David's death.

️

ALL JMO & IME

 

[Red Clover]

Sorry to have laughed, nothing about this is funny except the reference to Jonestown. I am with you

I would assume that this person had to prove their identity, I did, so, yes.

I knew from their posts almost instantly, and as soon as I posted something from the whomurdereddavelewis blog and they came unglued.

I knew then it could only be one person who would react the way they did.

I would LOVE it if you could find anything about the probate, I think that would be huge.

It's been my assumption that the actual estate was divided between the three surviving siblings. I don't know that for a fact.

I am also very curious IF this person was also able to secure guardianship of their oldest sibling PL (who passed, IMO, prematurely in 2014) and thereby had access to their share of the inheritance AND the estate. (AND any money this person had as income or had saved over their lifetime)

The oldest sibling lived in GA near another sibling at the time of David's death.

️

ALL JMO & IME

Paige's (Page?) (5/28/1955-3/1/2014) marker is in front of Dave's in Mountain View Cemetery at the bottom of Normal street along the Ashland city bike path near Hunter Park in Ashland Oregon.

It's JMO but I have reason to believe the person that Dave was expecting to show up is the person that commissioned both markers.

Dave's cremains are NOT buried here per Find-A-Grave

David Edwin Lewis (1961-2008) - Find a Grave...

www.findagrave.com

Notice David's in particular, it says:
"BORN DECEMBER 23 1961
WILMINGTON DELAWARE"
"KILLED SEPTEMBER 4 2008
DEAD INDIAN ROAD ASHLAND OREGON"




️

Edited to correct dates

 

[Tresir]

Paige's (Page?) (5/28/1955-3/1/2014) marker is in front of Dave's in Mountain View Cemetery at the bottom of Normal street along the Ashland city bike path near Hunter Park in Ashland Oregon.

It's JMO but I have reason to believe the person that Dave was expecting to show up is the person that commissioned both markers.

Dave's cremains are NOT buried here per Find-A-Grave

David Edwin Lewis (1961-2008) - Find a Grave...

www.findagrave.com

View attachment 21287

Notice David's in particular, it says:
"BORN DECEMBER 23 1961
WILMINGTON DELAWARE"
"KILLED SEPTEMBER 4 2008
DEAD INDIAN ROAD ASHLAND OREGON"


View attachment 21285

️

Edited to correct dates

So only James and Linda are the two siblings still alive, right?

Here is the link to the Wilmington, Delaware, Probate Court records. At present the website won't fully load for me. I just get the spinning circle, so if someone else wants to try - we are looking for Vivian Ann Lewis probate records.

Register of Wills | New Castle County, DE - Official Website

 

[Red Clover]

Yes, AFAIK, James & Linda are still living.
Thank you.

Edited for clarity and so noone else
thinks that I am one of Dave's siblings. LOL

I'm just a friend who lives locally and wants to see the person or persons responsible held accountable.

️

 

[Tresir]

Yes, AFAIK, James is still living.
Thank you.

LOL.

Sorry, not funny at all though.

 

[Red Clover]

LOL.

Sorry, not funny at all though.

It's funnier now that I know you thought I was one of the siblings!!! Hahaha

 

[Tresir]

It's funnier now that I know you thought I was one of the siblings!!! Hahaha

Dang. Some sleuth I am.

 

[GrandmaBear]

But the fire in Medford was about 13 days after the murder, which causes me to question whether it actually was arson or if it was, was it associated with the murder.
Also, I wonder precisely where that fire originated in relation to the murder scene (because I think it'd help in deciding whether it is associated).
Anyway, I don't know how many transients along Bear Creek are murder victims but the sheriff said there was a recent "sweep" of the area to document the people there in order to identify later. Btw, here's an article of an arrest for a murder.

Man indicted in transient death in Central Point - KOBI-TV NBC5 / KOTI-TV NBC2

Central Point, Ore. –The man suspected of killing a transient in Central Point was indicted by a grand jury Tuesday afternoon. The two-count indictment of Michael Joseph Atwood includes a count of murder and a count of manslaughter in the first degree. Atwood is being held without bail at the...

kobi5.com

The info is inconsistent as to precisely when the Ashland fires occurred and I think it's imperative to know what's accurate. In the earliest report, the sheriff said the fires were "within minutes....just before 3am" and apparently, another sheriff in a 2020 article said the first fire was "around 4am" and the second was "just three hours later".

You and I are often not looking at the same things or seeing them the same way but I agree with you here. At first blush, I mean very first sight of these cases, they seemed likely to be related but on learning more, I'm not so sure they are. For, in part, the reasons you cite. The fire in Troy's case was weeks after and I'm not even sure the fire related to his murder. I mean that's a long time to wait to do a fire to eradicate evidence and otherwise what would be the purpose...?

I at first thought both men were killed the same day and fires erupted the same day in areas that were roughly 30 miles apart and it seemed likely they were related. But as additional info was provided to us here, I'm not so convinced of that.

Even though such may have been rare in this area at this time or any crimes, murders, fires, the fact that other fire was quite awhile after changes my thoughts. And the fact they weren't apparently killed on the same day.

Either way though, both cases are unsolved and need to be and they may or may not be related,

As of now, I can believe they are related and can believe they are not. I don't have a leaning at the moment and am open to either.

 

[GrandmaBear]

IIRC- The arson at the vacant cabin was reported just after 2:30 am on a remote highway near Howard Prairie and Hyatt Lakes.

I have wondered who called this fire in as it was "reported by a passerby"

IME- To this day cell service is not reliable in this area and was AFAIK or remember, completely unavailable in 2008.

Could someone have had a satellite phone?

Could they have been on their way home and called it in from a landline?

Who was driving on Dead Indian Memorial Road around 2:30 am on a Thursday morning?

Bars close at 2:30 am in Oregon. Was it a restaurant or bar worker from the restaurant/bar/resort?

A local?

A truck driver traveling between Ashland & Klamath Falls?

JMO- It's possible it was the murderer themselves, especially if that second fire was indeed set to distract from the first fire set that night at Dave's, 5-6 miles back to the west towards Ashland.

It's also possible that there was evidence of some kind at the vacant cabin that night.

Distraction or destruction?
Possibly both. JMO

Other random information that I am aware of about the vacation cabin.
This is from memory so take it with a grain of salt.

•It was a small cabin with no electricity and was not insured by the owners at the time of the fire(s)
•it was currently owned by someone with the last name "Lewis"- no relation to Dave as his sons are his only relatives in the area that share his last name; Dave's ex-wife uses her maiden name
•previous owners were possibly Spruill. Dave and his ex-wife JF were familiar with this family
•this cabin was at 18196 DIMR at the junction of the Keno Access Road
•the cabin was adjacent to or very near "Lily Glen" and the "Keno Quarry"
•from what can be seen on google and found online, it appears that the vacation cabin has been rebuilt

18196 Dead Indian Memorial Rd, Ashland, OR 97520 | Zillow

18196 Dead Indian Memorial Rd, Ashland OR, contains 832 sq ft and was built in 2010.This home last sold for $240,000 in January 2021. The Zestimate for this property is $231,000, which has decreased by $9,490 in the last 30 days.The Rent Zestimate for this property is $1,496/mo, which has...

www.zillow.com

View attachment 21279

View attachment 21280
Edited for grammar & clarity

Just a thought, but if the cabin was owned by a Lewis, could the killer/arsonist have hit all places "Lewis" or that he maybe thought was owned by a Lewis? Same last name may be coincidence but a bit odd.

I'd definitely wonder about who reported it at that time of night and if it was the perp. May well have been just a concerned passerby but I'd hope they questioned the person in depth. Cell phones were common enough but you are saying service wasn't great or nonexistent?

I think these two fires are likely related, I am not as sure about the one in the other case though.

I'm way behind here already lol. Doesn't take long since I get no time.

Skimmed new posts.

Yeah, we refer to WS as JT. It's deserved imo. Not for most decent members but definitely for leadership and her minions.

 

[GrandmaBear]

There are some inconsistencies in articles over the years.

My understanding is the first fire at 18196 DIMR was called in at approximately 2:35 am.

I have read & heard that the fire at 12801, Dave's cabin, was called in between 3:10 am and 4:00 am.

The Greensprings Volunteer Fire District responded to the fire at 18196 and from my understanding, used all the water they had in their tankers on that fire.

The GVFD became aware of the fire at 12801 from a call from the Ashland Mine Road area in Ashland down in the valley 13 miles west as they could see the flames that appeared to be coming from the top of a mountain we call "Grizzly Peak"

Fire District 5 from Ashland proceeded to respond and by the time both fire departments had responded to 12801 DIMR, my understanding is that Dave's cabin was already a total loss and the fire was burning on the ground.

This is where Dave's body was discovered in the aftermath.

________________________________
The fire at Troy's camp on the Bear Creek Greenway occurred in the VERY EARLY MORNING around 1:00 am

All reports that I have seen and from my recent personal communication with Troy's mom, the fire was set at the site of Troy's camp which was just a place in the brush where he was sleeping, it wasn't a formal campsite.

I have speculated that Troy's camp was burned after the fact by the person that murdered Troy & Dave.
Dave's memorial was held at noon the same day Troy's camp was set fire. 9/14/2008

IF I am correct, the person who did this had returned home to a state in the far north after the murders and flew back to the Rogue Valley for their relatives memorial, the Rogue Valley International Airport is very near to the Pilot Travel Center and Troy's camp site on the BCG.

Q: Who found Troy's remains?
Who reported it?

This is JMO based on my personal experience and what I have gathered over 15 plus years.

Like I have said before, until someone is arrested & convicted, anyone's guess is as good as mine.

️

Edited for grammar, punctuation and clarity

I don't see that person's motive for Troy. It definitely is very coincidental but now that I know the fire was far later, this was a guy shot in his sleeping bag camping in a homeless camping area and could have been due to someone else entirely or that he met. The fire later could have even been an attempt by another perp to make it seem as if the two murders were tied as people may have already been speculating...?

it is interesting that the airport is near to here though. However that and a truck stop would mean plenty of people came and went but who would actually go to this campsite, have met Troy, went with Troy, followed Troy and for what reason? I just don't know.

You said LE has said they were not related and then that they are in some way. It would help to know what that connection is because I sure don't see any likely connection between the two men, the motives, etc. So far anyhow.

 

[Regina]

It's also possible that there was evidence of some kind at the vacant cabin that night.

Distraction or destruction?
Possibly both. JMO

•It was a small cabin with no electricity and was not insured by the owners at the time of the fire(s)
•it was currently owned by someone with the last name "Lewis"- no relation to Dave as his sons are his only relatives in the area that share his last name; Dave's ex-wife uses her maiden name
•previous owners were possibly Spruill. Dave and his ex-wife JF were familiar with this family
•this cabin was at 18196 DIMR at the junction of the Keno Access Road
•the cabin was adjacent to or very near "Lily Glen" and the "Keno Quarry"
•from what can be seen on google and found online, it appears that the vacation cabin has been rebuilt

Well, until we know the perp, we can't know the reason for the arson of that cabin but surely it's revealing that the perp was somehow knowledgeable of the place.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Sorry to have laughed, nothing about this is funny except the reference to Jonestown. I am with you

I would assume that this person had to prove their identity, I did, so, yes.

I knew from their posts almost instantly, and as soon as I posted something from the whomurdereddavelewis blog and they came unglued.

I knew then it could only be one person who would react the way they did.

I would LOVE it if you could find anything about the probate, I think that would be huge.

It's been my assumption that the actual estate was divided between the three surviving siblings. I don't know that for a fact.

I am also very curious IF this person was also able to secure guardianship of their oldest sibling PL (who passed, IMO, prematurely in 2014) and thereby had access to their share of the inheritance AND the estate. (AND any money this person had as income or had saved over their lifetime)

The oldest sibling lived in GA near another sibling at the time of David's death.

️

ALL JMO & IME

His share of his mother's estate would typically not go to the other siblings, it would go to his children, his spouse first if married (wasn't), his children if not. He died after his mother and after receiving the inheritance. Imo it would not matter if her home, etc. was sold yet and so forth, his share would go to his kids.

This is the part that throws me some. Perhaps the relative thought with him gone he could somehow get his share/control it, take control of his children or I don't know.... I don't even think their mother could have directed where their share was to go if they died, like to another sibling. Even if so, it would be highly unusual for anyone to direct such a thing beyond their own death and the immediate heirs.

States vary some but assets go to spouse. If no spouse, then to children. If no spouse or children, THEN to siblings. Of course a will could change that. But CLEARLY Dave would not have named this relative as his heir so that's out.

Of course all of this doesn't mean this relative KNEW all this. In his mind, he could have just figured with Dave gone and things not settled and checks not cashed that it would go to the rest of them or something... I don't think it would htough...