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Tera Lewandowski's murder remains one of the defining cases in the history of Pierce, Colorado, where a 34-year-old woman was brutally murdered in her bed for allegedly "disrespecting" a self-proclaimed gang. The case saw many twists and turns and eventually seven people were arrested for the crime.
The case will also be the focus of the upcoming episode of Homicide Hunter: American Detective airing on July 10, 2024, at 9.00 PM EST. The synopsis for the same reads:
"A mother raises the alarm when her daughter goes missing from the Colorado house she had recently moved into; while Det. Ben Endreson is investigating, an unusual suspect comes forward to confess her involvement, but her story doesn't quite add up."
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This case is filled with strange details that remain a mystery to many even now. Ahead of the episode that covers this case in complete detail, here are five chilling facts about the murder of Tera Lewandowski.
5 chilling facts about Tera Lewandowski's murder
1) Tera Lewandowski was murdered in her bed for "disrespecting" a gang
After Lewandowski moved into the house of DJ Meyer and Crystal Griffin, who was associated with the "21 gang," including Chad Iler, Michael Vassil, Scott Hanchett, and Karly Hanchett, she reportedly had an argument with Karly. This dispute allegedly provided motive for six individuals to plot and commit a cold-blooded murder, resulting in Lewandowski being killed in her own bed.Top of Form
2) The group dumped Tera Lewandowski's body over 100 miles away and left her dog in a different place
After killing Tera Lewandowski, who died pleading to the group not to kill her dog, the group allegedly wrapped her in a carpet and took her to rural Wyoming, where they left the body.
Scott Hanchett, who confessed to the police about the murder, revealed that he was also supposed to kill the dig but could not go through with it. Instead, they took him to Pawnee grasslands, north and east of Pierce.
3) The group tried to cover up the murder by burning Tera's belongings in Michael Vassil's house
The group went on to use Michael Vassil's house to burn Tera's belongings to remove any proof. However, the authorities got a warrant for Vassil's house and found Tera's half-burnt iPad there, which confirmed their suspicion.
4) Michael Vassil's father was also allegedly a part of the conspiracy to murder Tera Lewandowski
55-year-old Thomas Vassil was also allegedly a part of the conspiracy to kill the innocent young woman. Thomas Vassil claimed he was part of a motorcycle gang back in his youth and served as an unofficial president of his son's gang.
He was the last defendant to be sentenced for the murder and received 20 years in prison.
5) All the other six defendants were also charged and sent to prison, with DJ Meyer receiving the harshest sentence
After Scott confessed, there was hardly a way things would go for all the other co-defendants. DJ Meyer, who rented Tera the house and allegedly stabbed her in the chest, was the one charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Meyer received a life term along with another 18 years.
Crystal Griffin took a plea deal that sentenced her to 12 years in prison. All the others were also sentenced from 12 to 50 years based on their involvement in the murder.
The upcoming episode of Homicide Hunter: American Detective will cover this case in more detail.
