Heartbreaking Discovery: Renia Lewis Found Hidden in Secret Attic, Suspect Douglas Shaw Arrested for Murder
In a chilling case that has gripped the Bay Area, the body of 28-year-old Renia Lewis was discovered concealed behind a secret entry in an attic of a Vallejo, California home, marking a tragic end to a frantic search for the missing woman. Police arrested 41-year-old Douglas Irwin Shaw on suspicion of murder, with authorities alleging he confessed to the “heinous crime” after her remains were found dismembered and hidden in the squalid residence. Lewis, originally from Stockton and recently residing in Berkeley, had been reported missing on September 28, 2025, just days before her 29th birthday, leaving her family devastated and demanding justice.
The nightmare unfolded when Lewis was last seen alive around 10 p.m. on Friday, September 26, near 14th Street and Starr Avenue in Vallejo, where she had been visiting family. Concerned after not hearing from her, her mother, Teri Lewis, used a tracking app like Life360 to pinpoint her phone’s last location at a cluttered, hoarder-style home described by neighbors as an “abandoned junkyard.” The family alerted Vallejo Police Department, who issued an Ebony Alert—an emergency system for missing Black women and children—and enlisted FBI assistance. Officers conducted an initial welfare check at the 14th Street address on Sunday, September 28, searching rooms, closets, and obvious hiding spots but finding no trace of Lewis.
New investigative leads prompted detectives to return Tuesday, September 30, with a search warrant for a more thorough examination of the detached storage shed behind the main house, where Shaw resided in squalid conditions. There, they uncovered a concealed entry to the attic, hidden behind debris, insulation, and plastic, revealing the gruesome remains believed to be Lewis’s. Family members later confirmed she had been dismembered, with her body stuffed behind a wall covered in sheetrock, a detail that horrified relatives who had gathered outside during the search. “What did she do to you for you to kill her, and then put her in a wall?” Teri Lewis tearfully asked in interviews, revealing she had received deceptive texts from her daughter’s phone post-murder, including motel directions and excuses to delay worry. Her phone was later found discarded on a nearby school roof, allegedly by Shaw.
Shaw, a mechanic at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo and father of two daughters, was arrested without incident at his workplace the same day. Multiple knives were reportedly found in his home, aligning with charging documents alleging he killed Lewis with a knife shortly after bringing her to the residence on Friday. Following his arrest, Shaw allegedly admitted responsibility to detectives, though the motive remains unclear—police and family state the two were not romantically involved and had only recently met, possibly through casual acquaintance. On October 2, the Solano County District Attorney formally charged him with one count of felony murder, and he made his first court appearance on October 3 without entering a plea, held without bond in Solano County Jail.
The case has unearthed troubling details about Shaw’s background. A former girlfriend, who met him at Six Flags, obtained a restraining order against him in 2023, describing him as a narcissist who believed others were always wrong. Neighbors noted the property’s frequent visitors and cluttered state, but no prior red flags directly linked to this violence. Lewis’s family, portraying her as a “sweet young lady” full of love, has launched a GoFundMe for funeral costs and rallied for the death penalty, emphasizing their grief: “Our family is under grievance… devastated at this time.” Cousins like Latoya Lewis expressed rage, noting, “You would miss it because my baby girl was hidden behind a wall. A secret wall they placed her behind.”
This incident marks Vallejo’s 14th homicide in 2025, underscoring rising concerns about violence in the community. Police Chief Jason Ta called it a “heartbreaking, senseless act of violence” with no place in society, urging tips via Detectives Zach Horton or William Carpenter or an anonymous line. The investigation continues, with authorities seeking any additional information on the pair’s brief interaction.
Social media has amplified the story, with posts on X (formerly Twitter) sharing videos of family vigils, candlelight tributes, and calls for justice, while true crime accounts detail the dismemberment and confession. Friends and relatives lit candles and left flowers at the scene, mourning a life cut short just before what should have been a celebratory milestone. Lewis’s story highlights the dangers of fleeting encounters and the critical role family vigilance played in leading to her discovery, even if too late.
As Shaw faces prosecution, the Lewis family clings to memories of a vibrant woman whose life was stolen in a hidden horror. Their plea for prayers and maximum punishment echoes a broader cry against such brutality, reminding communities of the fragility of safety and the enduring pain of loss.
