In January 1993, David Glenn Lewis’s wife and young daughter went on a shopping trip to Dallas. When they returned home to Amarillo, Texas, they found David missing. The only clues were a recorded Super Bowl game and two fresh sandwiches in the fridge. They had no idea that, thousands of miles away in Washington state, a man fitting David’s description had just been killed in a hit-and-run.

It would take over a decade for the mystery of the John Doe found on a Washington highway to be solved. The truth was even stranger than anyone could have imagined. This is the story of how a respected lawyer disappeared and reappeared as a mystery victim far from home.

A Respected

Man in Texas

David Glenn Lewis was born in Borger, Texas, in

1953. He was a bright student, earning a law degree from Texas Tech University in

1954. After becoming an attorney, David married Karen in 1981, and they had a daughter a few years later.

He was known as a dedicated family man and an active member of his community. David taught Sunday School, served on the Boy Scouts board, and was involved in local education. He was also close to his parents and his brother. By all accounts, he was a man with a stable life and a good reputation.

The Disappearance

In January 1993, David’s wife and daughter drove to Dallas for a weekend of shopping. They left David at home in Amarillo on January 28th. The plan was for them to return on January 31st, the day of the Super Bowl.

David was last seen alive on January 30th, but details about this sighting are not public. When his wife and daughter returned home on the 31st, expecting to find David there, they were met with an empty house. The only unusual things were a tape recorder set to record the Super Bowl and two sandwiches in the refrigerator.

David’s wedding ring and watch were found neatly placed on the kitchen counter. There were no signs of forced entry or a struggle. It seemed as though David had simply stepped out for a short time. His wife initially thought he might have gone to a friend’s house to watch the game.

A Body Found Miles Away

Meanwhile, on the evening of January 31st, around 10:30 PM, motorists in Yakima County, Washington, spotted a person on the side of Route

24. The location was about 1600 miles from Amarillo. The individual was either walking along the highway or lying beside it, in a dangerous position.

Drivers stopped to warn others about the person, but when they looked back, they discovered the individual was deceased. Police arrived to find a middle-aged man dressed in military-style clothing and work boots. Tests showed no drugs or alcohol in his system. Investigators suspected he was the victim of a hit-and-run. A witness reported seeing a Chevrolet Camaro leave the area around the time of the incident.

This man had no identification on him, and his identity remained a mystery. He was simply known as John Doe.

The Investigation Stalls

Back in Amarillo, David’s wife reported him missing on February 1st. The next day, investigators found David’s red Ford Explorer parked outside the Potter County Courthouse. His house and car keys were found under a mat inside the car. His wallet, containing his checkbook, credit cards, and driver’s license, was also in its usual spot.

With his personal belongings seemingly accounted for, the discovery of his car offered few clues. However, investigators learned something important: David had recently told his wife he felt he was in danger. He wouldn't explain why or what the threats were.

His family wondered if his work as an attorney might be involved. Perhaps a disgruntled client sought revenge. David was due to attend a deposition the week after he disappeared in a case involving his former law firm and a wealthy client. He had told his father he intended to reveal any wrongdoing, no matter who it affected.

Mysterious Plane Tickets

The investigation took a strange turn when police discovered two plane tickets purchased in David’s name around the time he went missing.

One ticket was bought on January 31st for a flight from Dallas to Amarillo. This was the same route David’s wife and daughter had traveled that day. The second ticket, purchased on February 1st, was from Los Angeles International Airport to Dallas. February 1st was the day the unidentified man was found dead in Washington.

It was unclear if David used these tickets or what his intentions were. How did he get from Amarillo to Dallas for the first flight? Did he plan to return from Washington via Los Angeles? And why did he go to Washington at all?

Without more leads, the criminal investigation into David’s disappearance was closed after eleven months. By 2002, police suggested that the plane tickets indicated David had left of his own free will and they did not suspect foul play.

A Breakthrough After Ten Years

In 2003, a Washington State Patrol detective named Pat Ditter was reading a newspaper series about missing persons cases. He became interested in how old cases might be overlooked due to database flaws. He decided to search online for missing persons that might match the description of the Yakima County John Doe.

Ditter searched using various characteristics and within a week, he had a list of possibilities. One entry, a Doe Network profile for David Glenn Lewis, caught his attention. The picture strongly resembled the John Doe, though the John Doe had not been found wearing glasses.

Looking closer at the evidence found with the body, Ditter realized glasses had indeed been recovered. He examined the personal effects and found a pair of glasses, wrapped in the victim’s clothing. This discovery strengthened his suspicion.

The Identification

Ditter contacted the Amarillo police department. He sent them a boot worn by the victim and a tissue sample from

1993. David’s mother, Esther, provided her DNA for comparison.

In October 2004, eleven years after David Glenn Lewis was reported missing, he was positively identified as the man found on Route 24 in Washington. The connection to Washington state, a place David had no known ties to, remained a complete mystery.

Lingering Questions

Though David Glenn Lewis finally had his name back, the circumstances of his death and his presence in Washington remain unexplained. While police had previously suggested he left voluntarily, David’s family remains convinced he was a victim of foul play. They point to his claims of feeling endangered and his strong moral compass as an attorney.

Detective Ditter believes David’s death was accidental, not a suicide. However, the reasons for David’s journey to Washington, and the purpose behind the purchased plane tickets, are still unknown. The story of David Glenn Lewis is a puzzling reminder of how some mysteries can remain unsolved, even after the victim is found.

Timeline of Events

• *January 28th, 1993:

• David’s wife and daughter travel from Amarillo to Dallas for a shopping trip.

• *January 30th, 1993:

• David is last seen alive. Details are not public.

• *January 31st, 1993:

• A plane ticket is purchased in David’s name from Dallas to Amarillo. It is unclear if it was used.

• *January 31st, 1993:

• David’s wife and daughter return home to find David missing.

• *February 1st, 1993:

• A plane ticket is purchased in David’s name from Los Angeles to Dallas.

• *February 1st, 1993:

• An unidentified man is found dead in Yakima County, Washington.

• *February 2nd, 1993:

• David’s car is found with his keys and wallet inside.

• *October 2004:

• The unidentified man is positively identified as David Glenn Lewis.