Teresa Lewis: Greed, Murder-for-Hire, and the Death Penalty Debate

When Teresa married Julian Lewis, a recent widower mourning the loss of his wife of nearly 30 years, it seemed like a second chance at happiness. Julian, vulnerable from his loss, was caring for his three grown children: Jason, serving in the Navy; Kathy, who had moved home to support him; and C.J. Lewis, a promising 25-year-old Army Reservist. But behind closed doors, Teresa’s true intentions were far from loving. Motivated by greed and driven by the promise of a $250,000 life insurance payout, she manipulated two young men—Matthew Shallenberger and Rodney Fuller—using seduction and the lure of wealth to convince them to commit murder. On October 30, 2002, a night meant for rest became a scene of horror as Julian and C.J. were gunned down in their own home. What initially seemed like a home invasion quickly unraveled into a chilling murder-for-hire plot masterminded by Teresa herself. As investigators dug deeper, the truth revealed betrayal, manipulation, and cold-blooded greed. While Shallenberger and Fuller received life without parole, Teresa was sentenced to death by lethal injection—becoming the first woman executed in Virginia since 1912. But was Teresa truly aware of her actions? With an IQ of 72, questions about her mental capacity ignited national debate. Was she a calculating mastermind—or a vulnerable woman with diminished intellectual ability, manipulated by those she believed she controlled? Join us as we explore the dark depths of greed, betrayal, and the controversial execution that made headlines across the nation. sources used for this podcast JOIN THE  HITCHED 2 HOMICIDE IN-LAWS AND OUTLAWS Buy Rob some Coffee H2H WEBSITE H2H on TWITTER H2H on INSTA START KRIS CALVERT'S BOOKS TODAY FOR FREE Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.