Police in Vallejo, California, discovered the body of Renia Lewis, a 28-year-old woman who had been missing since Friday (September 26), behind a secret entrance to an attic in a Northern California home. Authorities arrested Douglas Irwin Shaw, 41, on suspicion of murder. The Vallejo Police Department has not yet identified a motive or confirmed whether Lewis and Shaw knew each other.
Lewis was last seen on Friday evening and was reported missing on Sunday (September 28). Aan initial search of a home in Vallejo, where Lewis was believed to have been, did not reveal her whereabouts. However, on Monday, police activated an "Ebony Alert," a system designed to help locate missing Black individuals, and obtained a search warrant for a more thorough investigation.
During this search, officers found a concealed entry to the attic and discovered Lewis' remains. Shaw was arrested at his workplace on Tuesday (September 30) and allegedly admitted to the killing. He is currently being held without bail at the Solano County Jail.
Vallejo Police Chief Jason Ta described the incident as "a heartbreaking, senseless act of violence" and expressed pride in the officers and detectives for resolving the case.
The investigation is ongoing, and Shaw's legal representation has not been clarified.