Police Believe Naperville Woman Cathleen Lewis Knew Her Killer

As of Friday morning, Naperville Police Sgt. Gregg Bell said there have been no further developments in the of Cathleen Lewis.

Bell said the received a request from Lewis’ 83-year-old mother on Wednesday to perform a well-being check. Lewis and her mother lived in a condo at a four-unit complex at 2339 Worthing Drive in Naperville. Bell said at the time of the incident, Lewis’ mother was not in the unit.

Officers found Lewis dead in her condo when they arrived Wednesday night, according to a Naperville Police Department news release. A news release from the Will County Coroner Patrick O’Neil said, “Ms. Lewis sustained multiple head injuries due to blunt head trauma, due to an assault.” An official cause of death won't be released by the Coroner's Office for four to six weeks, pending final toxicology and police reports.

Bell said the investigation at Lewis’ unit showed there was no forced entry into the condo. He also said there was no evidence that anything had been taken from the home. Bell said at this point,  Naperville police are working under the belief that Lewis knew her assailant.

“Our investigators will continue to track down leads and piece evidence together,” Bell said. “We’re going through evidence that was gathered at the crime scene. Like any investigation we have to do a methodical, piece-by-piece, search of the evidence and just try to determine where the evidence that has been gathered leads us to.”

Bell said multiple items were taken into evidence from Lewis’ condo unit. He said Naperville police recovered evidence from the incident itself and other items in the condo it felt were pertinent to the case.

As the police continue their investigation, Bell said those living in the three other units of the building have retained access to their condos. The sergeant said the Naperville Police Department is not displacing anyone.

Bell said police have performed a neighborhood canvas and gathered information from Lewis’ neighbors. To his knowledge, the police have not received any information concerning the investigation from its tip line, Bell said.

While the homicide investigation continues, the search for Lewis’ brother, Mark R. Lewis, 51, of Lakemoor, IL, also was ongoing as of Friday morning.

Bell said Mark Lewis has been listed as a missing person by the Naperville Police Department, and that his relatives have not heard from him in several days. Bell said Lewis has only been classified as a missing person in the case.

Bell said he did not know if any other specific agencies were assisting in the search for him. But Bell said Lewis has been entered into a national database of missing people.

“Once a person is entered as a missing person, which is in the case of Mr. Lewis, he’s in a nationwide database,” Bell said. “If someone should happen to come across him or run his license plate randomly, information that would come up that we’re looking to locate him.”

Bell said neighbors should remain vigilant as the police continue to work through leads.

“We always tell people to be alert and vigilant of their immediate surroundings,” Bell said. “If you see anything that looks or appears to be suspicious, contact the Police Department so we can check it out.”

The Naperville Police Department asks anyone with information concerning Lewis’ death or the whereabouts of her brother to call (630) 420-6147.

Lewis’ funeral is being coordinated by in Naperville, but arrangement details had yet to be announced as of Friday afternoon.