UPDATE: The vehicle reported stolen in a Niles Township homicide case has been recovered.

Police say the 2008 Mazda CX-9 with Michigan plates CMY3721 was found abandoned in a corn field off of Yankee St. in Cass County. It has been impounded and will be scoured for potential evidence.

The Berrien County Sheriff's Office said they want to thank the public in helping them locate the car.

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Man charged with premeditated murder in wife's death

From August 16, 2017 The Niles Township man who told police his wife was killed by intruders during a home invasion was formally charged with her death on Wednesday. A judge set bond for 49-year-old John Lewis at $1 million. A press release issued by Berrien County Prosecutor Michael J. Sepic reads “the results of the forensic examination of the crime scene, the autopsy, and witness interviews, resulted in John Lewis now being charged with First Degree Premeditated Murder.” The release also mentions that 55-year-old Carla Jean Lewis was shot five times, and that the fatal wound was to the head. On Wednesday, John Lewis appeared in court via closed circuit television from the jail. Deputy Prosecutor Jennifer Smith told the court that Lewis has a criminal past in Elkhart where he was convicted of felony burglary in 1986. Newly appointed public defender Brandon Barthelemy countered that Lewis has lived in Berrien County for the past 12 years and that he has never before missed a court date. Lewis is unemployed and on disability. He has three adult children and three grandchildren. The personal information was revealed as the court prepared to set bail. “He’s got a prior felony back in ’86, I’m also taking into account that he currently got another charge pending, a manufacturing marijuana,” said Hon. Arthur Cotter, Berrien County District Court. “First degree murder is punishable by life without parole. I think the recommendation is appropriate. I am going to set a bond in the amount of $1 million dollars cash or surety.” Some relatives of Mr. Lewis who were in court today said off camera that the experience was disappointing. Mr. Lewis was a rather high profile medical marijuana caregiver . Some relatives are anxious to find out what evidence there is to discount the home invasion claim. Here is the full content of the news release issued by Prosecutor Michael Sepic: On Sunday, August 13 at approximately 5:56 PM officers were called to the residence at 1429 Lawndale Avenue in Niles Township for a possible shooting. Upon arrival officers discovered that 55 year old Carla Jean Lewis of 1429 Lawndale Avenue had been shot and was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy performed Monday morning revealed 5 gunshot wounds including one to the head which was fatal. The caller, who was at the scene upon officers’ arrival, was her 49 year old husband, John Benton Lewis, of that address. Investigators requested the assistance of the Michigan State Police crime lab mobile evidence team who processed the house for forensic evidence. While John Lewis originally reported this to authorities as a home invasion by strangers who shot and killed Carla Lewis, the results of the forensic examination of the crime scene, the autopsy, and witness interviews, resulted in John Lewis now been charged with First Degree Premeditated Murder, a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole. This incident remains under investigation by the Berrien County Sherriff’s Office and Berrien County Homicide Task Force. During this investigation and prior to murder charges being lodged against John Lewis, it was discovered that Lewis was not in compliance with the Medical Marijuana Act and was also charged with the Manufacture of Marijuana, a 4 year felony. At his arraignment on that charge on Tuesday bond was set at $7,000, 10%. His pre-exam conference was set for August 23, 2017 and his preliminary examination hearing for August 29, both at 8:30 in Berrien County’s Drug Court. At Lewis’ arraignment today on First Degree Premeditated Murder bond was set at $1,000,000.00 with GPS monitoring. His pre-exam conference was set for August 23, 2017 and his preliminary examination hearing for August 29, both at 8:30 in Berrien County’s Niles court. The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.









Police ID woman shot, killed in home invasion near Niles

From August 14, 2017 BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. (WNDU) -- A woman in Niles was shot and killed in her home on Sunday night. Police in Michigan are hoping someone can help them catch Carla Lewis's killers, described as two "heavyset black men", who they stole her car and took off. “It scared the living daylights out of my, because I hadn't heard anything during the day,” neighbor Kay Hartline said. “No shots. No dogs barking.” Neighbors living along Lawndale Street outside Niles were shocked as state police and deputies showed up. “They pulled over here to the tree and they turned the lights on immediately, I thought, something's going on here,” Hartline said. Berrien County deputies say John Lewis and his wife Carla came home to find two men in their house. They say one of the men shot Carla. John ran out to call 911. “I just thought maybe she lost control when she got in the car and pulled off because she took off fast,” Hartline said. Deputies say it wasn't Carla, but two men who took off in her Mazda, as John waited for officers to arrive. “He was crying and he was saying, 'Oh Lord, oh Lord, what has happened?'” Hartline said. Neighbors watched as John was led away by police, distraught over his wife's murder. “He's helped all of us as neighbors around here. And we've been able to depend on him and he's been able to depend on us,” Hartline said. Police are looking for a dark blue or black 2008 Mazda CX-9 with Michigan plates reading “CMY 3721”. Deputies arrested John for a marijuana violation. He's expected in Berrien County court on Tuesday. In addition to the sheriff's office, agents from the FBI violent crimes task force are also looking into the case. So far, deputies haven’t said if they believe the two men broke in hoping to steal from Lewis. The incident happened around 6 p.m. on Lawndale Ave. between 14th and 15th streets in Niles Township. Police say Carla's husband, John Benton Lewis, called 911 and said there were two heavyset black men in their basement. He said one of them shot his wife and then took off with her car that was parked in the driveway. When officers arrived they tried CPR, but couldn't save her. "Right now we have area broadcast out on that vehicle in Michigan, Indiana and all the surrounding states so if it's seen it will be stopped and the people inside will be questioned," said Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey. On Monday, the Berrien County Sheriff's Department revealed that John Lewis was found to be "not in compliance with the Medical Marijuana Act." He was booked into the Berrien County Jail. Neighbors are shocked by the incident. They said this is not something typical of this neighborhood. "Never seen anything in this neighborhood, hardly see a cop come out through this neighborhood," said Faye Smith, a resident on Lawndale for 28 years. "This is one of the nicest neighborhoods you could ever live in." Smith came home to find at least a dozen officers in front of her home. "And they was telling me to get in the house, get in the house real quick," she said. "I didn't know what to go in the house for." Smith said the couple always kind and helpful and they don't deserve this. "I don't know who you are, but I pray to God you turn yourself in because you really hurt some good people, you hurt a whole neighborhood," Smith said. "We are all like brothers and sisters in this neighborhood, we look out for each other."