Thurston County Sheriff’s Office detectives have arrested James Lewis in connection with the death of Amanda Green, resolving a case that began when Green was reported missing to Tacoma Police Department in 2021.
Green, an indigenous woman, disappeared three years ago, prompting an initial missing person investigation. The case took a significant turn in 2022 when Tacoma police shared intelligence suggesting Green had been murdered in the Yelm area of Thurston County.
Detectives identified Lewis as a person of interest during their investigation but lacked sufficient evidence for an arrest. The breakthrough came in March when investigators concentrated their efforts on Lewis, conducting intensified surveillance and evidence gathering.
Over the weekend, deputies located and interviewed Lewis regarding Green’s disappearance. According to the sheriff’s office, Lewis cooperated with investigators and directed them to a shallow grave in Lewis County near Mount Rainier. Deputies recovered human remains believed to belong to Green, though positive identification remains pending.
Court documents reveal that Lewis confessed to shooting Green during an argument in 2021. Lewis allegedly told detectives he attempted to disguise her death as an overdose. The circumstances surrounding their relationship and the nature of their dispute have not been disclosed.
Lewis faces charges of second-degree murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful disposal of human remains. He remains in Thurston County Jail without bail, with formal charging expected this week and arraignment scheduled for September 16.
The suspect has previous convictions for assault and child rape, though authorities have not indicated whether these prior offences influenced the current investigation’s approach.
The resolution highlights the impact of full staffing in detective units. Thurston County Sheriff’s Office credited increased resources dedicated to cold cases as instrumental in solving this matter. The investigation also benefited from cooperation between multiple agencies, including the Washington State Department of Corrections and Tacoma Police Department.
This case represents broader challenges in investigating missing indigenous persons, a demographic that faces disproportionately high rates of violence and disappearance across Washington state and the Pacific Northwest.
