Chanel Lewis is a killer from New York who was convicted of the murder of Karina Vetrano however many doubt whether or not he is truly responsible
According to court documents Karina Vetrano was jogging in Queens, New York when she was attacked. Karina Vetrano would be sexually assaulted and murdered fifteen feet from the jogging trail. It is believed that she put up a fight before she was struck in the back of the head with a rock
The murder of Karina Vetrano would go unsolved for six months until police would arrest twenty year old Chanel Lewis. Police would say on the day of the murder Chanel would get into an argument with family members and left his home angry and soon after would attack Karina Vetrano. When Lewis returned home his clothes were in a poor state and Chanel would say he was mugged by a group of men
During questioning by police Chanel Lewis would make a confession and police would link DNA found at the murder scene to Lewis
Chanel Lewis would be charged with murder and headed to trial. The first trial ended in a mistrial and during the second trial was found guilty on two counts of second-degree murder, one count of first-degree murder, and one count of sexual abuse. Lewis was sentenced to life in prison without parole
There are a number of questions surrounding the conviction of Chanel Lewis including those who believe the DNA of Lewis that was found at the crime scene was planted. Also others would say the NYPD were desperate to solve the high profile murder and railroaded Chanel Lewis
As of 2024 Chanel Lewis remains incarcerated
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LEWIS, CHANEL R
DIN: 19A1626
Race/Ethnicity:
Date of Birth:
(age):
BLACK
05/02/1996
27 years old
Custody Status:
IN CUSTODY
Housing / Releasing Facility:
FIVE POINTS
County of Commitment:
QUEENS
Date Received (original):
04/30/2019
Date Received (current):
03/22/2022
Chanel Lewis Case
The man convicted of sexually assaulting and murdering New York City jogger Karina Vetrano has been sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole.
Justice Michael Aloise handed Chanel Lewis the lengthy sentenced on Tuesday morning in a packed Queens Supreme Court courtroom, the New York Post reports.
Before Lewis was sentenced, the victim’s mother Cathie Vetrano called Lewis “a pathetic, evil coward” during her victim impact statement.
“So repulsive are you, that you left her [body] hidden to be further desecrated in the summer heat by bugs and animals […] like a snake you slithered away into the night,” Cathie said. “My hope is that you live a long life within the prison of the law and the prison of your conscience.”
The mother went on to call Tuesday “Karina’s day.”
“It’s her and hers alone,” she said.
Lewis was convicted earlier this month of killing Vetrano in 2016 while she was out jogging near her home in Queens. Her father found her body while looking for her.
A day after Lewis’ conviction, he boasted about his infamy, according to the New York Daily News.
“I’m on the front page — of both papers,” he told the publication, referring to the Daily News and the New York Post.
Authorities said his DNA was found on Vetrano’s neck and cellphone and in a mixture of DNA under her fingernails. His own phone contained downloaded photos of the crime scene and searches for information about the case, police said.
Lewis confessed to the murder, saying he was upset at someone else — a neighbor of his who played loud music — and “lost it” when he saw Vetrano. But Lewis’ defense said that the DNA evidence hadn’t been gathered properly and that the confession was coerced and didn’t match Vetrano’s injuries or some other facts.
His lawyer also claims that vital evidence was withheld from the trial including an anonymous letter pointed to other “alternate suspects.”
Before the sentencing, Lewis made a statement to the court: “The only thing I want to say is, I’m innocent. I’m sorry for the family’s loss, but I didn’t do this.”
His supporters in the courtroom chanted “Justice for Chanel,” following the sentencing, according to the New York Post.
A previous trial ended in a hung jury in November; the second jury deliberated for only five hours.
https://www.oxygen.com/crime-time/chanel-lewis-sentenced-to-life-for-karina-vetrano-murder
Chanel Lewis News
Four years ago, Chanel Lewis was sentenced to life in prison for the murder and sex abuse of Howard Beach jogger Karina Vetrano.
The 2019 conviction came after a previous mistrial. Now, Lewis’ new lawyer, veteran civil rights attorney Ronald Kuby, is pushing for the conviction to be tossed based on what he described as bungled DNA evidence.
“Samples of DNA taken from Miss Vetrano were sent to an unapproved laboratory,” Kuby explained.
The laboratory, banned for state use at the time, is Parabon Labs based in Virginia. Only after the trial ended was the lab permitted to work for New York with its emerging forensic technology in 2020.
It used a process called “Phenotyping,” which infers someone’s race through DNA collected at the crime scene. Kuby says the lab used illegally by the NYPD determined the race of the alleged killer was Black or European.
“They didn’t focus on Europeans. They focused exclusively on African Americans based on that profile,” according to Kuby.
He said that led to a racial dragnet in Queens leading to the winter of 2017. That’s when the medical examiner ultimately ruled Lewis was a positive match found on Vetrano’s body.
The NYPD did not respond to PIX11’s inquiry about the allegation.
However, a spokesperson for the Queens District Attorney said:
“[Lewis] was not approached as part of a systematic effort by the NYPD to obtain samples, or in connection with any work done by Parabon labs.”
Attorneys for the 27-year-old said the laboratory DNA work has been withheld to this day.
Lewis’ mother, Veta, speaks to her son in state prison 280 miles away every day.
“I never lost hope or my faith. And I know that my son is innocent and has nothing to do with what happened to Miss Vetrano,” Lewis said.
Vetrano’s father, Phil Vetrano, told PIX11 News he will let this motion play out in court before commenting.
