Colleton County man acquitted of setting fire to and killing wife

WALTERBORO, S.C. (WCSC) – After hearing several days of testimony, a Colleton County jury deliberated less than two hours before clearing a man of any responsibility for his wife's death due to complications with severe burns.

Police charged Craig Lewis with arson and the murder of his wife Terry Lewis in 2019, but after the trial a jury found him not guilty of either arson or murder. Prosecutors alleged Craig Lewis set his wife on fire, resulting in her injuries and death. Craig Lewis' defense claimed that Terry Lewis accidentally started a fire in their wood stove and burned himself.

The prosecution's key witness was Terry Lewis' daughter, Leigh Ann Cronkey. Cronkey said the couple's relationship was strained and she witnessed abuse. She described a violent altercation the night before the fire incident and said she knew about her mother's infidelity. The prosecution used her testimony to establish the motive, but was unable to provide any evidence. The prosecution did not present any witnesses or evidence about the cause of the fire during the trial.

The defense tried to discredit Cronkey as a witness by discussing her finances and the guardianship of her mother after she became incapacitated due to her injuries. Ultimately, the defense cited a lack of evidence, saying there was no evidence Craig had anything to do with the fire and therefore it was not a crime to be nearby when it broke out.

The defense pointed out that most of the swabs from the wood stove and gasoline cans in the house were never tested and that Terry Lewis' skin was never tested for accelerant. The defense called Terry Lewis' doctor as a witness and had him discuss her medical condition and explain that she was suffering from certain medical conditions that could cause restlessness and tremors.

The jury considered the information for a little less than two hours and returned a not guilty verdict on the arson and murder charges. As the court clerk read the verdict, Terry Lewis' family became emotional, bursting into tears and quickly and quietly leaving the courtroom. Craig Lewis kept his head bowed, eyes closed and face straight as he heard the verdict. Craig Lewis sat down after the verdict and appeared relieved. His attorney, state Sen. Margie Bright Matthews, said this is an example of the court system working.

“I felt good from the start because I knew what evidence they weren't adding. I had already requested to get her evidence and just last week I called her and said: Have I missed something? So I informed them and there was no evidence in this case,” Bright Matthews said.

She said Craig Lewis, like all Americans, had a right to a trial and it proceeded as the evidence and the law required.

“My client is happy that this is over. You don't know what happened here. He couldn't even go to his wife's funeral. When she was injured, he couldn't even see her. And they didn't say his name, their daughter didn't even want to put his name in the obituary. After all, he had been through it, he had been married to his wife for 25 years. “It’s sad,” Bright Matthews said.

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