Cumberland County Sheriff's Office, North Carolina
End of Watch Saturday, December 9, 1950
Add to My HeroesEsther Lafayette Lewis
Deputy Lewis was shot and killed at approximately 6:15 pm as he attempted to take a man into custody for shooting his estranged wife's dog.
As he was arresting the suspect, the man drew a concealed handgun and shot Deputy Lewis four times, and then fled the scene.
The suspect was arrested, convicted of first-degree murder, and sentenced to life on January 19, 1951. He was sent to the Dorothea Dix Mental Hospital in Raleigh, where he escaped a few days later. He was recaptured in Seattle, Washington, by FBI agents on December 23, 1955. He was paroled on February 8, 1982.
Deputy Lewis was survived by his wife and child.
Bio
- Age 53
- Tour Not available
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Handgun
- Offender Paroled in 1982
Most Recent Reflection
View all 4 ReflectionsRest In Peace Brother. Thank you and your family for your service and sacrifice.
Officer Mike Robinson, (Ret)
Upland Police Dept. CA
December 9, 2017
Recent LODD Deaths
Detective Timothy Jones
Park Forest Police Department, IL
EOW: December 3, 2025
Specialist Sarah Beckstrom
United States Department of Defense - Army National Guard - West Virginia Army National Guard, WV
EOW: November 27, 2025
Reserve Deputy Sheriff John C. Stahl, III
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, IN
EOW: June 8, 2025
Sergeant Terri Jean Sweeting-Mashkow
Indian River County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: November 21, 2025
Police Officer Alec Sanders
Alhambra Police Department, CA
EOW: November 20, 2025
Corrections Officer Jeremy Lewis Hall
Virginia Department of Corrections, VA
EOW: November 17, 2025
Police Officer Marc Brock
Vivian Police Department, LA
EOW: November 14, 2025
Corporal Blake Adair Reynolds
Delaware County Sheriff's Office, IN
EOW: November 12, 2025
Police Officer Roger Smith
WakeMed Campus Police & Public Safety Department, NC
EOW: November 8, 2025

