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Mar 10, 2008 7:24 pm US/Eastern
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Police Pour Over Tips In Plantation Woman's Murder
Broward County Crimestoppers: 954-493-TIPS.
A Reward Of Up To $251,000 Is Being Offered.
Body Was Found At 8800 New River Canal Road
PLANTATION (CBS4) ―
Plantation police continue to pour over a constant flow of tips into the murder of a local attorney whose body was dumped in a canal but so far none has taken them to the killer.
Over the weekend, volunteers handed out fliers with information about Melissa Lewis in an attempt to find the killer. In addition, police say an autopsy was completed, but its results are not being released because police do not want it to interfere with the investigation. They did say however, she was not stabbed or shot.
Meanwhile, her father, Larry Fisher, is pleading with the public to come forward with any information they think might help investigators with the case. They have released surveillance video of her shopping inside the Publix she was at before dying, but so far no video has been found of her in the parking lot of the grocery store afterward. Fisher describes his girl as very gifted.
"She would go fishing with me," said Larry Fisher. "She could've made a boat; she can rig ballyhoo; she could talk to a bricklayer, or she could talk to someone about their Stradivarius violin."Lewis's body was found in a canal on Friday morning at 8800 New River Canal Road. Her fully clothed body was discovered by water management workers near a pump station.
A reward of up to $251,000 is being offered for information to help solve her murder.
What police aren't sure about at this time is whether she was followed home after she left a local Publix Supermarket Wednesday night, or whether she was targeted right at her home.
Lewis disappeared after her trip to Publix and police said there were signs of a struggle in her garage. Mace and a missing button from her suit jacket were found inside of the garage, leading police to believe that is where she was abducted.
Her 2007 Black Cadillac SRX was missing from her home, at 7420 Plantation Road but the vehicle was located a day later in a parking lot at 7500 NW 5th Street, just blocks from her home.
Police are also looking for a red designer handbag, not a Prada handbag, as first reported.
Lewis' family said they are shocked and heartbroken over her mysterious death and released a statement asking for the community's help.
"This week our hearts have torn from our bodies, with the loss of our beloved daughter, sister, aunt, niece, and cousin Melissa "Missy" Lewis. She was our shining star; she made our entire world a better place to live, because of her optimistic love of life and family. She adored all her family and she fought for them. Missy will still be the inspiration for all young women. She would say "you don't have to settle for less, you can make your dreams come true. Work hard and you can accomplish anything you can put your heart and mind to." Melissa's brutal, senseless, violent death has left a huge black hole in our world. Her family, friends and coworkers are pleading with this community to help find this ruthless killer. There is more than 250 thousand dollars reward being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Missy's killer. Please call the police right away."
The family said "Missy" was an ambitious, intelligent, driven woman working towards her dream to becoming a judge one day. She had already become a successful lawyer at the law firm of Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler.
Lewis' law firm called her a true superstar who had become a well respected lawyer in the field of wage and hour law, who worked for the Fraternal Order of Police.
"There is an absolute, crazy lunatic out there," said Scott Rothstein, Lewis' friend and co-worker. "Anyone that would hurt this woman is really a complete lost person, very dangerous."
Anyone with information is asked to call Broward Crime Stoppers: (
954)493-TIPS.
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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