Mar 9, 2008 1:31 am US/Eastern
Leads Sought In Death Of Ft. Lauderdale Attorney
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) ―
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A reward of up to $251,000 is being offered for information to help solve her murder.
CBS
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Police stare at a body part found in a canal in Plantation
CBS
Police are asking for the public's help in finding the person responsible for the death of a Fort Lauderdale attorney. Melissa Lewis' body was found Friday morning in a Plantation canal.
Volunteers hit the streets on Saturday hoping to find someone with answers about the death of Lewis. Fliers were handed out in an attempt to get people to come forward with any information that could lead to the killer.
Many in the area are saddened to learn about the case. "I didn't know it was this close to home," said Vischal Beharry, a local resident. "Is scary, we come here all the time."
Officials said there were signs of a struggle at her home before she was murdered.
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.
Police and Fire Rescue were called out to 8800 New River Canal Road on Friday morning when water management workers spotted a woman's body in the water around 7:15 a.m. near a pump station. The body was fully clothed.
At least two police divers went into water to recover the body which police officials say was wedged because the pump house filters out and gathers weeds and other large objects. The Broward Medical Examiner also went to the scene as the body was removed from the water in a yellow tarp.
Lewis went missing Wednesday night after returning home from a trip to a Publix Supermarket located at Broward Boulevard and 69th Street. Friends said she was not married and lived a quiet life. She didn't have any children, and had gone through an amicable divorce about a year ago.
When she didn't show up for work on Thursday, family and friends panicked.
"We are all just devastated, she's just everything to me," said Debra Villegas, Lewis's friend.
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."
Police say they found signs of a struggle inside her garage and her 2007 Black Cadillac SRX was missing. The vehicle was found Thursday afternoon in a parking lot at 7500 NW 5th Street, just blocks from her home.
The 39-year-old victim's niece was the last person to talk with her on the phone while on her way home from Publix.
"It's kind of a scary thing to hear that someone that you lived within blocks of is reported missing," said Connie Sokolowski, one of Lewis' neighbors. "Is disturbing, is quite disturbing."
The law firm of Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler released the following statement regarding the death of their coworker:
"She was a true superstar with her vivacious personality, compassion and intellect, she developed into an extremely well respected litigator and lawyer. Melissa was well respected by her judges and peers."
If you have any information that may help police catch the killer, please call Broward Crimestoppers: 954-493-TIPS.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Body Found Under Hialeah Home
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