We must Say Her Name: Reneia Lewis.
Renia Lewis was a young, vibrant woman whose life was tragically cut short. Her story is a heartbreaking reminder of the violence against women that often goes unnoticed. Renia, only 28, was described by her family as vibrant and family-oriented. She loved cooking and being with her loved ones. She lived in Berkeley but often visited Vallejo, California, to see her friends and relatives. She deserves to be remembered for the beautiful person she was, not just for the shocking circumstances of her death.
Renia was last seen on a Friday night, September 26, 2025. When her mother, Terry Lewis, didn’t hear from her by Sunday, the family grew deeply worried. They used the Life 360 app and tracked her last known location to 14th Street in Vallejo. The family did not wait; they launched their own search. In a deeply unsettling discovery, her phone was found on a roof, immediately setting off alarm bells for foul play.
Police initially searched a home on 14th Street after the missing person report. However, their initial cursory check found no signs of Renia. Days later, detectives returned to the house after obtaining a search warrant based on new information. Neighbors described the house as a messy, cluttered “hoarder home.” This is when they made the chilling discovery. Renia’s remains were in a concealed entry in the attic. They were hidden behind a secret wall. Her cousin, Latoya Lewis, stated, “You would miss it. My baby girl was hidden behind a wall. It was a secret wall they placed her behind.”
On the same day her body was found, police arrested 41-year-old Douglas Irwin Shaw on suspicion of murder. He was apprehended at his workplace, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. Authorities later reported that Shaw confessed to killing Renia with a knife. The case raised further concerns when it was revealed that an ex-girlfriend of Shaw’s had previously needed a restraining order against him in 2023.
The loss has devastated Renia’s loved ones. Her mother collapsed when she received the news, sharing the pain of a prayer that went unanswered. Police Chief Jason Ta called her death a “heartbreaking senseless act of violence that has no place in our community”
For more details on this case, you can watch the full report from the Law&Crime Network: Missing Woman’s Remains Hidden in Hoarder Home
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