The New Castle County Division of Police has charged a 29-year-old man with murder after investigators say he fatally stabbed his mother inside a New Castle-area residence late Friday night.
Police said officers were dispatched at approximately 11:45 p.m. on May 8, 2026, to the unit block of Three Rivers Court for a report of CPR in progress. When officers arrived, they contacted 29-year-old David Lewis, who told police he had left the residence and returned home to find his mother, 60-year-old Valerra Lewis, inside a bedroom covered in blood.
According to investigators, officers entered the home and found Valerra Lewis suffering from multiple stab wounds to her upper body. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said officers also located a blood-covered knife inside the residence and observed large amounts of blood throughout the home. Investigators additionally noted a strong odor of cleaning products coming from inside the residence.
Detectives with the Criminal Investigations Unit and Evidence Detection Unit responded and assumed the investigation. Authorities said investigators later determined David Lewis had stabbed his mother multiple times and attempted to destroy evidence by cleaning items within the home.
David Lewis was taken into custody and transported to police headquarters, where he was charged with first-degree murder, possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, providing a false statement to law enforcement, and tampering with physical evidence.
He was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in lieu of $1,055,178 cash bail.
