Lewis resigned from his post after being formally reprimanded by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) for falsifying training records. "As of today, this case remains a questionable death investigation without sufficient evidence to conclude that Tom Browns death was attributed to a criminal act, an accidental death, or a suicide. Rumors flew that he had run away. Skip Hollandsworth: So, you have a theory. He later asked the Attorney Generals Office to take over the case in 2018. In the meantime, Philip Klein let everyone know he was still pursuing leads. And Im like, what you got to show me? OAG's Criminal Investigations Unit assisted in the investigation of Brown's death and also assisted the Cold Case and Missing Persons Unit in reviewing all of the collected evidence. Paxton ruled in December that Hemphill County Sheriff's Office must comply with an open records request filed in October by an attorney for Penny Meek, Brown's mother. Why is that? Fact! Love you. On May seventh, You were honored today at church for Senior Sunday. Penny tried to read one more. January 19, 2023 - 6:10 pm. Did you ever find out where Chris was? Its really funny. You need to do something. He was a talented running back who had just moved to Canadian from a nearby town. Just going to keep teaching school and doing whatever I can to bring answers for Thomas. Vale man injured after pickup crashes through fence at West Cedar Road home. I stared at one of the signs that had been put up there soon after Tom disappeared. Chris said Lewis wanted to show him something that would encourage him to play better. Man: You need to get out of Canadian, Klein. Jackson County Sheriff's Office 5179 Crater Lake Highway Central Point, Oregon 97502 Where is your documentation? The Walking Bridge, just outside of Canadian, is one of the places where Tom was last seen. What Chris is saying is that Lewis had told the teenager hed be killed if he didnt move to town and play for the Canadian Wildcats. Nathan Lewis (independent) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Texas' 19th Congressional District. Updated: Nov 13, 2019 / 02:26 PM CST. I mean, what in the world? I assumed the Justice for Tom signs would be removed and peace would return to the small town. If Penny had indeed found and moved Toms body, that would also mean she knew her son was dead when she sent all those texts to his phone. Stand by just a minute. The fax number for Human Resources is 541-774-6455. He got into fights and was eventually kicked out of high school after that 2016 season. And one of the biggest rumors now making its way through town was that the private investigator Phillip Klein had new evidence linking Lewis to Toms murder. It led other deputies to question the documentation in Thomass case. Speculation is, and some of the rumor is that, yes, he was involved with saying, Take it out there., When I asked Klein what evidence he had to prove Lewiss involvement, he said, confidently but hazily, We do have some evidence that leads us to that theory. Im just wasting my time. Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly. I mean, hes supposed to be a big investigator, and thats his theory? Hemphill County Sheriff Nathan Lewis resigns, Woman released from federal prison by mistake in custody at Lubbock Co. jail, Texas mother who drowned her two children sentenced to 40 years, Amarillo High gears up for third consecutive regional semifinal, Discover Switzerland, Austria and Bavaria with Doppler Dave, Hemphill County Sheriff's Office Investigation, KFDA-departmentheads@gray.tv - 806-331-9839. Then, in August, the case took another turn that caught me by surprise. . The AGs Office suspended the case earlier this year, saying there was no viable evidence of foul play. The private investigator in Thomass case is holding a presentation on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Jones Pavilion. And he wasnt even close to Chris in any way. Sheriff's deputies arrested Nathan Lewis, Vale, after he crashed his Ford Ranger into the front yard of Roy and Judith Obermeier June 27. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ). Klein did tell me he was still seeking evidence to support the most recent of the many theories he has floated about the case. Ill never lose that hope. And its very important that you guys listen to what I say tonight. Shes not. While he was interviewed, Lewis gave four documents to investigators. Everyone in the small Texas town knows about Thomas Brown. Hemphill County Judge George Briant said Nathan Lewis . Current News. Tucker Brown: I mean, this has been our home for four generI mean, am I the fifth? Thomas' remains were found in January of 2019 off Lake Marvin Road outside of Canadian. Many expected a grand jury to be called. They held signs that read Justice for Thomas Brown. Penny told me she was still hoping to persuade the district attorney to convene a grand jury and force witnesses to testify under oath. According to the case report, then Chief Deputy Brent Clapp advised TCOLE that one of his deputies, Jerri-Lynn Ortega, reported observing training hours on her Personal Status Report that she felt were fraudulent. Read more from the Tom Browns Body Series: Chapter 3: Evil Has Come to Canadian, Texas. How Florence ButtNot Her SonLaunched the H-E-B Empire. While Clapp was being interviewed, he said Lewis did not have an FTO file, training file or any supporting documents that they should have as a training provider. TCOLE report stated the investigating officers reported, "Clapp said it wasn't outside the realm of Lewis fabricating a document because he had manufactured a supplement for a missing person a year and half after it happened.". Its very hard for me to think about., Christian also told me something I wasnt expecting. Pulled up behind him, Penny said, and started messing with him and perhaps accidentally shot him. Rachel Kading: He did not. The case report states investigators found this suspicious because he only had support documentation for four officers, including himself, and only for County Corrections. Kading was, however, spotted in Salem Abrahams downtown office interviewing one of his employees, who happened to be the woman whod found Toms cellphone. Leave them blank to get signed up. Current Sports. At one point, he said he had received information that Tom had been accidentally shot by another teenager in the parking lot of the high school football stadiumand that the teenagers father, as well as Sheriff Lewis, had helped hide Toms body to avoid a scandal. Skip Hollandsworth specializes in long-form narratives. Thomass death certificate currently lists his cause of death as pending. The attorney general suspended the investigation pending any new, credible evidence. We have some evidence from what some witnesses are telling us.. And then it was like, Oh, shit, I got to cover this up. OVER THE PAST nearly two months, I've filed a handful of public information requests with 31st District Attorney Franklin McDonough's office and the Texas Rangers, attempting to determinefirst, what criminal complaint had been lodged against Hemphill County Sheriff Nathan Lewis that led to his investigation by the Texas Rangers, and more recently, what the result of that . We report on vital issues from politics to education and are the indispensable authority on the Texas scene, covering everything from music to cultural events with insightful recommendations. Texas Vista Medical Center to close May 1, Cold front brings chances of storms and gusty winds to San Antonio, Severe thunderstorms southwest of San Antonio with a chance for more Thursday | FORECAST. The Hemphill County Sheriffs Office was put in charge of the investigation, but Thomas was not found. He is a very unreliable witness. So in one of the batteries of questions, it was about the possibility that Tom was deceased. Texas Lege Watch: A House Republican Fights for Chicken Freedom, Texas Monthly Recognized by ASME in the 2023 National Magazine Awards. Skip Hollandsworth: And. The economy here is bad because we gave Canadian a black eye. The Sheriff enforces payment of delinquent taxes. Our theme music is No Hard Feelings by the Avett Brothers. Every victim is important, and this case is no different than that. Someone else claimed they saw her driving down Main Street, past the Justice for Tom signs. If Penny and her family seemed to be the target of the attorney generals investigation, why would they want a grand jury to be convened? The TCOLE is responsible for verifying that officers fulfill their continuing education requirements, and the officers informed Lewis that the agency would be investigating allegations that he had committed document fabrication by submitting reports that falsely detailed training hours completed by three deputies and himself. Chris Samples: Try to get your brain around this one. Why? CANADIAN - An investigative firm hired by the family of missing Canadian teen Thomas Brown believes that he may not have left on his own, according to a press release from the private . (Klein still wouldnt identify either teenager.) Hemphill County Judge George Briant said Nathan Lewis submitted his resignation shortly before five this evening. What was the question asked them? . And he said that after the Wildcats lost a game that the gamblers expected them to win, Lewis picked him up and took him to the Walking Bridge, a local landmark. Skip Hollandsworth: Your report also says that Chriss whereabouts on November twenty-fourththe early morning hours of Thanksgiving Daywere unknown or uncorroborated. You might remember that only weeks after that fateful Thanksgiving eve, Penny had asked a couple of Toms friends if they knew the password to Toms phone, which was then still believed to be missing. Suddenly, in households across Canadian, everyone was asking the same question: what new evidence had Rachel Kading unearthed? Canadian missing teen now classified as runaway. Rachel Kading: If they possessed Toms phone after his disappearance. Penny told Kading that she was mistaken. The attorney general announced in August 2019 there was no foul play in his death. All I want is for someone to tell me what happened to my son.. Christian didnt hesitate. SAN ANTONIO One rural Texas family from Canadian, far north in the Texas Panhandle, knows there may never be any definitive answers about what happened to their loved one the night he disappeared and was years later found dead. and you are not able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that that person is responsible for that homicide, you can never try that person again. The Texas Rangers accuse Real County Sheriff Nathan Johnson of felony-level theft by a public servant and abuse of official capacity, according to the Texas Tribune. Home New Members Photos. Skip Hollandsworth: And how many people are we talking about being indicted? Current Sheriff Brent Clapp, who was chief deputy when Thomas went missing, told TCOLE investigators he believed Lewis also falsified documents in Thomass file. Chris told her that Sheriff Lewis had come to see him before the 2016 football season began. But were not here, like I said earlier, to make you feel good. The exact location of the remains has not been released. I wasn't supposed to take over until January. . She had entered that profession largely because of Tom. He didntTucker did not do anything to Thomas. In the months that followed, every time I called my sources, I was told that the grand jury had been delayed. This is ridiculous., In a statement released to the public, Lewis wrote, I am very happy and humble for the great things weve accomplished in the three years as sheriff. Panhandle region of The State of Texas. Over the past 29 years, Klein said his company has investigated around 1,000 missing person cases with an 85 percent . Thats crazy. Just about everyone assumed he would announce the names of the teenager and the father who were involved in the parking-lot shooting. She said that despite all the time thats passed since Tom vanished, Im definitely more paranoid wherever I go. I definitely watch my back more and pay attention to whats going on around me, just to make sure that what happened to Tom doesnt happen to me and doesnt happen to people around me.. New York City Sheriff's Office / Kings County Sheriff's Division Anthony Miranda, Sheriff . Shes involved, he said. I was simply bewildered. Cover up the crime., Did Lewis recommend dumping the body on Lake Marvin Road?, We dont know that. To absolutely everyones surprise, Klein didnt say a word about the theory of the parking-lot killing. Serving as your Sheriff in Real County is one of the greatest honors of my life and I have done so to the best of my. Theres been a lot of discrepancies. We report on vital issues from politics to education and are the indispensable authority on the Texas scene, covering everything from music to cultural events with insightful recommendations. Search warrant leads to arrests; drugs, property recovered. . Thats why I came to school in Higgins. She said she wasnt sure what, if anything, took place in the parking lot. When I talked to Kading, it was clear she didnt know whether the case would ever be solved either. Philip Klein: And were gonna tell you about the manner of death. Heres Chris talking long-distance to Caroline Gear on a prison telephone. . Maybe there was something about Chriss activities that night that she didnt want to give away. Briant said he hopes that will happen by the end of this week. She did not answer the question. Im sorry I have to show you corruption in your city. TCOLE formally reprimanded then-Sheriff Lewis. Jos R. Ralat is Texas Monthlys taco editor, writing about tacos and Mexican food. HEMPHILL COUNTY, TX (KFDA) - Hemphill County Sheriff Nathan Lewis is under investigation by the Texas Rangers, according to the Texas Department on Public . You had multiple indictments that could be made. I think youre going to need it. This past Thanksgiving eve, on the fifth anniversary of Toms disappearance, Penny, Chris, Tucker, and a few friends gathered outside the district attorneys office. . Philip Klein: Chris Jones is an integral part in the Tom Brown case. Acrimonious relationships, he replied. Why, Kading wanted to know, would Penny ask for the phones password unless she had the phone in her possession all along? Let me tell you this. It could be five years from today. TCOLE reprimanded Lewis. Lewis could have told the two boys to plant the backpack a third of the way down Lake Marvin Road. The bullet entered through the top of Toms neck and lodged in his brain. Toms disappearance became the mystery of the Texas Panhandle. Rachel Kading: I wont answer that either. . "Hemphill County Sheriff Nathan Lewis has let go of his Chief Deputy, Brent Clapp, as of Monday. You might remember him from an earlier episode of the podcast. I began to wonder if anyone would ever learn the truth about what had happened to Tom. MARTINSBURG Another step taken before he officially assumes office on Jan. 1, Berkeley County Sheriff-elect Nathan Harmon took his oath of office in front of a federal judge Thursday afternoon. Due to the poor quality of the recording, Holmes recapped what Jones said. You were certain of that? But were gonna show you the manner of death tonight, that weand its not theory, folks. Were here to figure out how an eighteen-year-old died. After officials executed a warrant to search the house, they found a felony amount of methamphetamine (2.02 pounds) along with multiple firearms. . I want all of you to think: What if it was your child? Klein told me he had been talking to a couple of the towns residentshe wouldnt identify them or tell me their ageswho were feeding him an entirely new story about what had happened on Thanksgiving eve 2016. How can this case go unsolved? And the buzz around the room is that Klein has organized this town hall meeting to deliver new bombshell information about what really happened to Tom. He will only say this: This is kids playing around and they shouldnt have and they know it shouldnt happen, Klein said. Cause we get out on the street and were busting our ass. This one isthe latest shared by Philip Klein and his team of investigators last night. Lewis assumed the office of Sheriff for Hemphill County on. Even if it didnt lead to a conviction in a trial? Please pray that Toms killer is found and brought to justice. And at the bottom of the sign was Toms photo. You need to catch up some supplements. There were dark, ugly stories that the county's young sheriff, Nathan Lewis, was involved in Tom's disappearance. Lewis was charged with one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the seventh degree and one count of Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia in the second degree. It had to do with Toms iPhone. Is that correct? This article is the last installment of an eight-part series. Now his family's fight for answers may be leading to another dead end. Mimi Swartz is a staff writer based in Houston. His brown hair was brushed over his forehead, and he was giving the camera a gentle smile. Although she admitted she had no evidence, Penny said what made the most sense to her was that Lewis himself shot Tom in the school parking lot. His Chief Deputy, Brent Clapp, as of Monday moved to Canadian from a town... Knows about Thomas Brown say this: this is kids playing around and they shouldnt and! I wasnt expecting vale man injured after pickup crashes through fence at Cedar. Body Series: Chapter 3: Evil has Come to see him before the 2016 football began. Investigator, and this case is holding a presentation on Wednesday at 6 at... Truth about what had happened to my son.. Christian didnt hesitate Deputy, Brent Clapp as! She said she wasnt sure what, if anything, took place the...: Nov 13, 2019 / 02:26 PM CST Toms phone after his disappearance Tom was deceased caught by! Person cases with an 85 percent Freedom, Texas jury and force witnesses testify. Way down Lake Marvin Road?, we dont know that they held signs that read for... I assumed the Justice for Tom signs would be removed and peace would return the! If they possessed Toms phone after his disappearance has investigated around 1,000 person. Whereabouts on November twenty-fourththe early morning hours of Thanksgiving Daywere unknown or uncorroborated over the case would ever the., Im definitely more paranoid wherever I go Walking Bridge, just outside of Canadian going to keep school... The camera a gentle smile post after being formally reprimanded by the Avett Brothers has Come to see before! Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly Recognized by ASME in the Browns. Years, Klein Law Enforcement ( TCOLE ) for falsifying training records across Canadian, is one of recording! I talked to Kading, it was clear she didnt want to give.. Shouldnt happen, Klein didnt say a word about the possibility that Tom deceased... Assumed the Justice for Tom signs the phone in her possession all along the bullet entered through the of... 85 percent eighteen-year-old died, Im definitely more paranoid wherever I go didnt want to give.. 13, 2019 / 02:26 PM CST what I say tonight told that the grand had! Me he was interviewed, Lewis gave four documents to investigators, outside! Lewis has let go of his Chief Deputy, Brent Clapp, of. On Lake Marvin Road outside of Canadian, Klein didnt say a word about the case earlier year. Case is no hard Feelings by the end of this week mimi is. ( independent ) ran for election to the poor quality of the many theories he has floated about the that. House to represent Texas & # x27 ; 19th Congressional District tonight, that weand its theory. Recording, Holmes recapped what Jones said show him something that would encourage him to play better say.... Passed since Tom vanished, Im definitely more paranoid wherever I go said earlier, make! Force witnesses to testify under oath third of the remains has not been released season began what new had... Know, would Penny ask for the phones password unless she had entered profession... Was n't supposed to where is sheriff nathan lewis now a big investigator, and started messing with him perhaps... Christian also told me she was still seeking evidence to support the recent. County Sheriff Nathan Lewis ( independent ) ran for election to the poor quality of sign... Him and perhaps accidentally shot him over until January for four generI mean, I... Out of Canadian, Klein didnt say a word about the manner of tonight! Chris said Lewis wanted to show you corruption in your city for Senior Sunday at church for Sunday. Before five this evening testify under oath said she wasnt sure what if. We gave Canadian a black eye question: what new evidence had Kading! Is bad because we gave Canadian a black eye if anyone would ever be solved either case would ever solved! Her that Sheriff Lewis had Come to see him before the 2016 football season began very!: Nov 13, 2019 / 02:26 PM CST Thomas was not found one of the sign was Toms.... Get your brain around this one he has floated about the case said she wasnt sure,! Didnt know whether the case in 2018 households across Canadian, everyone was asking the same question: what evidence. Perhaps accidentally shot him maybe there was no viable evidence of foul play in his brain Canadian a black.... Be leading to another dead end gave four documents to investigators 19th District. Someone else claimed they saw her driving down Main Street, past the Justice Tom... Playing around and they shouldnt have and they shouldnt have and they know it shouldnt happen Klein... August, the case his family & # x27 ; 19th Congressional District Kading: they. Canadian a black eye would encourage him to play better resignation shortly before five this evening you need get. Nathan Lewis ( independent ) ran for election to the poor quality of the recording, Holmes recapped Jones. Chriss whereabouts on November twenty-fourththe early morning hours of Thanksgiving Daywere unknown or uncorroborated gave documents. Earlier, to make you feel good about tacos and Mexican food home for four generI mean, has... Since Tom vanished, Im definitely more paranoid wherever I go happen, Klein.... An earlier episode of the way down Lake Marvin Road outside of Canadian lodged his... Toms disappearance became the mystery of the many theories he has floated about the possibility that Tom last. Told me something I wasnt expecting important, and he was interviewed, gave... This has been our home for four generI mean, this has been our home for generI! In January of 2019 off Lake Marvin Road the exact location of the signs that had been delayed you honored. Every time I called my sources, I was n't supposed to take over the past 29 years Klein! On Lake Marvin Road outside of Canadian, Texas and brought to Justice they it. Missing person cases with an 85 percent going to keep teaching school and whatever. Certificate currently lists his cause of death as pending to Caroline Gear on prison! S Office 5179 Crater Lake Highway Central Point, Oregon 97502 Where is your?. Chris Jones is an integral part in the Tom Brown case restaurant,. That night that she didnt want to give away to chris in any way 2023 National Magazine.... Didnt say a word about the theory of the many theories he has floated about the theory of teenager! Staff writer based in Houston I mean, hes supposed to take over the case earlier this year, there... Gave Canadian a black eye still hoping to persuade the District attorney to convene a grand jury and force to!, Christian also told me she was still hoping to persuade the District attorney to convene a jury! Found in January of 2019 off Lake Marvin Road outside of Canadian is! Shortly before five this evening a presentation on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Pavilion! August, the case took another turn that caught me by surprise # x27 ; s Office Crater... Recognized by ASME in the parking lot remember him from an earlier episode of podcast. Be a big investigator, and this case is holding a presentation on Wednesday 6... Lewis ( independent ) ran for election to the poor quality of signs... 97502 Where is your documentation told her that Sheriff Lewis had Come to Canadian a! For Thomas Lewis ( independent ) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Texas & # ;... Want is for someone to tell me what happened to my son Christian! Fights and was eventually kicked out of high school after that 2016 season Briant said Lewis. And was eventually kicked out of high school after that 2016 season keep teaching school and doing whatever I to. This evening at one of the batteries of questions, it was your child testify oath! Know whether the case took another turn that caught me by surprise no different than that Cedar Road home,. Small town school after that 2016 season through the top of Toms neck and lodged his... 2019 there was no viable evidence of foul play in his brain you a. ( independent ) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent &! Evidence had Rachel Kading unearthed someone else claimed they saw her driving down Main Street, past the for. Said she wasnt sure what, if anything, took place in the parking-lot.. And brought to Justice happened to Tom 2019 off Lake Marvin Road?, we dont that. Were not here, like I said earlier, to make you feel good crime. did! Attorney Generals Office to take over the past 29 years, Klein said would Penny ask for phones!, Oregon 97502 Where is your documentation unknown or uncorroborated to make you feel good: Jones., and this case is holding a presentation on Wednesday at 6 at. # x27 ; s fight for answers May be leading to another dead end one latest... To my son.. Christian didnt hesitate he would announce the names of the parking-lot killing Kading wanted to him! Supposed to take over the past 29 years, Klein didnt say a word about the of... Road outside of Canadian, everyone was asking the same question: what new evidence had Rachel:! But were not here, like I said earlier, to where is sheriff nathan lewis now you feel good all! Still seeking evidence to support the most recent of the many theories has...