Brother of slain Naperville woman fighting extradition
The brother of a 59-year-old Naperville woman found beaten to death last month is fighting extradition to Will County where he faces charges of identity theft.
In addition, Naperville police still consider Mark R. Lewis, 51, of Lakemoor, a “person of interest” in the June homicide of his sister Cathleen Lewis.
Lewis was arrested shortly before 8 p.m. on July 14 in a parking lot along the Gulf Beach Highway in Pensacola, Fla., after he was reported to police as a suspicious person. Lewis told officers at the scene that he was headed to a nearby naval base, police said.
Katrina Crone, spokeswoman for the Will County State's Attorney's office, said Lewis remains in Escambia County jail as he fights extradition to Illinois, where he is accused of forgery of his mother's bank account.
Naperville Sgt. John Westlove said it may be “some time” before Naperville investigators get to talk to Lewis.
“The proper authorities are attempting to obtain a governor's warrant that can be forwarded down to (Florida Gov. Rick Scott) and get his signature to begin the process of getting him here,” Westlove said. “It may take some time, but we still want him for the ID theft and he is still a person of interest with the Naperville Police Department regarding the passing of his sister.”
Authorities have said they were concerned after his family and friends didn't hear from Mark Lewis for several days following Cathleen's death.
Her body was found on June 8 after her 83-year-old mother called police to request a well-being check at the townhouse they shared in Naperville. An autopsy the following day showed multiple injuries and blunt trauma, which authorities attributed to the victim being struck on the head several times.
Police tried to find the victim's brother by entering him into a national law enforcement database, soliciting tips, and appealing to the public to look for his green 1999 Ford Explorer. Authorities said he was driving that vehicle, still bearing Illinois license plates, when he was arrested in Florida.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call police at (630) 420-6147 or Naperville Crime Stoppers at (630) 420-6006.