Mark Wayne Lewis once stood in a position of authority as the pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church in Vacaville, California. Today, his name is linked not to sermons, but to a history of domestic violence, criminal convictions, and a death that continues to raise questions. Lewis’s former wife, Joanna Hunter, was found dead in their home in 2011. Authorities ruled it a suicide. Her family has never accepted that finding.
Behind the title of pastor, Lewis carried a long and documented pattern of abuse dating back to high school, when he began a relationship with Joanna. Over the course of two decades, he was arrested for domestic violence, subject to multiple restraining orders, and served time in jail. Despite this, he continued to present himself as a spiritual leader, using religion—according to former church members and Joanna’s family—as a tool for control and isolation.
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Pattern of Abuse and Control
Court filings and hospital records paint a disturbing picture. Joanna accused Lewis of beating her, choking her, and stalking her throughout their early years together. Protective orders from the mid-1990s outline how he harassed her, slashed her mother’s tires, vandalized property, and even hid under vehicles to watch her. She wrote at the time that he told her he was “capable of doing a lot more than [she] could ever imagine.”
Despite periods of separation, Lewis and Joanna later married in 2000, reportedly without her family’s knowledge. According to former associates, Lewis wielded his authority in the church to dominate not just Joanna, but others in his congregation. Former assistant pastors have since described the church environment as cult-like, where Lewis controlled everything from clothing choices to marriages. Within that context, Joanna grew increasingly isolated, cut off from outside support.
The Death of Joanna Hunter
On October 6, 2011, Lewis told a church member to call 911, saying only that his wife was dead. Joanna was found hanging in a closet by the belt of a terrycloth robe, her feet reportedly still touching the floor. An open suitcase sat nearby. Authorities quickly ruled the death a suicide and no autopsy was performed.
Her family was devastated by the speed of the ruling. Joanna’s mother, Patricia Hunter, and brother, Joe Hunter, insist that the scene was staged. They pointed to her history of trying to leave the marriage, the suitcase indicating she may have been preparing to leave again, and the absence of any meaningful investigation. The coroner’s note, which included a message to “take care of the dogs,” was something the family believes Joanna wrote before leaving the home—not a suicide note.
Later Crimes and Prison Time
In 2015, Lewis pleaded no contest to charges of arson and stalking in connection with an attack on his ex-girlfriend, Sarah Nottingham. The incident included a Molotov cocktail thrown into her home. Lewis was sentenced to eight years in state prison. This violent act, committed just a few years after Joanna’s death, led authorities to briefly reopen her case. However, despite pressure from the family and scrutiny from domestic violence experts, no charges were ever filed regarding Joanna’s death.
At the time of his sentencing, Lewis was 40 years old. Joanna’s family used the renewed attention to speak out again, calling for Joanna’s cause of death to be changed to “undetermined.” Solano County authorities have reviewed the case multiple times, but prosecutors say no new evidence has emerged that definitively contradicts the original ruling.
Where Is Mark Lewis Now?
As of 2025, Lewis is believed to be living in Ohio, where his father continues to serve as a pastor. While the California Department of Corrections does not publicly confirm current residency after release, Patricia Hunter and other family members say they have tracked his movements post-incarceration. He has reportedly resumed life in relative obscurity, avoiding public comment despite repeated outreach from reporters.
Lewis has not responded to calls, emails, or letters from investigative journalists. No new charges have been brought against him. However, his past continues to cast a shadow over ongoing efforts to reform how suspicious deaths, particularly those involving domestic abuse, are handled by law enforcement and medical examiners.
Legacy of Controversy and Ongoing Scrutiny
Mark Lewis’s history is now a case study in how alleged abusers can exploit religious power structures, manipulate institutions, and escape accountability in the face of repeated red flags. His former congregation has since changed leadership and name, and many former members have spoken publicly about the control he exerted over their lives. Some say they’re still reckoning with the psychological damage.
Though Lewis has never been charged with Joanna’s death, her family—along with domestic violence experts and advocacy organizations—continue to view him as responsible. Through their efforts, California passed Joanna’s Law in 2024, establishing critical standards for investigating deaths where domestic violence is a factor.
For now, Mark Wayne Lewis remains a free man. But for the family of Joanna Hunter, and those working to prevent other hidden homicides, his name is a reminder of what can happen when abuse goes unchecked and justice is delayed.