page_title: Teresa Lewis
section_title: Sentencing and appeals
hierarchical_section_title: Teresa Lewis / Murders / Sentencing and appeals
caption_attribution_description: English: Governor of Virginia Bob McDonnell at CPAC in Washington, D.C..
context_page_description: Teresa Wilson Bean Lewis was an American murderer who was the only woman on death row in Virginia prior to her execution. She was sentenced to death by lethal injection for the murders of her husband and stepson in October 2002. Lewis sought to profit from a $250,000 life insurance policy her stepson had taken out as a U.S. Army reservist in anticipation of his deployment to Iraq.
  In September 2010, Lewis became the first female inmate to die by lethal injection in the state of Virginia. The state had last executed a woman in 1912. The case led to debate over capital punishment due to Lewis's gender as well as questions regarding her mental capacity.
context_section_description: Defense attorneys thought the evidence against Lewis was overwhelming and advised her to plead guilty to the capital charges in order to avoid a jury, and hope that the judge would show some leniency since Lewis had been cooperating with investigators. However, she was sentenced to death, since under Virginia law, multiple murders within a three-year period are subject to the death penalty. The two co-conspirators who actually did the shooting, Shallenberger and Fuller, were sentenced to life imprisonment at separate trials. Lewis was granted an automatic review by the Supreme Court of Virginia, which rejected the argument that it was unfair to execute Lewis while the co-conspirators got life sentences, as well as rejecting Lewis' challenges to the constitutionality of Virginia's death penalty law. Lewis was placed on death row at the Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women in Troy, Virginia.
  Lewis' daughter, Christie Lynn Bean, served five years because she knew about the plan but failed to report it.
  In November 2004, a private investigator met Shallenberger at Wallens Ridge State Prison in Big Stone Gap, Virginia on behalf of Lewis. Shallenberger wrote in a partially transcribed affidavit: "Teresa was in love with me. She was very eager to please me. She was also not very smart." However, Shallenberger tore off and ate the parts of the document that he had signed. Shallenberger said, "What will happen will happen." Shallenberger committed suicide at the prison in 2006.
  Over 7,300 appeals for clemency were reportedly sent to Virginia governor Bob McDonnell. Her supporters stated that "Lewis is deeply remorseful and has been a model prisoner, helping fellow female inmates cope with their circumstances." Her father, Melvin C. Wilson Sr., testified how Lewis took care of her invalid mother prior to her death. Lewis herself stated that "I just want the governor to know that I am so sorry, deeply from my heart. And if I could take it back, I would, in a minute ... I just wish I could take it back. And I'm sorry for all the people that I've hurt in the process." On September 17, 2010, McDonnell decided not to stop Lewis' upcoming execution, stating: "Having carefully reviewed the petition for clemency, the judicial opinions in this case, and other relevant materials, I find no compelling reason to set aside the sentence that was imposed by the Circuit Court and affirmed by all reviewing courts."
  Her attorneys filed motions for a writ of certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court to stay the execution, but were denied on September 21, 2010. Dissenting Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor indicated that they would have granted a stay.
caption: Governor Bob McDonnell declined to grant clemency.[20]
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