Police say they found the body of a missing woman behind a secret entrance to a home’s attic in Northern California on Wednesday.
The missing woman’s identity has been confirmed as Renia Lewis, a 28-year-old from Vallejo, California, who disappeared on Friday. Authorities have apprehended 41-year-old Douglas Irwin Shaw on suspicion of murder. However, the Vallejo Police Department has yet to determine a motive or establish if there was any prior connection between the two.
Vallejo Police Chief Jason Ta expressed sorrow over the event, saying, “This tragic and mindless act of violence has no place in our community. I commend our officers and detectives for their swift action in making an arrest and resolving this case. Our deepest sympathies are with the victim’s family during this extraordinarily challenging time.”
Police say Lewis was last seen on Friday evening, but she wasn’t formally reported missing until Sunday.
Police headquarters in Vallejo, Calif., seen on Tuesday, July 14, 2015. (Getty Images)
According to the statement, after his detention, Douglas Shaw confessed to the detectives about his involvement in this terrible crime. He has since been charged with murder and taken into custody at the Solano County Jail.
Police noted that Lewis’ death marks the 14th homicide in Vallejo this year.
