Missing woman found dead

Officials rule her death a homicide after her body is found in a grove.

By CASEY CORA and HELEN ANNE TRAVIS, Times Staff Writers
Published September 1, 2007

DADE CITY - She was last seen alive Wednesday evening. Thursday night, Pasco deputies found her body in an orange grove.

Sheriff's deputies had been searching with air and ground units for Shaquieta Lewis, 25, since she went missing Wednesday evening in the area of 37402 Tait Ave. in Dade City. They found her body a few miles away, in a grove near Blanton and Frazee Hill roads.

Officials have ruled her death a homicide.

Deputies initially responded to a report of gunshots Wednesday at the location Lewis went missing. They didn't see any victim at the time, but they did find spent shell casings and blood.

As of Friday evening, investigators haven't said how Lewis died.

Friends and family couldn't be reached for comment Friday. But official records paint a picture of a young woman with a long criminal past.

She was first arrested at 12 on charges of felony aggravated battery, according to state records. Later that year the charge was assault with a deadly weapon. From there, Lewis had been arrested almost 20 more times. Charges against her ranged from cocaine and marijuana possession to probation violation.

Anyone with information about Lewis' death is asked to call the Pasco Sheriff's Office at 1-800-854-2862.

[Last modified August 31, 2007, 20:37:21]