Indiana – In Indiana, J. Lewis, 32, was found guilty of murdering P. Nieto, 59, at her workplace. Lewis now faces a life-altering prison sentence after jurors found him guilty of murder in the fatal stabbing of Nieto, a beloved cashier at a local store. Lewis claimed that Nieto “swung at him,” prompting his lethal response—but the court found his explanation unconvincing.
Lewis was charged with murder for the December 7, 2023 attack. Prosecutors based their case on clear video evidence, witness accounts, and Lewis’ own troubling statements.
Despite his claim that the incident was a response to Nieto’s aggressive behavior, the jury saw it as a deliberate act. Lewis returned to the store about 35 minutes after a minor verbal altercation, approached Nieto in the self-checkout area, forcibly dragged her down, and stabbed her several times with a pocket knife.
When asked in court how many times he stabbed her, Lewis simply stated, “enough times not to care.”
His defense began with an insanity defense and later requested a competency evaluation. That strategy was dropped, and attorneys shifted to a less serious charge, arguing that he should be found guilty of manslaughter rather than murder.
Lewis insisted that his actions were not premeditated, but rather prompted by Nieto’s alleged strike. The jury, however, rejected that narrative. The attack took place during business hours at the busy store.
Lewis had entered earlier that morning and engaged in a heated but seemingly minor disagreement with Nieto and other staff, which did not escalate. He departed, only to return half an hour later with lethal intent.
The fatal moments were captured on store surveillance footage: Lewis walked directly to the cashier, grabbed her, and pulled her down as he stabbed her brutally. As chaos broke out, she collapsed in front of all the shoppers.
When first responders arrived, they discovered she was dead. Witnesses reported hearing “the worst noise you could possibly hear” as she let out one final scream.
The autopsy revealed that Nieto had at least a dozen stab wounds, including one that was nearly five inches deep. Medical testimony revealed that the blade most likely damaged an artery, causing rapid blood loss to one side of her brain and rendering her nearly unresponsive.
Throughout the trial, Nieto’s family and community members praised her gentleness and dedication. Nieto had been serving the store’s customers with warmth and professionalism for more than 30 years.
Her husband described her as a devoted supervisor, mother, and grandmother who was not only valued colleagues but also a neighbor and friend. Her legacy is now carried on by memorials in the store and in the hearts of those she served.
After three days of testimony, the jury returned a guilty verdict. Lewis was found guilty of murder. The court set his sentencing date for September 23, with a possible sentence of 45 to 65 years in prison. While justice has taken its first step, the community continues to mourn Nieto’s death, which occurred in front of the very place where she provided so much warmth and care to others.
