Indiana – In a grim and disturbing case in Indiana, a 32‑year‑old man, identified as J. Lewis, has been found guilty of murdering a 59-year-old woman, identified as P. Nieto, at her workplace. Lewis now faces a life-altering future behind bars after jurors convicted him of murder in the fatal stabbing of Nieto, a beloved cashier at a local store. Lewis claimed that Nieto “swung at him,” prompting his deadly response—but the court found his explanation hardly convincing.
Lewis was charged with murder in the December 7, 2023 attack. Prosecutors built their case on clear video evidence, witness accounts, and Lewis’s own troubling statements. Despite his claim that the incident was a reaction to Nieto’s aggressive behavior, the jury saw a calculated act. Lewis returned to the store about 35 minutes after a minor verbal dispute, approached Nieto in the self-checkout area, forcibly pulled her down, and stabbed her multiple times with a pocket knife. When asked in court how many times he stabbed her, Lewis simply responded, “enough times not to care.”
His defense initially invoked an insanity defense and later requested a competency evaluation. That strategy was withdrawn, and attorneys pivoted to suggest a less severe charge, arguing he should be found guilty of manslaughter, not murder. Lewis insisted his act wasn’t premeditated, but rather triggered by Nieto’s alleged strike. Jurors, however, rejected that narrative. The attack occurred during business hours at the busy store. Lewis had entered earlier that morning and got into a heated but seemingly minor disagreement with Nieto and other staff—an exchange that did not escalate. He left, only to return half an hour later with deadly intent.
Store surveillance footage captured the fatal moments: Lewis walking directly to the cashier, grabbing her, and pulling her down as he stabbed her in a brutal assault. She collapsed in full view of shoppers as chaos erupted. First responders arrived and found her without a pulse. Witnesses described hearing “the worst noise you could possibly hear” as she let out a final scream. The autopsy revealed that Nieto suffered at least a dozen stab wounds, including a nearly five-inch-deep wound. Medical testimony showed that the blade likely damaged an artery, which caused rapid blood loss to one side of her brain and rendered her unresponsive nearly instantly.
Throughout the trial, Nieto’s family and community members spoke about her gentleness and commitment. Nieto had served the store’s customers with warmth and professionalism for over three decades. Her husband described her as a devoted supervisor, mother, and grandmother—beyond valued colleagues, she was a neighbor and friend. Her legacy now lives on through memorials in the store and the hearts of those she served.
After three days of testimony, jurors returned with a guilty verdict. Lewis was found guilty of murder. The court set his sentencing date for September 23, where he faces a potential sentence of 45 to 65 years in prison. While justice has taken its initial step, the community continues to mourn Nieto’s loss—a life ended in front of the very place where she gave so much warmth and care to others.
