Natalie Morales She has worked in news for more than 25 years, but she believes the story of surviving alum Joe Hunter and his sister, joannamay be one of the greatest true crime stories I’ve ever covered.
Joe, 46, and Joanna’s story is now the subject of an upcoming episode of 48 hourstitled “Joe Hunter’s Mission,” in which Morales, 53, is the main correspondent.
“It’s really emotional,” she says Us Weekly exclusively “I think probably one of the greatest true crime stories I think I’ve ever done.”
Joanna died in 2011 at the age of 36 at her home in California, and police ruled it a suicide. On the surface, there was every reason to do so. her husband, Marc Lewisclaimed to have found her body with no signs of a struggle and evidence that Joanna took her own life.
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But Joe and his family never believed this happened. Lewis had a history of domestic violence, and inconsistencies soon emerged that cast doubt on investigators’ findings. Since then, the case has been re-examined several times, but the official cause of Joanna’s death has remained the same. Lewis, who denies killing her, has never faced charges related to the case.
“(Joe) just talked about feeling like he failed his sister, who was (on surviving) to be her voice,” said Morales, 53. “I was running for her, trying to do something to honor her memory and really bring attention and awareness to survivors of domestic violence and what they go through.”
The Hunter family has done more than raise awareness, which is another reason Morales became so passionate about the story. Joe and his mother, Patricia, led the charge to help it happen Joan’s Law in Californiathat Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law in 2024.
The law requires law enforcement to examine 10 factors in any suspicious death in which there is a history of domestic violence before closing the investigation. Factors include a partner wanting to end the relationship, the deceased being found by their partner, and that partner being the last person to see them alive.
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Joanna’s death ticked all 10 boxes, but was never investigated as a possible homicide.
“The responding officer took photos of the scene, took away the (suicide note) and anything else that was found,” Morales explained. “But they didn’t search for DNA at the time. They didn’t document the scene.”
This meant crucial evidence that could shed more light on Joanna’s death, including a rope for which a doctor interviewed 48 hours he believes it was the murder weapon, now it’s gone.
“I had never heard of the term hidden homicides until I reported on this case,” Morales said. “The more I started to invest in (this case), the more it brought to my attention all the past stories that I’ve done where, you know, ‘was there enough of an investigation? Was the investigation handled the way it should have been?'”
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“Joe Hunter’s Mission” not only delves into the case itself, but tells the story of Joanna’s relationship with Lewis, in which she alleged she was physically abused multiple times, with Lewis pleading guilty to felony spousal abuse more than a decade earlier. She also tried to leave the relationship, but continually found herself drawn back.
Lewis has not publicly addressed Joanna’s past allegations of abuse and has refused to talk about them 48 hours
“So many people suffer in silence when it comes to domestic violence,” Morales said. “Too often, people are so afraid or so afraid to talk about their experiences, they’re afraid to leave, they’re afraid of being judged.”
The “Joe Hunter’s Mission” by 48 hours premieres on CBS on Saturday, December 13 at 10:00 PM ET and will air on Paramount+.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential assistance.