'Definitely failed us': OKC family accuses DA, OKCPD of dropping the ball in criminal case
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – An Oklahoma City family is speaking out after they say the Oklahoma County District Attorney's office told them this week a criminal case connected to their loved one's death won't move forward.
The incident in question happened on April 30, 2024, near Southeast 15th Street and South High Avenue. Court documents said Oklahoma City police responded to the area and found Carlos Lewis lying in the road, unresponsive.
Witness Patricia Preston told police she noticed a White Hummer with silver rims driving recklessly through her apartment complex before leaving and heading southbound on High Avenue. Preston told News 4 last year that she saw Lewis leave the same complex on a bicycle before the truck and heard a loud noise. She said that when she and other neighbors went to investigate, they found Lewis in the road.
“You can see the man’s bones,” said Preston. “It was terrible. I mean, I wouldn’t do a dog like that.”
Court documents said police were able to find the truck parked in the backyard of a residence near Southeast 25th and I-35. Ellias Estrada was taken into custody in connection to the crash. Documents say he admitted to police he had been driving the vehicle involved. Documents also say that his driver’s license was revoked.
Estrada was later charged with leaving the scene of a fatality collision and causing a fatality without a valid driver's license.
"It's definitely been a roller coaster, to say the least," said Lewis' son, also named Carlos Lewis, in an interview with News 4 on Thursday. For clarity, he'll be referred to as Carlos Lewis Jr.
Lewis Jr. told News 4 that holidays have been tough, and that his father was the glue for his family. He said it's also been hard to get a firm grasp on his own grief.
"Grief comes in waves, you know," said Lewis Jr. "I definitely feel sad, you know. I'll go to work and I'll feel sad."
Lewis Jr. says his family has followed the criminal court case the past several months, and were invited to a private meeting with Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna's office Monday to discuss a major update on the case.
"The DA told us they didn't have enough evidence," said Lewis Jr. "They weren't going to be able to charge him for anything because of the lack of evidence."
Lewis Jr. said he and his family were hurt and confused, especially with that announcement coming a year after the incident. He said Behenna's office didn't offer any ways in which things could potentially be revisited in the future, just an apology.
"They tried to say sorry in the nicest way possible, to say the least," said Lewis Jr.
News 4 reached out to a spokesperson for Behenna's office on Wednesday to confirm the allegations being made by Lewis' family. A spokesperson originally told an employee they would let the family speak for themselves. News 4 asked for clarification, and if the spokesperson could confirm or deny what Lewis' family told employees. News 4 further asked if the charges against Estrada would be dropped.
The spokesperson said they couldn't confirm what was said in the meeting between their office and Lewis' family because they weren't in the meeting. However, they said they understood that the case was being dismissed Thursday due to an "evidentiary issue," adding that their prosecutors "don't get to choose their witnesses or evidence" and their office has to "be able to prove to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt."
The explanation didn't sit well with Lewis Jr.
"We want somebody to be held accountable," said Lewis Jr. "I feel like the court system failed us. I feel like the DA failed us and [Oklahoma City Police] as well, definitely failed us."
News 4 reached out to the Oklahoma City Police Department's communication team for comment Friday afternoon, but a spokesperson said our employees likely wouldn't hear back until Monday.