Phillip Shane Cromwell, 48, of Waco Bay, was arrested on November 7, 2024, and charged with the murder of 50-year-old Angela Yvonne Lewis following an incident in the Rolling Oaks community of Van Zandt County.
The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call at around 11 p.m. on November 6, reporting an automobile-pedestrian collision involving Lewis. The caller, who was not identified, transported Lewis to the Hunt County Regional Medical Center Emergency Room in Quinlan, where she was pronounced dead despite efforts to save her.
Initially, the Hunt County Sheriff’s Office took the lead on the investigation. Deputies later determined the incident occurred at an address on Van Zandt County Road 3840 in the Rolling Oaks community. After confirming the location, the case was handed over to the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office for further investigation.
As part of their investigation, officers interviewed several witnesses and brought Cromwell in for questioning. Cromwell told a friend that he had been attempting to start his vehicle, which was in poor condition, when the car unintentionally rolled over Lewis, who had been standing in front of the vehicle. In his interview with police, Cromwell changed his story, claiming that Lewis had been leaning over the front of the car trying to start it when the vehicle ran her over.
However, investigators found that Cromwell’s statements did not align with the nature of Lewis' injuries, prompting them to continue the investigation. A key breakthrough came when a witness came forward, reporting that he had seen the incident on a security camera from a nearby RV. The footage showed Cromwell beating Lewis from the driver’s side of the car, which was missing a hood, before Lewis stood next to the passenger side of the car. Cromwell then put the car in reverse and backed over Lewis. The witness said Cromwell then exited the vehicle, placed Lewis back inside the car, and drove away from the scene.
Following this new evidence, investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Cromwell, charging him with the murder of Angela Lewis. Cromwell was arrested on November 7, 2024, and placed in the Van Zandt County Jail, where he remains on a $500,000 bond.
The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is urged to contact the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office at 903-567-4133.
