The sister of a man whose bound body was found in the River Thames says she is “99% sure” that he was murdered. Damien Lewis’ body was found dead in the river near London's Westminster Pier, some 13 miles from his last known address in Ilford.
His wrists were tied together, with a pair of two-kilogram dumb-bells attached to the rope. Police believed that Damien had died by suicide but his sister Paula told the Daily Express’ On The Edge podcast that she spotted a clue that throws doubt on that conclusion.
She explained to interviewer Zak Garner-Purkiss: “[The police] indicated that he had tied them himself, because one of the one of the wrists was looser than the other which indicated that somebody could have tied them himself.”
However Paula stresses that it doesn't add up as Damian’s right wrist had been tied more loosely – despite being left-handed. “We’re 99% sure that he didn’t kill himself,” she explained.
Damien, who had severe learning difficulties, autism and obsessive-compulsive disorder, often went missing for days at time. He had been reported missing from his assisted living home on August 31, 2022. His body was found five days later but it was another three weeks before police could identify him.
The delay meant investigating officers were unable to obtain CCTV or other evidence about where Damien might have gone into the water. Paula insists that while Damien could sometimes cause problems with his challenging behaviour, he had never shown any sign of any suicidal tendencies.
She continued: “Damian's never been suicidal so we have so many questions we just can’t get our heads around. Damien was petrified of dying – he used to have panic attacks about things like the world ending.”
She says how Damien would see distressing news on TV and become very anxious about the state of the world, adding: “He was petrified so he'd have panic attacks.”
Paula believes that someone may have been financially exploiting her brother in the days running up to his death: “We went and got Damien’s bank statements he was drawing out £200 every other day, then £500.”
Paula says that her brother had no friends or hobbies, and his only indulgence was buying biscuits and other junk food for himself. She finds it hard to understand where all this money might have been going.
While Damian was around six feet tall with a husky build, he had quite a childlike nature, and liked nothing more than climbing trees and wandering around parks and fields. He was described as fit and healthy by Paula, who says and the two small dumb-bells would have had little impact on his ability to swim.
In the years 2015 to 2022, an average of about 31 bodies a year were found in the Thames, according to the Port of London Authority. Approximately 90% of the victims are believed to have been cases of suicide.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said at the time that a post-mortem examination had confirmed Damien had died as a result of drowning and “found no evidence of any suspicious circumstances and officers concluded the death was unexpected, but not suspicious”.
They added: “Officers assisted with preparing a report for the coroner. Our enquiries, as well as a post-mortem examination, found no evidence of any third-party involvement in the man's death.”
Nevertheless, Paula and her family are convinced that Damien's killer is still at large.
For emotional support, you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.