Police Seek Brother of Naperville Woman Found Dead in Her Home

are investigating what they believe to be a murder, after finding a local woman dead in her home Wednesday.

The city's police and  were called Wednesday to Lewis' home, a four-unit condo building at 2339 Worthing Drive in Naperville, to perform a well-being check.

When officers arrived, they found Naperville resident Cathleen A. Lewis, 59, dead. Believed to be the victim of a homicide, officials say Lewis had been beaten to death.

A news release from Will County Coroner Patrick O’Neil said Lewis was pronounced dead at 7:47 p.m. Wednesday. An official cause and manner of death has not been determined by the coroner, as the office is waiting for final toxicology and police reports.

“Ms. Lewis sustained multiple head injuries due to blunt head trauma, due to an assault," the news release said.

As of late Thursday afternoon, the Naperville Police Department said officers were trying to locate Lewis’ brother, Mark R. Lewis, 51, of Lakemoor, IL, to confirm his well-being and notify him of his sister's death.

Mark R. Lewis might be driving a green 1999 Ford Explorer with Illinois registration 775 8696, according to police.

A male resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said Lewis lived in the unit with her 83-year-old mother. He said he heard it was Lewis’ mother that made the well-being call to police.

Residents around the area said they noticed police squad cars around Lewis’ complex at 6 p.m. Wednesday. One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said he saw eight to 10 squad cars outside the small building.

Beth Griffith, 42, lives three houses south of Lewis’ unit. Griffith said she and her family moved into their house less than a year ago. Griffith said she had trouble sleeping after hearing about the possible homicide.

“You’re just laying there thinking, ‘Maybe I should have heard something,’” Griffith said. “I’m just shocked like everybody else; I didn’t expect it in the neighborhood.”

Griffith said she heard from neighbors that police walked around the neighbored asking whether they heard or saw anything Wednesday night. Naperville police continue to talk to neighbors, and were entering their homes Thursday afternoon carrying legal pads of paper.

Police have taped off the small complex where Lewis lived. The tape covers the entire front of the four-unit complex and back door to one of the first floor units.

A 15-year-old female who lives in the same building as Lewis was able to enter her condo Thursday afternoon. The girl, who preferred to remain anonymous, said she she could enter her apartment, but didn't know whether Naperville police would let her sleep in the unit. The girl said she’d be willing to stay in the unit.

“I’m not scared at all,” the girl said. “I’m fine.”

Other neighbors said they are concerned. A woman, who resides in the condo building south of Lewis’, did not want to talk directly about the incident. The woman said she did not want her children to know what was going on.

Other neighbors said they felt shocked, scared and didn’t want to talk about the situation with the media.

Jim Wilson, 69, also said he felt concerned. Wilson, who lives about a block from Lewis’ condo, came to investigate the situation after reading a story about her death.

“I’m concerned enough to walk down here and take a look,” Wilson said. “But what are you going to do.”

Wilson and another male resident said they wondered whether there was a connection between this crime and drug trafficking arrests made in the area last summer.

The man said he was also concerned because he asked Naperville police on Wednesday night about the situation and received little information. The man said Naperville police told him he was safe.

The resident, however, requested more specific information from the police, as he was leaving his family alone because he had to work on Wednesday night. The man said he worried for the safety of his family and instructed his wife to not answer the door Wednesday night while he was gone.

An elderly woman, who lives in the small condo complex north of Lewis’, said police came to visit her Wednesday night but did not provide a lot of information.

Lewis’ funeral is being coordinated by in Naperville, but arrangement details are not yet available.

Anyone with information about Lewis' death or her brother's whereabouts should call the Naperville Police Department at 630-420-6147.