Jerry Lee Lewis: did ‘The Killer’ get away with murder?
From an early age, Elmo and Mamie Lewis recognised something special in their son. Showing signs of becoming a future musical creative, they took out a $250 mortgage on their home and utilised the funds to purchase a piano for Jerry Lee Lewis.
This might have appeared risky, but Lewis displayed exceptional talent even in his youth. He was a naturally gifted singer, songwriter, and pianist, capable of effortlessly playing music by ear and replicating any song after just one listen. However, while Lewis was an outstanding musician, his life was also chaotic and highly controversial.
His first run-in with public and media backlash arrived in 1957 when word got out that Lewis was married to his 13-year-old cousin, Myra Gale Brown, while he was 22 years old. This shocking revelation caused a significant public outcry, severely damaging his reputation and career. The marriage scandal rightly led to cancelled shows, radio bans, and a steep decline in record sales, marking a pivotal and turbulent period in his life.
Lewis’s personal life was further marked by a series of failed marriages, with his relationships often being tumultuous and filled with drama, leading to public scrutiny and speculation about his character. During his marriage to Brown, they had two children, one of whom drowned in a swimming pool accident when they were just three.
Six years later, Brown initiated divorce proceedings against Lewis, citing adultery, as well as physical and mental abuse, as the grounds for separation. In October 1971, Lewis wedded his fourth wife, Jaren Elizabeth Pate. The couple welcomed a daughter, Lori Lee Lewis, in 1972, but their union came to an end in June 1982. Tragically, Pate passed away by drowning in a pool at a friend’s residence, where she was residing until the finalisation of her and Lewis’ divorce.
Speculations and reports would then surface, suggesting Lewis might have been involved in her drowning, while others have cited the fact that Lewis wasn’t present on the property at the time of Pate’s death, as she passed away at someone else’s home.
Nevertheless, in 1983, Lewis entered his fifth marriage with Shawn Stephens. However, it only lasted around 77 days due to Stephens suffering a methadone overdose and being discovered dead in her bed. This caused an even bigger explosion of accusations, with people accusing Lewis of both murdering Stephens and subjecting her to abuse.
Upon the discovery of Stephens’ body, reports mentioned bruises and blood on her, leading to more severe allegations, which Lewis was forced to confront with a grand jury. However, they ultimately acquitted him of both the murder of Stephens and the alleged abuse she suffered while alive.
Nicknamed ‘The Killer’, Lewis’ associations with alcohol and drug abuse were largely known. Although his substance abuse was a big part of his controversy, his nickname reportedly came during his school days when he got caught up in a fight with another student and tried to strangle them. However, the other theory is that when he was younger, his parents gave him the nickname after giving him words of encouragement like “Kill ’em dead!”
Alongside the other deaths in his life, Lewis once accidentally shot his bassist. In 1976, he grabbed his .357 Magnum and attempted to shoot a bottle of coke situated across the room. The bullet bounced off the bottle, striking his bass player directly in the chest. There’s also a tale that a year later, he drove to Graceland under the influence of alcohol and pills, with a gun resting on the dashboard. “Come out,” he supposedly yelled, beckoning Elvis Presley, “And we’ll soon find out who’s King.”
Regardless, Lewis kept touring right up until his death in 2022. Once played by Dennis Quaid in Great Balls of Fire, despite facing lifelong media trials, The Killer kept finding ways to appeal to each new generation. In 2006, he released the album Last Man Standing. With the passing of the other members of the renowned Million Dollar Quartet, Lewis stood as the sole survivor.
