An Iowa teen who was sentenced in 2022 to probation for killing her alleged rapist two years earlier had a warrant issued for her arrest earlier this month.
Pieper Lewis, 19, was ordered to serve five years of closely supervised probation — but records indicated that her whereabouts are unknown. KCCI reported that in March, Lewis was ousted from a residential treatment center in Georgia for violations which included having a contraband cell phone and missing a doctor’s appointment for a romantic encounter.
Lewis was moved to the Georgia women’s center in November 2023. After being kicked out, she was required to undergo GPS monitoring and have weekly check-ins with a probation officer. KCRG reported that the GPS device lost its charge on April 6 and authorities have been unable to contact her.
This is reportedly the second time Lewis has violated her probation. Last year, she was re-sentenced to probation after admitting to cutting her GPS monitor and walking out of a Des Moines women’s treatment center in 2022.
In 2022, Lewis pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter for killing Zachary Brooks, 37, when she was 15. At the time, Lewis’ 40-year-old boyfriend allegedly pulled a knife on her and forced her to go to Brooks’ apartment. Lewis claimed Brooks had raped her multiple times in the weeks leading up to the 2020 slaying.
Once at the apartment, Brooks allegedly made Lewis get undressed, drink alcohol, and smoke marijuana while they watched a movie. Lewis admitted to stabbing Brooks 30 times, but she claimed she did not plot to kill him. Instead, she stated that she became enraged after she woke up to Brooks raping her and ignoring her pleas to stop.
Lewis said she was getting dressed when she spotted the knife on the bedside and repeatedly stabbed Brooks. The 15-year-old reportedly fled the scene in Brooks’ car. A maintenance worker discovered Brooks’ body the same day.
Polk County prosecutors never denied allegations that Pieper was trafficked and a rape victim. The age of consent in Iowa is 16; though individuals ages 14 and 15 can consent with people within two years of their age.
Though Lewis pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, she was given a deferred judgment, meaning the conviction could be expunged upon completing probation. She faces 20 years in prison if her probation is revoked.
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[Featured image: Pieper Lewis/Facebook; Zachary Brooks/Henderson’s Highland Park Funeral Home]
