An astonishing story of forgiveness in the American state of Arkansas culminated in a second, devastating murder, as a woman who befriended her mother's killer ultimately lost her own life to him.
A Double Murder and an Act of Grace
The tragic sequence began in 1996 on the picturesque shores of Horseshoe Lake, Arkansas. Sally Snowden McKay, 75, and her cousin, renowned Memphis blues guitarist Joseph “Lee” Baker, 52, were murdered on their estate. The crime left Sally's daughter, Martha McKay, grieving and the community in shock.
Travis Lewis, who was just 17 at the time, pleaded guilty to the double homicide but never confessed, instead blaming another man for the act according to reports. Despite this, Martha McKay embarked on a path of remarkable empathy. She processed her grief and chose to forgive Lewis, even forming a friendship with him while he was in prison.
Rebuilding and a Fateful Decision
Martha channelled her energy into transforming the scene of the crime. She renovated the ante-bellum mansion into a luxury bed and breakfast and wedding venue, naming it Snowden House. In a move that worried friends, she then supported Lewis's early release from prison in 2018 and quietly gave him a job working at the property.
A longtime friend, Frank Byrd, told People magazine he warned Martha that befriending Lewis was unwise, but she did not heed his advice. Lewis worked at Snowden House for 18 months before trouble first surfaced. Martha suspected him of stealing $10,000 meant for a chandelier sale, knowing he had been in the house that day.
A Second, Fatal Betrayal
The situation reached its horrific conclusion on March 25, 2020. Martha McKay, 63, was found stabbed and bludgeoned to death at the top of the stairs in her beautiful home. Police discovered a cloth bag containing valuables and a bloody kitchen knife nearby.
Crittenden County Chief Investigator Todd Grooms stated it was unclear whether the intention was burglary that turned deadly or murder followed by theft. A manhunt ensued, with the sheriff's office reporting that the killer had jumped from a second-story window, fled across the lawn, and drowned in Horseshoe Lake after his getaway car became stuck.
The body recovered from the water was that of Travis Lewis. A toxicology report later found a cocktail of drugs in his system. In a cruel twist of fate, he had killed another woman from the same family 23 years after his first crime.
Martha's sister, Katie Hutton, remembered her as someone who "lived life to the fullest," adding that the family was left in utter disbelief. The story stands as a harrowing testament to the complex and sometimes dangerous intersection of justice, rehabilitation, and profound human compassion.
