48 Hours on CBS: Was Survivor star Joe Hunter's sister actually murdered? Details revealed on the latest true crime episode 

48 Hours, CBS' true crime series, aired an episode called Joe's Mission on December 13, which offered an exclusive investigation into the 2011 death of Joanna, Survivor Season 48 star Joe Hunter's late sister. Joanna was found hanged in her California house by the police, following which her death was termed as su*c*de. However, Joanna's brother Joe and mother Patricia continue to claim that their daughter was murdered by her husband Mark Lewis.

Voicing his claims in 48 Hours, Joe Hunter expressed his feelings about his sister's death to CBS reporter Natalie Morales:

"I know in my heart that Mark killed my sister and then he staged it to look like she hung herself. The day that I got the news will always be etched in my brain. I knew right then, he had taken her life.... From that moment on, my life changed forever."

While the police stand by their initial investigation and conclusion, Morales' reporting and Joe's Mission suggest that there might be truth in Hunter's claims and that Joanna's case was handled carelessly by the authorities.

More on this in our story.

48 Hours: Joe's mission- Details about Joanna's 'suspicious death'

Joanna was found dead in 2011 in her California home. In an exclusive 911 recording featured on 48 Hours, a church member from Joanna's community informs the dispatcher that their pastor, Mark Lewis, 'thinks' his wife is dead. Later, Lewis claimed to the police that he found his wife's body in their home, following which Joanna's death was ruled as su*c*de. However, her brother Joe Hunter and mother still believe that Joanna was murdered by her husband, Mark Lewis.

In the recently released 48 Hours, Joe Hunter raised his voice for justice for his late sister:

"In no way shape or form in any world or any scenario was this a su*cide. This is not just a brother who is being emotional or irrational; this is not just a mother who's being a victim and saying untruths. This is a family that just wants justice for Joanna."

While Joanna's case was not investigated as a potential homicide and the police confirmed to Morales that they stand by their initial ruling, Joe Hunter and his mother will continue to fight for Joanna. A 1996 domestic violence incident supports their claims, where Joanna was hospitalized with a sprained neck after physical abuse at the hands of her husband. Mark Lewis also spent 36 months in the Solano County Jail.

48 Hours suggests that even while there was a serious charge and a history of domestic violence, the police failed to investigate Joanna's death as a potential homicide. Even after the Hunter family claims and several re-examinations, the police continue to state su*c*de as the official cause of Joanna's death.

In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly, 48 Hours' host Morales shared her insight on Joanna's case:

"The responding officer took photos of the scene, bagged up the [alleged su*cide] note and whatever else was found. But they didn’t swab for DNA at the time. They didn’t document the scene. I had never heard of the term 'hidden homicides' until reporting on this case. The more I started investing in [this case], the more it raised awareness to me, of all the past stories that I’ve done where, you know, 'Was that looked into enough? Was the investigation handled the way it should have been?'"

48 Hours: Joe Hunter will continue his pursuit of justice for his sister

Now that 48 Hours has brought Joanna's case to attention once again, Joe Hunter is adamant in his pursuit of justice for his sister. Joe Hunter and his mother's endless claims and petitions led Governor Gavin Newsom to pass SB 989, also known as the “Suspicious Death Bill” or “Joanna’s Law'' in May 2024. The California State Senate unanimously voted for the law, which requires law enforcement to examine 10 factors in any death with a history of domestic violence before closing the investigation. While Joanna died before help could reach her in time, the Hunter family is doing their part to protect other domestic violence victims.

In addition to bringing her case on CBS' 48 Hours, Joe Hunter also honoured Joanna's memory on the recently released Survivor Season 48. In one of the scenes from the reality series, Hunter directly addressed his late sister, while alone on a beach:

"The night before you passed, I said some things I didn't mean, and I never spoke to you again. You passed that morning. And I feel closer out here to you. So from the bottom of my heart, I am so sorry for the things I said. I Love You.''

You can stream 48 Hours: Joe's Mission on Paramount+.

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