Cold Case Solved: Charges Filed In North Bay Woman's 1996 Death

CROCKETT, CA — The 1996 killing of a young Vallejo woman at a Crockett restaurant has been solved 25 years later, the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff announced Thursday.

On Sept. 24, 1996, 21-year-old Priscilla Lewis was working as a waitress at the Four Corners restaurant, 628 2nd Ave. in Crockett. Shortly before 10:30 p.m., the cook at the restaurant found her body in the basement bathroom and called 911.

The cause of death was asphyxia due to drowning, Sheriff's Office Spokesman Jimmy Lee said.

Since that time, sheriff's detectives have continued the investigation, which involved interviewing dozens of people as the crime lab analyzed numerous pieces of evidence.

"Several search warrants were also served," Lee said. "Despite persistent investigation for over two decades, the case remained unsolved."

In 2020 when detectives submitted additional evidence to the crime lab to be tested using current technology, a DNA match came back as Danny Lamont Hamilton.

Hamilton, now 51 years old, is currently incarcerated at a California state prison near San Diego. He was incarcerated at the Martinez Detention Facility from 1999 until 2002 while he awaited trial on sexual assault charges unrelated to the Lewis case. Hamilton was convicted of those charges and sentenced to 295 years in state prison.

Now, Hamilton faces charges in connection with Lewis' death in 1996. On Wednesday, homicide detectives from the sheriff’s office presented the case to the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office. Hamilton was charged with one count of homicide and numerous enhancements in the Lewis case, including homicide by lying in wait, felony homicide kidnapping, felony homicide burglary and felony homicide committed during an attempted rape.

“I would like to recognize the many Sheriff’s Office homicide detectives and crime lab staff for their dedication and relentless work in the murder of Priscilla Lewis in 1996,” Contra Costa County Sheriff David Livingston said. “We continue to investigate unsolved homicides in an effort to provide families, like that of Priscilla Lewis, with answers and some closure and to hold suspects accountable.”

Homicide detectives continue to investigate the case; the sheriff's office asked anyone with information to contact the Sheriff’s Office Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600 or through Sheriff’s Office dispatch at (925) 646-2441. Tips can also be submitted via email to tips@so.cccounty.us or as a voice message by calling (866) 846-3592.