Iowa Teen Who Killed Her Alleged Rapist Back In Custody After Escaping From Probation Center

Pieper Lewis, the teenager who drew national attention after being charged with killing her rapist, is back in custody after escaping an Iowa Department of Corrections facility a few days earlier.

The 18-year-old escaped from a women’s residential facility in Des Moines after she allegedly cut her required GPS-enabled tracking device in her room before escaping.

Lewis was found in Des Moines Tuesday and is currently being held at the Polk County Jail. The teen is expected to see a judge on Nov. 18 for violating her probation.

Lewis had been serving probation at Fresh Start Women’s Center in Des Moines for killing Zachary Brooks in Des Moines when she was 15. According to court documents, Lewis ran away from home three times to escape an abusive home. During this time, she was introduced to Brooks, who gave her drugs and raped her multiple times.

In September, a judge sentenced Lewis to five years probation and a deferred judgment, which means the sentence would be expunged from her record.

Lewis was initially charged with voluntary manslaughter and willful injury and reached a plea agreement. She had been facing 20 years.

Lewis’ case drew national attention partly because of the swell of support to help her pay $150,000 restitution to Brooks’ family. An online fundraiser through GoFundMe collected more than $500,000.

According to online records, 18-year-old Pieper Lewis was booked into the Polk County Jail at 9:16 p.m. on Tuesday.