Zuraida Lewis

Zuraida Lewis, known to her friends and family as “Bee Bee,” was a woman whose life was centered on her loved ones and her work. In January 2005, she was living in Oro Valley, Arizona, a suburban town just north of Tucson, and was employed at the Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Hotel and Resort. Her daily routine was familiar and dependable, which made her sudden disappearance all the more alarming to those who knew her.

The morning of Friday, January 28, 2005, began like any other for Zuraida. At approximately 6:45 a.m., she left her residence to drive to her job at the Hilton. However, she never clocked in for her shift. Later that day, concerned coworkers noticed her car was in the hotel's parking lot, but it was parked in a different spot than her usual one. This out-of-place detail was the first sign that something was terribly wrong. As the day wore on without any word from her, an investigation into her disappearance was launched.

The search for Zuraida Lewis came to a tragic end the following morning. On Saturday, January 29, 2005, a group of hunters in a remote desert area of Pinal County made a devastating discovery. Near Willow Springs Road and State Highway 77, they found the nude body of a female. The location was miles from Oro Valley, in a rugged, sparsely populated landscape. The Pinal County Sheriff's Office was called to the scene, and the victim was soon identified as the missing Zuraida Lewis. Her death was classified as a homicide, leaving her family and community heartbroken and searching for answers.

The initial investigation into Zuraida’s murder was handled by the Pinal County Sheriff's Office. Detectives worked to piece together a timeline of her final hours, from the moment she left her home to when her car was left in the hotel parking lot. They sought to understand who she might have encountered and what led to her abduction and death. Despite their efforts, the case grew cold over the years, with no arrests made and no definitive suspects publicly identified. The specific cause of her death and details about what happened to her after she was taken have not been released to the public.

For more than two decades, the case remained unsolved, a painful open wound for Zuraida's family. The investigation, however, was never completely abandoned. In a renewed effort to bring justice for Zuraida, the Arizona Attorney General's Office Cold Case Unit has taken an active role in the investigation, partnering with the Pinal County Sheriff's Office to re-examine the evidence and explore new leads. This specialized unit utilizes advanced technology and forensic resources to shed new light on unresolved cases.

In September 2026, Attorney General Kris Mayes announced a renewed public appeal for information regarding the disappearance and murder of Zuraida "Bee Bee" Lewis. "Even though over 21 years have passed since Ms. Lewis' death, my office and local law enforcement have not given up on finding answers," Mayes stated. "Any detail, no matter how small, may help lead to a resolution in this case." Investigators hope that the passage of time may encourage someone who knows something to finally come forward. They believe that even a seemingly insignificant piece of information could be the key to breaking the case open and finally providing closure for Zuraida's loved ones.

The case of Zuraida Lewis is an active and ongoing homicide investigation. Authorities are urging anyone with information, no matter how minor it may seem, to contact the Arizona Attorney General’s Office Cold Case Unit. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.