Gregory D. Lewis is accused in the shooting death of Thomas King, his Taco Casa co-worker.
FORT WORTH, Texas — A Fort Worth man is facing a capital murder charge after police said he confessed to killing a co-worker who disappeared after work and was later found dead in a field.
The case against Gregory D. Lewis, 34, centers on the death of Thomas King, 31, who worked with him at a Taco Casa on Bridgewood Drive. Police said King was last seen after his April 13 shift, his family reported him missing April 14 and homicide detectives took over two days later. The legal case now turns on Lewis’ alleged confession, King’s car, motel surveillance and the medical examiner’s findings.
Lewis is accused of shooting King and stealing his vehicle. Jail records cited in public reports also list counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and a parole violation. The capital murder charge reflects the allegation that the killing was tied to the taking of King’s car. Police have said Lewis remained in custody while detectives continued to investigate, and prosecutors were expected to use the police file to decide the next steps in Tarrant County court.
King’s final known routine was simple. He went to work April 13 at the Taco Casa in the 1100 block of Bridgewood Drive and was last seen in his uniform after the shift. When he did not return home, his family reported him missing. Richardson, his partner, said King told her he loved her and that he was coming back. “Doesn’t make any sense, because every time he goes to work, he comes right back,” she said.
Police first followed the car. Investigators found King’s vehicle at a Quality Inn on Interstate 20 in Arlington. Surveillance footage showed someone arriving at the motel in the car shortly after King left work, police said. Detectives later identified that person as Lewis. At that point, the missing-person case had a suspect, a vehicle location and video evidence linking a co-worker to King’s property after King vanished.
Homicide detectives took over April 16 and arrested Lewis on unrelated charges. During questioning, police said, Lewis admitted he killed King and left the vehicle. Fort Worth police Officer Buddy Calzada said investigators interviewed the suspect and that he confessed to murdering the missing man. Police found King’s body April 17 in an open field on the east side of Fort Worth. Authorities said he had been shot, though the final medical examiner ruling remained part of the official process.
Details described from the arrest warrant added another layer to the timeline. Lewis reportedly told investigators he got a ride from King after work. Police said the men went to a nearby business complex, and King’s body was later found in a wooded area behind the complex. Investigators have said they believe some sort of confrontation happened between them, but they have not publicly described what started it or whether any part of it was witnessed by others.
The charge places the case among the most serious homicide allegations in Texas. It also leaves several procedural questions. Detectives must complete reports on the vehicle, the motel video, the field where King was found and Lewis’ statement. The medical examiner must document the cause and manner of death. Prosecutors must decide how to present the capital murder allegation and any related firearm or parole issues in court.
King’s family has pressed a different question alongside the legal one: whether his treatment before the killing should have raised concern. Relatives said King had an intellectual disability and speech impediment and had been bullied at work. His sister said he mostly kept to himself and may have been targeted because of his disability. “I feel like they felt like he was an easy target,” she said. The family has said it wants answers about what happened between the two men before King was killed.
A public fundraiser for King’s family described him as a man with a kind heart who trusted people and worked to provide for his children. It said he lived with a mental disability but showed up every day with love and strength. The fundraiser also accused an unnamed person of having bullied King before and taking advantage of his kind nature. Police have not publicly said those allegations are the established motive, and the exact circumstances remain under investigation.
Taco Casa said in a statement that the loss involved two employees but occurred off company property and outside working hours. The company said it was not aware of any prior issues or conflicts between the individuals. It also said it is committed to a safe, respectful and supportive work environment and described the case as shocking and profoundly distressing. The statement drew a line between the company’s known record and the family’s belief that bullying preceded the killing.
The human toll has remained central for King’s relatives. He was the oldest of four siblings and the father of two sons. Richardson said the children had asked where their father was and were struggling to understand the answer. Family members said King worked, cared for his family and did not seek conflict. One sister called him the sweetest person. Another said no one deserves what happened to him.
Police have said the exact motive is still not fully public. What is known is that King left work April 13, his family reported him missing April 14, homicide detectives took over April 16 and his body was found April 17. The case has moved from the search for a missing worker to a capital murder prosecution, while the family’s questions about bullying and motive remain unresolved.
The next milestones are expected to include medical examiner findings, additional court filings and further details from prosecutors about how they believe King’s shift ended in a fatal shooting. Lewis remained jailed as the case continued through Tarrant County’s criminal process.
Author note: Last updated May 17, 2026.