Waco, TX — A Waco man who was charged in the 2021 capital murder of his 10-year-old autistic son was found not guilty by reason of insanity during a court hearing on Wednesday. Bronchae DeFraunce Lewis, 39, was ordered by 54th State District Judge Susan Kelly to be committed to a state mental hospital for up to 100 days for further evaluation and treatment.
The case stems from a tragic incident in September 2021, when Lewis allegedly killed his son, James Rashard Lewis, at their Waco apartment. James, a nonverbal autistic child, was found in a pool of blood on a mattress, with a severe neck wound. Despite efforts to save him, the child died later at a local hospital. Police found Lewis at the scene and arrested him after he allegedly fought officers and attempted to seize one of their stun guns.
Following his arrest, Lewis was evaluated for his mental competency. In 2022, Dr. Lee Carter, a Waco psychologist, determined that Lewis was suffering from schizoaffective disorder and was mentally unfit to stand trial. After undergoing treatment, Lewis was later deemed competent to stand trial in August 2024, leading to the recent hearing to evaluate his mental state at the time of the offense.
Dr. Mollinichelle Cabeldue, a psychologist who assessed Lewis, concluded in a report that the defendant was insane at the time of the crime. Cabeldue, who examined Lewis in November 2023, noted that he had a long history of mental health issues, including schizophrenia, which affected his ability to understand the nature of his actions. The report stated that Lewis could not recall the events of the day his son was killed and was focused on a video of his son breathing after the incident.
According to Cabeldue’s findings, Lewis had no memory of picking up a knife or committing the murder. When asked why the police had come to his apartment, Lewis told Cabeldue that he had called them to ensure everything was “okay,” a statement that reflects his impaired state of mind at the time.
The defense attorneys, Walter M. Reaves Jr. and Russ Hunt Jr., argued that Lewis’s mental condition at the time of the killing made him incapable of understanding that his actions were wrong. Prosecutor Michel Simer concurred, stating that the evidence overwhelmingly supported a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity. She also noted that the prosecution had consulted with the victim’s family, although none of them attended the hearing.
District Attorney Josh Tetens expressed relief that the ruling would bring closure to the family of the victim, acknowledging the “horrific tragedy” of the case. “This ruling ensures that Lewis will be secured and monitored for the rest of his life,” Tetens said in a statement. “He will not pose a further risk to our community.”
Lewis’s treatment and commitment to a secure state mental facility will be re-evaluated after 100 days. If doctors determine that further inpatient care is necessary, the court will review his case annually to determine whether to extend his stay.
The tragic events surrounding the death of James Lewis have left the community in shock, with many left to grapple with the disturbing intersection of mental illness and violence. As for Bronchae DeFraunce Lewis, his legal journey is far from over, with his ongoing treatment in a psychiatric facility aimed at restoring his mental health.
Authorities will continue to monitor his progress as the legal system remains involved in ensuring both justice for the victim and treatment for the defendant.
