Johnny Lewis, an actor who played the popular and poignant character Kip ‘Half Sack’ Epps on the hit television series “Sons of Anarchy” was found dead September 26, 2012 in Loz Feliz, California.
Lewis suspected of murdering landlord and dismembering her cat
At the time of his death, he was renting a room from 81-year old Catherine Davis in a Loz Feliz house. The Los Angeles Timesreports that Davis often rented rooms to actors and other artistic people in Los Angeles, advertising her home as the “Writer’s Villa.”
According to TMZ, Lewis, in a drug-fueled rage, is suspected of killing his landlady and then killing and dismembering her cat before falling to his death from the roof of the house. Police told TMZ they believe Lewis was on PCP or meth when the attacks began.
Before falling from the roof of the Loz Feliz house, Johnny Lewis went next door and inexplicably started attacking a painter working on a house—with a ‘2x4’ board. It took at least three people to fight off him and they called the police. Lewis then went back to his place in a rage and fell from the roof.
TMZ is reporting Johnny Lewis had been arrested several times this year. On January 3 he committed felony assault with a deadly weapon. He was ordered into a rehab program for “treatment of mental health and/or drugs and alcohol.” He was convicted of felony assault from this arrest and sentenced to a year in county jail, but he still managed to somehow commit two more felonies in February.
On February 10 he sucker-punched a man outside a yogurt shop for no clear reason.
On February 18 he was arrested for burglary when he tried to break into a woman’s house through a window and she called the police.
He was convicted of battery and burglary for the February arrests then subsequently sentenced to 303 days in jail for those crimes. In spite of all these crimes and jail time, some of which it appears he spent in rehab instead, he was released on September 21. He rented the room from Catherine Davis and the violent behavior, allegedly caused by an undisclosed mental illness and suspected drug use, sent Lewis over the edge, causing this tragic series of events to occur.
Kurt Sutter, creator of the series “Sons of Anarchy,” described Lewis as “an extremely talented guy, who unfortunately had lost his way."
Lewis appeared in “The O.C.” as well as “Sons of Anarchy.” He had guest appearances in other popular shows such as “Criminal Minds,” “Bones,” “CSI” and “Cold Case.” He also dated singer Katy Perry in 2006. He was reported to be a Scientologist.