A Georgia man has been sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for the murder of his ex-wife’s divorce attorney and the subsequent arson of the victim’s law office.
Allen Tayeh, aged 65, was initially apprehended in early December 2022 on charges of malice murder and arson for the death of attorney Douglas “Doug” Lewis. Following a grand jury indictment in late February, Tayeh faced additional charges, including malice murder, aggravated assault, felony murder, arson, burglary, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, criminal attempt to conceal a death, and tampering with evidence.
On June 21, Tayeh entered a guilty plea, accepting responsibility for all the charges brought against him. Consequently, he was handed a life sentence with no chance of parole, along with an additional five-year sentence to be served consecutively.
Douglas Lewis, aged 55, was shot with a .38 revolver on December 7, 2022. Medical examiners confirmed multiple gunshot wounds to his head, with one shot deemed immediately lethal. The fire at the law office was started after Lewis’ death, as established by investigators.
Tayeh was apprehended near the crime scene, displaying singed hair, eyebrows, and burn injuries on his hands, legs, and face. In his possession, he had the same .38 revolver used to kill Lewis, along with five spent bullet casings. Further evidence linked Tayeh to the crime, including the presence of gasoline used to ignite the fire, gas cans found in his truck, and the discovery of his truck keys near Lewis’ body in the law office.
Motivated by ongoing divorce proceedings in which Lewis represented Tayeh’s ex-wife, it was revealed through civil court filings that the defendant was ordered to pay Lewis’ attorney’s fees. However, he failed to comply, leading to a notice for contempt of court hearings. The murder and arson occurred just prior to the next scheduled hearing for Tayeh and his ex-wife.
Douglas Lewis, remembered as a devoted family man, had been practicing law for over 30 years since receiving his degree from West Virginia University. He was highly regarded throughout his life.