NEWS

DA: Former Town Board member led biker gang killing

Sarah Jane Kyle
sarahkyle@coloradoan.com

A former Pierce Town Board member is said to be the mastermind of the grisly biker gang murder of a 34-year-old woman last year.

Courtesy of Weld County Sheriff's Office
Clockwise: Crystal Griffin, Karly Hanchett, Scott Hanchett, Michael Vassil, Daniel Meyer and Chad Iler, are suspects in the death of Tera Lewandowski.

Daniel "DJ" Meyer, 36, is one of six co-defendants in the murder of Tera Lewandowski. According to a release by the Weld County District Attorney's Office, Lewandowski was reported missing in late September 2015 after she didn't show up for a doctor's appointment.

According to the report, she was killed in Pierce, about 30 miles northeast of Fort Collins. Her body was found nearly 100 miles away in Laramie, Wyoming, in April.

Meyer ran unopposed for the Pierce Town Board in 2014 and was seated on the board at the time of Lewandowski's death.

He resigned from the post in December, after meeting minutes show he attended just four of 15 board meetings held that year. He was listed in attendance for the October 12 meeting, held days after police say he fatally stabbed Lewandowski.

Meyer's co-defendants include Mike Vassil, 24; Chad Iler, 19; Karly Hanchett, 19, and her brother Scott Hanchett, 21 — all said to be members of the "21 Biker Gang."

A sixth defendant, Crystal Griffin, 37, cooperated with police, telling them Karly Hanchett hit Lewandowski in the back of the head while Meyer "stabbed her in the chest with a hunting knife," according to the release.

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Meyer had allegedly stolen Lewandowski's prescription medications, leading to an argument between the woman and Karly Hanchett.

In an affidavit, Griffin said Meyer "said he had to kill Tara because he's the 'enforcer' in the gang." The group allegedly burned the victim's belongings and ripped out blood-stained carpet before hiding Lewandowski's body in a field.

A judge Wednesday ruled that probable cause exists against Hanchett and stipulated she remain in custody without bond. Hanchett faces three charges: first-degree murder after deliberation, a Class 1 felony; conspiracy to commit first-degree murder after deliberation, a Class 2 felony; and violent crime causing death, a sentence enhancement. Her arraignment is set for Nov. 1.

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Meyer is set for an arraignment at 10 a.m. Oct. 6. Vassil's arraignment is 10:30 a.m. Oct. 6. Scott Hanchett's arraignment is set for Nov. 1

Griffin pleaded guilty in May to accessory to murder and was sentenced to 12 years in community corrections. Iller pleaded guilty in May to conspiracy to commit murder and accessory to a crime and was sentenced to three years in corrections with 13 years probation.