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Thursday, November 12, 2026Nov 12

Chattanooga man received back-to-back life sentences following emotional hearing

Staff photo by Olivia Ross / Terrence Lewis is seen Friday in court. Lewis received back-to-back life sentences for the murders of Randy Williams and Evan Derry.
Staff photo by Olivia Ross / Terrence Lewis is seen Friday in court. Lewis received back-to-back life sentences for the murders of Randy Williams and Evan Derry. Staff photo by Olivia Ross / Terrence Lewis is seen Friday in court. Lewis received back-to-back life sentences for the murders of Randy Williams and Evan Derry.

Evan Derry’s father, who remained silent throughout trial and sentencing, stretched over to the row behind him to hold hands with Randy Williams’ father, as both men waited for their sons’ killer to be handed his sentence.

Terrence Lewis, 27, deserves to spend the rest of his life in prison, Randy Williams Sr., the father of Randy Williams, testified Friday.

“If somebody asked me if I wanted him to have a death sentence, I’d say no,” he said. “I’d like him in a prison cell somewhere. He doesn’t deserve to be around other people.”

Hamilton County Criminal Court Judge Barry Steelman sentenced Lewis on Friday to back-to-back life sentences for the felony murders of Williams and Derry. The sentences would typically run at the same time, but Lewis committed Williams’ murder while he was out on bond for Derry’s murder.

Lewis won’t be eligible for parole until about 2121, his attorney, Joshua Weiss said. He would be nearly 127 years old.