Iowa teen Pieper Lewis, who killed her alleged rapist, escapes custody

An Iowa teenager who was sentenced to five years’ probation earlier this year after stabbing her alleged rapist to death escaped custody at a Des Moines women’s center on Friday.

Pieper Lewis, 18, left the Fresh Start Women’s Center around 6:15 a.m. and turned off a GPS monitor, according to a parole violation report obtained by the Des Moines Register.

She was sentenced in September to five years of closely monitored probation and to pay $150,000 to the family of 37-year-old Zachary Brooks.

Lewis said she stabbed Brooks to death two years ago in a fit of rage after he raped her multiple times when she was 15.

Prosecutors did not dispute that Lewis was a sex trafficking victim, but argued that Brooks was asleep when he was stabbed and posed no immediate threat.

The $150,000 Lewis had to pay Brooks’ family drew widespread criticism, but the judge in the case said “this court has no choice” because restitution is mandatory under Iowa law.

A GoFundMe campaign set up to pay for this refund raised well over half a million dollars.

Lewis faced up to 20 years in prison for pleading guilty to manslaughter and aggravated assault. Under the terms of their probation, the convicts were deferred.

A probation violation report released on Friday said her suspended sentences should be overturned and her original sentence should be imposed, according to the Des Moines Register.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.