South Boston man pleads guilty to two separate murders decades later
BOSTON, November 5, 2025 – A South Boston man charged with murders from 1984 and 1993 pleaded guilty to manslaughter today in Suffolk Superior Court, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.
MICHAEL LEWIS, 65, of South Boston pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter in two separate homicides that occurred in 1984 and 1993.
Judge Mary Ames sentenced Lewis to 15 years for each murder, to be served concurrently.
Family members of both victims attended today’s plea in person or via Zoom, and some delivered victim impact statements (see attached audio file of full proceeding).
On or about July 16 or 17 of 1984, Lewis and another man, both of whom were involved in the South Boston drug trade, were driving in South Boston in search of another drug dealer. Their purpose was to stop that dealer from operating in South Boston.
While looking for the dealer, Lewis and the second man encountered Brian Watson. The second man asked Watson to lead them to the dealer. Watson agreed. Watson entered the vehicle and sat in the back seat.
While the three men drove around South Boston, Lewis suddenly turned, shot and killed Watson. The two then drove into New Hampshire and dumped Watson’s body off I-93 South in Manchester.
On September 16, 1984, a couple who had pulled over on I-93 South in Manchester discovered a decomposed body, obscured by bushes and trees, about 40 feet from the road. The man called 911. Manchester Police and New Hampshire State Police responded. The body was eventually identified as Brian Watson through dental records.
Lewis also pleaded guilty to murdering William Villani, 46, in Villani’s office at Two Sterling Square in South Boston in April 1993. Lewis worked for Villani at the Boston Housing Authority Pest Control Unit. Villani went to his office on April 16, and his body was found the following day. He had been beaten, stabbed and shot.
Lewis was upset at Villani because he forced Lewis to come back to work after a lengthy excused absence. On April 17, 1993, Villani’s then-fiancé contacted Boston Police because she had not heard from Villani. Boston police found Villani’s body in his office in the basement of Two Sterling Square in a pool of blood. Villani had been shot once in the cheek and stabbed multiple times. There was also a bag of pesticide placed on Villani’s body.
“I’m grateful that family members of Brian Watson and William Villani finally have answers, after so many years with no answers, about what happened to their loved ones and who was responsible for what happened,” Hayden said.
All charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop. Our office handles more than 20,000 cases a year. Nearly 160 assistant district attorneys practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Boston and Chelsea Juvenile Courts and the Supreme Judicial Court. Our office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs for anyone encountering the criminal justice system. We are committed to educating the public about our mission and services while focusing on crime prevention to keep the residents, workers and visitors of Suffolk County safe.
James Borghesani, Chief of Communications