S1E4: Married to a Monster

Married to a Monster: The Kevin Lewis Murder-for-Hire

The Season 1 finale of Worst Ex Ever on Netflix delivers one of the most chilling cases in the docuseries — a murder-for-hire plot in Everett, Washington that went tragically wrong, claiming the life of an innocent woman. Kevin Lewis's calculated attempt to kill his estranged wife Amanda Canales instead resulted in the death of her sister, Alisha Canales-McGuire, in 2015.

Episode Synopsis

"Married to a Monster" begins with Amanda Canales describing her whirlwind romance with Kevin Lewis — a charming, attentive partner who gradually revealed controlling and domineering behavior after marriage. As the relationship deteriorated and Amanda sought separation, Lewis's behavior escalated. In 2015, Lewis hired a gunman to go to Amanda's Everett, Washington home and kill her. The shooter arrived at the residence but encountered Amanda's sister, Alisha Canales-McGuire, instead. Mistaking Alisha for Amanda, the gunman killed her. The episode follows the Snohomish County investigation that eventually connected Lewis to the murder, his arrest, and his 2021 conviction for first-degree murder.

Key Facts

This true crime episode runs 54 minutes and was directed by Cynthia Childs. It premiered on Netflix on August 28, 2024 as the fourth and final episode of Season 1. The case occurred in 2015, with Lewis's trial and conviction coming in 2021 — a six-year gap that the episode explores in detail.

Why This Case Matters

The Kevin Lewis case is a devastating example of how domestic violence can extend beyond the primary victim to endanger entire families. Alisha Canales-McGuire was not involved in the relationship between Lewis and Amanda — she was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. The case underscores the lethal potential of controlling partners who view their spouses as property, and it highlights the particular danger of the separation period, when abusers often escalate to extreme violence. The Everett community rallied around the Canales family, and the case became a touchstone for domestic violence awareness in Snohomish County.

Documentary Techniques

Director Cynthia Childs centers Amanda Canales's voice throughout this episode, allowing her to narrate the arc from romance to terror. The episode also features interviews with law enforcement investigators who built the murder-for-hire case against Lewis. Court footage from the 2021 Snohomish County trial provides dramatic courtroom moments, while the 2D animated reenactments visualize the night of the murder and the investigative process that followed. The animation style shifts to a colder palette for this episode, reflecting the calculated nature of Lewis's crime.

Production and Reception

"Married to a Monster" was produced by Blumhouse Television and ITV America with Cynthia Childs directing the Season 1 finale. The production team secured cooperation from Amanda Canales and the Snohomish County investigators who built the murder-for-hire case against Kevin Lewis. Courtroom footage from the 2021 trial provided dramatic material, while the animated reenactment team shifted to a colder visual palette to reflect the calculated nature of the crime. Bodycam footage and investigative recordings supplemented the survivor interview at the episode's core. Upon release, the episode was praised for its emotional weight — particularly its handling of Alisha Canales-McGuire's death and the impact on the family. Viewers noted that Worst Ex Ever Season 1 ended on its most devastating case, reinforcing the series' central argument that domestic violence endangers entire communities, not just primary victims. The Worst Ex Ever finale drove significant social media discussion about murder-for-hire cases and the dangers of the post-separation period, cementing the docuseries' reputation as a serious examination of intimate-partner violence.

Where to Watch

"Married to a Monster" is available to stream exclusively on Netflix as Episode 4 of Worst Ex Ever Season 1. The episode is rated TV-MA for depictions of murder-for-hire, domestic violence, and discussions of controlling behavior.

Viewer Guide and Context

Before watching "Married to a Monster," viewers should be aware that this Worst Ex Ever episode involves a murder-for-hire plot that resulted in the death of an innocent bystander — the intended victim's sister. The episode contains discussions of premeditated murder, controlling behavior within marriage, and the devastating impact of domestic violence on entire families. This is the most emotionally intense episode of Worst Ex Ever Season 1 on Netflix, and viewers who have lost family members to violence may find it particularly difficult.

This episode connects to the broader Worst Ex Ever series as the Season 1 finale, delivering the docuseries' most devastating case as its closing statement. The Everett, Washington murder-for-hire reinforces the central thesis of Worst Ex Ever on Netflix: that domestic violence is not a private matter but a community safety issue that endangers everyone in a victim's orbit. The episode's focus on the post-separation danger period — when abusers are most likely to escalate to lethal violence — is a theme that carries directly into Worst Ex Ever Season 2. Both seasons of the Worst Ex Ever docuseries are available to stream on Netflix.

Featured people

• Kevin Lewis — Perpetrator
• Amanda Canales — Survivor
• Alisha Canales-McGuire — Victim

Related Videos