Survivor 48 contestant revealed the heartbreaking reason he went on the show was to honor his late sister after her death. In Touch looks at what Joe has said about the tragic loss and what happened to Joanna Hunter.

“My sister really started watching Survivor with me when it first came on, over 20 years ago, and she had had the dream of us both being on the show,” Joe told host and Survivor superfan in a February 26, 2025, interview. It dropped on the same day as season 48 premiered.

“I just said ‘There’s no way we could do that, are you crazy? There’s no way we could do that,’ and unfortunately, we lost her to domestic violence. It was a very brutal experience for my family and I, and how tight my sister and I were,” the firefighter shared.

Joe told Blake that as he was “working through” and “trying to get over” the loss of Joanna when a counselor suggested he do something to honor his sister that would “help” him “heal.”

“It’s really to be Joanna’s voice is the reason behind applying and really trying to make sure I can help her rest in peace knowing that her brother gave it his all,” he added about his motivation for going on Survivor.

From the moment viewers were introduced to Joe on Survivor 48, he wore a plastic purple domestic violence awareness bracelet. Purple is the nationally recognized color for domestic violence issues, including ribbons and other displays, Joe happened to end up on the Lagi tribe upon entering the competition, and their team color was purple. He wore the color throughout the season of Survivor 48.

In one of the most heartbreaking scenes during Survivor 48, Joe got emotional after reading a letter from one of his children in week 12’s episode that aired on May 14, 2025. He told fellow castaways and that he felt awful that he wasn’t able to “protect” his sister.

“As her brother, you’ve got one job … You protect her at all costs, and I couldn’t do that,” he revealed.

The scene cut to a confessional on the beach, where Joe shared, “I lost my sister to domestic violence and it was pretty brutal, the way she passed. The last night before she passed, we fought on the phone, and I’ve been struggling with that since she’s been gone now for a while.”

“We always say we love each other when we get off the phone. But we didn’t that night … And then, I never heard her voice again. I never saw her again. And so, living with that has been very difficult,” he continued.

Back to the scene at the Sanctuary, Joe told Shauhin and Kyle, “We fought that night. And I never talked to her again. Its just hard to explain that weight.”

“I needed some closure to try to hopefully help start some healing,” Joe said in confessional later in the episode, deciding to head to the beach at sunset.

“Joanna. The night before you passed, I said some things I didn’t mean, and I never spoke to you again past that morning. I feel closer out here to you, so from the bottom of my heart, I’m so sorry for the things I said,” a tearful Joe said while looking up at the sky.

“I know you didn’t mean the things you said either, and I never got the chance to say I love you. So, I love you. Always will. Most of all, I know I had one job as a brother. So, I need you to know that I’m sorry that I couldn’t protect you from that monster. I’m sorry. I’m gonna keep fighting out here,” he continued.

“You take care of dad up there. Make sure he’s not cheating at Uno. I love you. I miss you so much … I’ve been waiting to say that to you for a long time,” Joe added.

Joanna was found dead in her California home in October 2011. After a brief investigation, Solano County authorities ruled it a suicide, even though Joanna allegedly suffered domestic abuse from her husband, .

The coroner ruled the case a suicide after a handwritten note was found at the scene and did not perform an autopsy.

Lewis was arrested in January 2014 and accused of stalking and firebombing an ex-girlfriend’s home. He went on trial on the charges in January 2015, deciding to take a no contest plea to arson and stalking on day 3 of his trial.

The following month, Lewis was sentenced to eight years in state prison, although no charges were ever brought in Joanna’s death.

“We feel and have felt that he’s responsible for Joanna’s death,” Joe’s mom, Patricia Hunter, told Sacramento TV station ABC10 following Lewis’ 2015 sentencing on unrelated charges.

“She was leaving him, and he couldn’t let that happen,” she alleged, adding that Joanna had previously left Lewis before.

Lewis began dating the ex-girlfriend whose home was later firebombed shortly after Joanna’s death.

Patricia showed the station a file full of court papers she kept documenting Lewis’ alleged physical abuse of Joanna. It included a felony conviction, multiple restraining orders and hospital records. Joe’s mom said she questioned the coroner’s determination about her daughter’s death.

In September 2024, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Joanna’s Law, which set new standards towards “addressing and investigating suspicious death cases where women die after a prior history of domestic violence,” according to the Alliance of Hope International, which helped write the initial bill. It became the first statute of it’s kind in the United States.

The Sacramento Family Justice Center shared a Facebook post celebrating the signing of SB 989. It included photos of Joe and his mom while attending various hearings on the bill.

“More than anything, we are thrilled for Joanna’s family – Patricia, mother, and Sacramento Fire Captain Joe Hunter, brother,” the organization wrote. “Patricia and Joe were zealous advocates on behalf of Joanna and never gave up hope. Patricia attended every hearing carrying a picture of Joanna.”

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.