Found Deceased KY - Savannah Spurlock, 22, left 'The Other Bar' with 2 men, Richmond, 4 Jan 2019 #6 *Arrest*

[rsd1200]

Savannah’s family just updated the FB page they run for her.

“The next phase of Savannah’s case will be the meeting of the Grand Jury on the current charges against David Sparks on August 14. This is a closed event, even to family. Autopsy results have not yet come back. Charges against him could change. #JusticeforSavannah”

Grand Jury is closed in all cases.

 

[insearchoflight]

I know bodies are extremely difficult to find. One case I read always sticks in my mind where LE searched an area eight times, EIGHT!! And then the killer led them to body right where they searched.

But this case is especially infuriating because she was buried in an obvious location that he was tied to through phone pings just after her disappearance. Add in the fact that it was only 19 inches underground AND pieces of the black trash bag were visible above ground. I can’t imagine the families grief and anger.

 

[MarieWS]

Ugh; reposting. Not sure why my reply was all small:

I cannot speak for everyone, but me and those i’ve talked to do not feel angry about that. We do not yet know if she was there the whole time. Obviously, it would have been easier on everyone had she been found in Jan. But she was found. And police now have 6 months of investigation complete and ready to go, and that would not have been the case in late Jan. We’re focused on all the hard work and efforts, and our anger lies in the decisions of David Sparks and anyone else who may be involved. I think LE and searchers and her friends that left her and all of us carry enough guilt on our own accord. We know how hard they’ve worked and how much they’ve put into this case. Our feelings are of gratitude that nobody gave up fighting.

 

[jULIA_bEE]

Grand Jury is closed in all cases.

Yeh I know. I posted it because there were some conversations about the possibility of new charges before the grand jury once the autopsy is final

 

[rsd1200]

Yeh I know. I posted it because there were some conversations about the possibility of new charges before the grand jury once the autopsy is final

Just don't want folks thinkin' things are being mishandled.

 

[Kentucky38]

In this instance, if, she was found, where I am thinking that she was found, then it's very possible that they just did not see the evidence of the burial site, and the dog(s) did not hit on the grave site. Search dogs, like humans, are fallible. I've my own thoughts about their use, but will save them, for another, more appropriate, thread.

The property was not searched, the first time, until January 22nd. She disappeared after leaving with the men, on January 4th. That's almost three weeks, and, again, if, the remains were found, where I believe they may have been found, then the location, the weather, and the length of time, may have played a roll in LE not finding her the first time.

I've read where the teams who use cadaver dogs, have walked right past remains, and not found them. Later on, someone else will stumble upon the remains, while out hiking, or farming. Some bodies do not emit the chemicals that search dogs are trained to detect, so that could also have played a role.

My family has search dogs and if trained and tested properly, they shouldn’t have missed her body (especially seeing as it was a whole body) - if it was there during the initial search. I’ve heard the dogs that were used may not have been the best so her body could or could not have been there, although when it comes to search and rescue dogs there are some variables to consider:

Search and rescue dogs are trained to be able to sniff out a live body as well as dead. They can sniff out something as small as a tooth, a drop of blood (even if it’s been painted over) or a body 200 feet down in a lake that’s been there years.

They can, however, get thrown off track if it’s a place with a lot of bodily substances...for example when searching dumps there are a lot of things like hair, baby diapers etc - all things that will trigger dogs, so depending on how much trash was around this place it could’ve thrown the dogs off.

 

[Kentucky38]

My family has search dogs and if trained and tested properly, they shouldn’t have missed her body (especially seeing as it was a whole body) - if it was there during the initial search. I’ve heard the dogs that were used may not have been the best so her body could or could not have been there, although when it comes to search and rescue dogs there are some variables to consider:

Search and rescue dogs are trained to be able to sniff out a live body as well as dead. They can sniff out something as small as a tooth, a drop of blood (even if it’s been painted over) or a body 200 feet down in a lake that’s been there years.

They can, however, get thrown off track if it’s a place with a lot of bodily substances...for example when searching dumps there are a lot of things like hair, baby diapers etc - all things that will trigger dogs, so depending on how much trash was around this place it could’ve thrown the dogs off.

I do want to be clear though when I said I heard the dogs used weren’t the best, that’s hearsay, I don’t know anyone from the group personally.

 

[BaileyC]

When all of the searching took place for Savannah did anyone search the entire property of the Sparks home on Fall Lick? I know they took the white car from that property but did they search the entire property and the land right behind the Sparks where the barn is located right next to the fence line? I've looked through articles and know they focused on a pond and church but what about the Sparks property where Savannah was found buried? Also that property right behind the Sparks property? I'm having a very difficult time understanding how they missed a new grave of 19 inches deep on one acre of ground? Also Police knew Davids phone pinged there twice that morning and the next day so they suspected he buried her there, they had to. How could they not have found her? Did he move her to this property later?

 

[BaileyC]

When all of the searching took place for Savannah did anyone search the entire property of the Sparks home on Fall Lick? I know they took the white car from that property but did they search the entire property and the land right behind the Sparks where the barn is located right next to the fence line? I've looked through articles and know they focused on a pond and church but what about the Sparks property where Savannah was found buried? Also that property right behind the Sparks property? I'm having a very difficult time understanding how they missed a new grave of 19 inches deep on one acre of ground? Also Police knew Davids phone pinged there twice that morning and the next day so they suspected he buried her there, they had to. How could they not have found her? Did he move her to this property later?

Mostly my question in the above post is, was the entire property of Allen Sparks searched?

 

[marcolepsy]

Mostly my question in the above post is, was the entire property of Allen Sparks searched?

This is just another one of the mysteries we'll have to wait to hear about. I still can't get my mind around how a body in a 19'' grave goes from January to July before someone smells it? I know it was unseasonably cold in KY, but they pulled prints and identified tattoos from that body. There's got to be a missing piece - why was she so hard to find, why did she decay at a slower rate?

 

[flashy09]

This is just another one of the mysteries we'll have to wait to hear about. I still can't get my mind around how a body in a 19'' grave goes from January to July before someone smells it? I know it was unseasonably cold in KY, but they pulled prints and identified tattoos from that body. There's got to be a missing piece - why was she so hard to find, why did she decay at a slower rate?

There were cold days in Jan and Feb, but it was in the 80's by May. Very weird that it suddenly smells out of the blue one day. I think it suddenly smelled SO bad that it could not be hidden anymore.

 

[molly1255]

This is just another one of the mysteries we'll have to wait to hear about. I still can't get my mind around how a body in a 19'' grave goes from January to July before someone smells it? I know it was unseasonably cold in KY, but they pulled prints and identified tattoos from that body. There's got to be a missing piece - why was she so hard to find, why did she decay at a slower rate?

I agree with you. IIRC, LE is investigating when Savannah was buried in DS's parents' back yard.

Here's a link for the actual temperatures in Lancaster, KY for January through July, 2019:
https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/lancaster-ky/40444/june-weather/333296?monyr=6/1/2019

According to www.aftermath.com, if a deceased body is left in an environment at a consistent 50 degrees fahrenheit, it will take only four months for a body to fully decompose into nothing but skeleton.

I'm not a scientist, but JMO, Savannah's body would have been skeletonized when it was found in July had it been in that shallow grave the entire time.

Her body was found in an unnatural position, bent in half. I recall that a church connected to DS was also searched and there was discussion about a freezer at the church. Does anyone recall when that search occurred?

In looking at the actual temperatures in Lancaster, KY for the time frame involved, I'm wondering if Savannah's body was frozen when it was put into that shallow grave. It's a horrifying thought, but I think it is possible.

All JMO

 

[mtnlites]

I agree with you. IIRC, LE is investigating when Savannah was buried in DS's parents' back yard.

Here's a link for the actual temperatures in Lancaster, KY for January through July, 2019:
https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/lancaster-ky/40444/june-weather/333296?monyr=6/1/2019

According to www.aftermath.com, if a deceased body is left in an environment at a consistent 50 degrees fahrenheit, it will take only four months for a body to fully decompose into nothing but skeleton.

I'm not a scientist, but JMO, Savannah's body would have been skeletonized when it was found in July had it been in that shallow grave the entire time.

Her body was found in an unnatural position, bent in half. I recall that a church connected to DS was also searched and there was discussion about a freezer at the church. Does anyone recall when that search occurred?

In looking at the actual temperatures in Lancaster, KY for the time frame involved, I'm wondering if Savannah's body was frozen when it was put into that shallow grave. It's a horrifying thought, but I think it is possible.

All JMO

Yeah, we had a few really cold days here but I definitely didn't think that it was that much colder than usual. As for spring/summer, I set my garden out earlier because it was so nice. We had a bit of rain (okay, a lot) in early June and even some flooding. This summer has been 80s & 90s.

Summary: it's been fairly warm since April. I think her body was moved.

 

[molly1255]

Yeah, we had a few really cold days here but I definitely didn't think that it was that much colder than usual. As for spring/summer, I set my garden out earlier because it was so nice. We had a bit of rain (okay, a lot) in early June and even some flooding. This summer has been 80s & 90s.

Summary: it's been fairly warm since April. I think her body was moved.

I think her body was moved, too.

 

[MsFacetious]

I hope her body was moved. Because if it was, if it was preserved all those months... we are going to have much more concrete answers than if not. I mean it really sounds like she was.... but you just never know.

 

[marcolepsy]

I agree with you. IIRC, LE is investigating when Savannah was buried in DS's parents' back yard.

Here's a link for the actual temperatures in Lancaster, KY for January through July, 2019:
https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/lancaster-ky/40444/june-weather/333296?monyr=6/1/2019

According to www.aftermath.com, if a deceased body is left in an environment at a consistent 50 degrees fahrenheit, it will take only four months for a body to fully decompose into nothing but skeleton.

I'm not a scientist, but JMO, Savannah's body would have been skeletonized when it was found in July had it been in that shallow grave the entire time.

Her body was found in an unnatural position, bent in half. I recall that a church connected to DS was also searched and there was discussion about a freezer at the church. Does anyone recall when that search occurred?

In looking at the actual temperatures in Lancaster, KY for the time frame involved, I'm wondering if Savannah's body was frozen when it was put into that shallow grave. It's a horrifying thought, but I think it is possible.

All JMO

I know from spending time in the shallow end of the internet (where they show gruesome pictures submitted courtesy of the Third World) that bodies can do some extraordinary weird stuff when they're decaying. Maybe it's just as simple as going from a chest freezer to the ground, there was discussion of barn floor apple freezers that could be obscured from casual searchers. They probably have a soil specialist and a botanist determining when the dig took place based on pollen and insects. DS is doomed no matter what.

 

[bwt42]

I agree with you. IIRC, LE is investigating when Savannah was buried in DS's parents' back yard.

Here's a link for the actual temperatures in Lancaster, KY for January through July, 2019:
https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/lancaster-ky/40444/june-weather/333296?monyr=6/1/2019

According to www.aftermath.com, if a deceased body is left in an environment at a consistent 50 degrees fahrenheit, it will take only four months for a body to fully decompose into nothing but skeleton.

I'm not a scientist, but JMO, Savannah's body would have been skeletonized when it was found in July had it been in that shallow grave the entire time.

Her body was found in an unnatural position, bent in half. I recall that a church connected to DS was also searched and there was discussion about a freezer at the church. Does anyone recall when that search occurred?

In looking at the actual temperatures in Lancaster, KY for the time frame involved, I'm wondering if Savannah's body was frozen when it was put into that shallow grave. It's a horrifying thought, but I think it is possible.

All JMO

IIRC There was a search near a church. The only connection to DS was that it was near his parents home. No discussion about a freezer at the church. jmo

 

[Joe Friday]

I agree with you. IIRC, LE is investigating when Savannah was buried in DS's parents' back yard.

Here's a link for the actual temperatures in Lancaster, KY for January through July, 2019:
https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/lancaster-ky/40444/june-weather/333296?monyr=6/1/2019

According to www.aftermath.com, if a deceased body is left in an environment at a consistent 50 degrees fahrenheit, it will take only four months for a body to fully decompose into nothing but skeleton.

I'm not a scientist, but JMO, Savannah's body would have been skeletonized when it was found in July had it been in that shallow grave the entire time.

Her body was found in an unnatural position, bent in half. I recall that a church connected to DS was also searched and there was discussion about a freezer at the church. Does anyone recall when that search occurred?

In looking at the actual temperatures in Lancaster, KY for the time frame involved, I'm wondering if Savannah's body was frozen when it was put into that shallow grave. It's a horrifying thought, but I think it is possible.

All JMO

I doubt the description on the Aftermath site of a decomposing body taking four months to fully decompose was pertaining to bodies that were buried in the ground. That description is more likely to be an unattended death where the decedent was found in a house four months after their death.

A body left out in the open will decompose much faster than a body that is buried. A body that is buried is protected from animals and insects which can cause a body to decompose very quickly.

JMO

 

[Joe Friday]

I think her body was buried in the same location the entire time.

Her body was likely completely buried until spring time when the ground thawed if frozen or warmed up to the point her body started to decompose giving off an odor. At that time animal activity unearthed her body and the smell became more apparent.

I believe this is also the reason why no body was found when the search was conducted earlier and why it was reported that the garbage bags where visible when she was found. Animals uncovered her in the shallow grave.

JMO

 

[ardean]

I agree with you. IIRC, LE is investigating when Savannah was buried in DS's parents' back yard.

Here's a link for the actual temperatures in Lancaster, KY for January through July, 2019:
https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/lancaster-ky/40444/june-weather/333296?monyr=6/1/2019

According to www.aftermath.com, if a deceased body is left in an environment at a consistent 50 degrees fahrenheit, it will take only four months for a body to fully decompose into nothing but skeleton.

I'm not a scientist, but JMO, Savannah's body would have been skeletonized when it was found in July had it been in that shallow grave the entire time.

Her body was found in an unnatural position, bent in half. I recall that a church connected to DS was also searched and there was discussion about a freezer at the church. Does anyone recall when that search occurred?

In looking at the actual temperatures in Lancaster, KY for the time frame involved, I'm wondering if Savannah's body was frozen when it was put into that shallow grave. It's a horrifying thought, but I think it is possible.

All JMO

I think you're right about bending someone in half to fit in a chest freezer. A 19" deep burial is a lazy burial as well (good thing it wasn't 3-4 feet). I would bet there was a lot going on and some sort of move of this freezer or the body over a night. Decomp would just begin at burial if this was the case. I have lost some track and memory about this case due to how long it has been but I think they had skin to work with and maybe identified tattoos. You're talking slow decomp or almost mummification after this much time. Mummification wouldn't have much smell by now. The dad probably saw the suspicious move and later smelled the decomp forcing his hand to report it. Sorry for the sickening stuff but it's what murderers do.