In the fall of 2020, a sense of unease settled over the community of Pine Grove, California, with the disappearance of 27-year-old Savana Lee Burger. She was last seen on October 22, 2020, and concern for her well-being grew when her mother reported her missing the following day. The family's worry was heightened because Savana had uncharacteristically missed a significant court date, an event that signaled something was seriously wrong. The Amador County Sheriff's Office immediately launched a missing person investigation to piece together the final known moments of the young mother's life. Investigators, utilizing cell phone data, were able to trace her last known location to the West Point area, shifting the focus of their search. It was believed that she may have been given a ride from her home to West Point, but from there, the trail went cold, and she was not heard from again.
As weeks turned into months, the search for Savana continued with a growing sense of desperation. The Amador County Sheriff's Office Investigations Bureau, along with the Search and Rescue Team, conducted multiple searches in and around West Point, diligently following up on any leads they received. The breakthrough in the case, though heartbreaking, came on January 16, 2021, when human remains were discovered near West Point. Crime scene investigators worked meticulously for days to collect all available evidence from the scene. Through the use of rapid DNA testing, the remains were positively identified as belonging to Savana Lee Burger. The tragic discovery brought a painful end to the search for the missing woman, confirming the community's worst fears and shifting the investigation from a missing person case to a homicide. An autopsy later revealed that Savana had sustained a bullet hole to her skull.
Following the identification of Savana's remains, the investigation quickly led to a suspect, Jerry Lee Adams Jr. of Pine Grove. It was discovered that Adams had contacted Savana on October 22, 2020, using his deceased son's Facebook account, and had arranged to pick her up to visit his son's gravesite. Tragically, Adams wrongly held Savana and others present at her home responsible for his son's suicide, which had occurred there in July 2020. Despite official rulings to the contrary, he harbored this misplaced blame. After an arrest warrant was issued, law enforcement tracked Adams to a casino in Reno, Nevada, where he was apprehended. He was subsequently extradited back to Amador County to face charges. In August 2022, Jerry Lee Adams Jr. pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to 25 years to life in state prison. During the sentencing, Savana's family and friends remembered her as a beautiful and kind person who was always willing to help others, even extending her compassion to the man who would ultimately take her life. The case stands as a somber reminder of a life cut short, leaving behind three young children without their mother's love and care.
Last Seen: Oct 22, 2020
