Amanda Jo Savell Found Dead This Morning
I originally wrote this on HARDBODY.com but I wanted to share this tragedy with the bodybuilding world here. Many of you know Amanda and followed her career. It is with great sadness I report this new.
I’ve been on the phone all morning with those closest to Amanda Jo. Everyone’s story is consistent at this point. The last time anyone heard from Amanda Jo was on Monday night. Her family and friends tried to reach her but there was no response. They contacted the police and filed a missing person’s report as this was unlike her. She hadn’t been to the gym in a couple days and Amanda never missed a workout. When she hadn’t logged onto myspace or been to the gym, friends knew something was wrong. She was preparing to do the Europa Super show, a show which she had won two times before.
Amanda was very close to her family and her father’s health had been failing as of late. AJ loved to be on her MYSPACE page. She enjoyed using the “mood” feature on the site and checked her email there several times a day. I had been talking with Amanda about her returning to the stage and we were planning out a photo shoot for the Europa. I’m numb as I write this as she was an amazing woman who I cared about as did many in and out of the fitness industry. She was anxious to return to competition and show everyone how hard she’d been working since the Olympia. We joked about being hungry and how dieting can be challenging.
News is still being collected but it appears her ex-boyfriend Dave Jacobs shot her and then turned the gun on himself. The two were found in his home of Texas. Dave Jacobs has been in the news over a steroid bust and was recently convicted for the incident. Despite friends and family encouraging Amanda to keep her distance from him she fell back into his control several times. Dave’s mentality was one that if he couldn’t have Amanda Jo no one would and at this point it appears he took it to the ultimate extreme.
UPDATE: the New York Times article is now available.
Post by: liftstudios
June 6, 2008 - 7:45 pm MDT at 7:45 pm
Thanks for putting this up Isaac. That is very sad news and it just sucks the life right out of me thinking about what must have gone on the moments before and then… the silence. I just don’t get it. Why do these things happen? Such a waste…
My thoughts and prayers go out to the families involved. I can’t even imagine how they must feel about this. I don’t even know her and it drives me crazy.
Scott
June 7, 2008 - 6:35 am MDT at 6:35 am
When I heard about Amanda’s death it just made me sad. My prayers go out to her family and friends. Heaven has another angel.
June 7, 2008 - 7:09 am MDT at 7:09 am
actually, I believe that there has been no officially released info on the deaths. The police have neither confirmed nor denied the murder/suicide scenario. At least by 10:00AM central time.
June 7, 2008 - 7:51 am MDT at 7:51 am
Actually, it has:
http://www.hardbody.com/news/2008/06/06/family-confirms-fate-of-amanda-jo-earhart-savell/
June 7, 2008 - 8:13 am MDT at 8:13 am
There’s a tribute thread here:
http://www.siouxcountry.com/showthread.php?t=1622
June 7, 2008 - 8:57 am MDT at 8:57 am
God Bless Both their families and friends! Such a tragedy!
June 8, 2008 - 3:20 pm MDT at 3:20 pm
Rest in Peace Amanda. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.
June 9, 2008 - 7:28 am MDT at 7:28 am
God Bless Amanda and my prayers are with her family and friends. I had her picture on my desktop while I was going through my competition to keep me motivated.
June 9, 2008 - 12:08 pm MDT at 12:08 pm
that sucks
June 9, 2008 - 12:11 pm MDT at 12:11 pm
that sucks alot
June 9, 2008 - 1:13 pm MDT at 1:13 pm
This is so sad. My prayers go out to her family and friends for having such a beautiful person taken away from them.
June 9, 2008 - 6:06 pm MDT at 6:06 pm
I was so deeply hurt to hear about her passing. She was so beautiful and an inspiration to me and others. She will be very much missed~
brandy~
June 10, 2008 - 11:51 am MDT at 11:51 am
I loved the few times I shared with Amanda, she is in good hands now..I will miss you!
LOVE & PRAYERS
Vicki
June 10, 2008 - 8:11 pm MDT at 8:11 pm
Video update:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgWJYIbmImI
June 12, 2008 - 4:20 pm MDT at 4:20 pm
Such a sad thing to happy to a rising star… she will be missed by alot of people.
June 12, 2008 - 4:26 pm MDT at 4:26 pm
My heart goes out to the family of Amanda. My prayers are with her family. She will be missed deeply.
June 12, 2008 - 4:27 pm MDT at 4:27 pm
My heart goes out to the family and friends of Amanda jo savell. My prayers are with her family. She will be missed deeply.
June 12, 2008 - 4:27 pm MDT at 4:27 pm
My heart goes out to the family and friends of Amanda jo savell. My prayers are with her family.
July 1, 2008 - 12:03 pm MDT at 12:03 pm
I am absolutely heart broken by this tragic news. I am such a fan of Amanda and was looking forward to meeting her finally in person and competing with her in the Europa show. I am devasted and hope her family will get thru this enormous loss.
Sara
July 1, 2008 - 4:27 pm MDT at 4:27 pm
WOW this makes me mad!!!! Plus so sad that her life was taken by another person……I feel for all her friends and family…….may she rest in peace….
July 7, 2008 - 9:38 am MDT at 9:38 am
i dont understand woman/i am dying to find a nice woman to spend my life with/im not bad looking but they dont pick me/i wouldnt hurt a fly/im sorry for amanda but this is expected when pick guys who live on the wild side/incidently i love strong athletic woman/Dalbert in ny
July 12, 2008 - 11:24 pm MDT at 11:24 pm
My condolences to thier families and bb friends I was shocked to read it when I read it Jodi Miller’s site.
July 18, 2008 - 8:29 am MDT at 8:29 am
we are so sads because amanda was a extraordinary competitor, from mexico we condolences to their families and friends
August 12, 2008 - 6:01 pm MDT at 6:01 pm
I know I’m a little late in hearing about this terribly sad news! I’m in complete shock and can’t believe this happened. She was such an inspiration to me. Prayers will be with her family and friends. Rest in peace in Amanda!
August 17, 2008 - 1:56 pm MDT at 1:56 pm
August 31, 2008 - 11:04 am MDT at 11:04 am
this is a very sad situation. My heart goes out to the family and friends. just goes to show drugs are bad all natural is best.