Decades have passed since the disappearance of 12-year-old Sara Anne Wood, whose body remains unfound despite relentless efforts by investigators. Abducted in 1993 in central New York, her killer, Lewis Lent, is imprisoned but continues to withhold the location of her remains from her grieving family. Erin Moriarty from "48 Hours" has been following the case closely, documenting the ongoing search for Sara.
Dusty Wood, Sara's brother, reflects on the loss and the enduring memories of his sister, who was full of life and joy. On August 18, 1993, Sara planned to ride her bike to a nearby church for Vacation Bible School, but she never returned. Her abandoned bike was discovered near their home, prompting a massive search effort.
The investigation initially focused on those close to Sara, including her family, but eventually shifted to known offenders. The case took a turn in January 1994 when a failed abduction in Massachusetts led to the arrest of Lewis Lent. Lent was linked to Sara's case after confessing to her murder and providing details only the perpetrator would know. However, his claims about the burial site turned out to be false, complicating the search for Sara's remains.
Lent, who had a history of minor offenses, was also connected to the murder of another child, Jimmy Bernardo, and later confessed to killing Jamie Lusher, although his confession was later retracted. Despite being convicted and sentenced for his crimes, Lent's refusal to disclose the full truth about Sara's whereabouts continues to haunt her family and investigators.
Authorities have made numerous attempts to extract more information from Lent, even taking him on a drive to retrace his steps, but to no avail. In recent years, searches have been conducted in various locations, including a forest in Vermont, but have yielded no results.
Dusty Wood and his family focus on positive actions, such as participating in the Ride for Missing Children, to honor Sara's memory and promote child safety. Although they may never find Sara's body, Dusty finds solace in the belief that he will reunite with his sister in the afterlife.
The search for Sara Anne Wood and Jamie Lusher continues, driven by the hope of bringing closure to their families.