Search Results for: amanda savell

Three years ago I posted this video of top IFBB Figure Pro and fitness model Amanda Savell after learning about her tragic murder. It was on June 5, 2008 that we lost one of the kindest, most beautiful women in the fitness industry. She may be gone but will never be forgotten. Rest in Peace Amanda.

The story that ran in the NY TIMES three years ago.

Steroids Dealer and Girlfriend Found Dead at Home
By MICHAEL S. SCHMIDT
Published: June 6, 2008

A convicted steroids dealer who provided documentary evidence and testimony to N.F.L. officials last month that tied several players to the use of performance-enhancing drugs was found dead on Thursday morning at his home in Plano, Texas, the police said.

Jacobs last month in the kitchen he used to make steroids in.

David Jacobs, who was convicted on federal steroid distribution charges last year, began cooperating with N.F.L. officials shortly after he was sentenced to probation in May.

His girlfriend, Amanda Jo Earhart-Savell, 30, was also found dead in the home, the police said.

Early Thursday morning, officers in Plano responded to a caller’s concern about Jacobs. Upon the officers’ arrival at the home, Jacobs and Earhart-Savell were found shot to death.

Jacobs had said he provided two N.F.L. players with steroids and human growth hormone and that they then supplied other N.F.L. players with the banned substances.

The New York Times reported in April that information from the government’s investigation of Jacobs had led federal prosecutors to investigate Matt Lehr, an offensive lineman for the New Orleans Saints, on the suspicion that he distributed performance-enhancing drugs.

Lehr’s lawyer denied that his client ever sold steroids or human growth hormone and said Jacobs fabricated information about Lehr after he refused to pay Jacobs’s legal fees. Jacobs said he never asked Lehr for money.

Telephone and e-mail messages left for Jacobs’s lawyer were not immediately returned Thursday.

The Plano police said the investigation was continuing.

The Dallas Morning News is reporting that Amanda Jo Earhart Savells’ family has filed a federal lawsuit. Their lawsuit is aimed at the people who supplied Dave Jacobs, Amanda’s one time boyfriend and eventual murder, with steroids. The Earhart’s feel “roid rage” was to blame in the death of their daughter. Authorities determined that Jacobs had killed her and then turned the gun on himself. Dave Jacobs was connected to one of the biggest steroid busts in U.S. history. He had been cooperating with federal authorities and given probation in exchange for assistance in the case.

The article says, “Kathy and Gary Earhart of Plano filed a federal suit in Marshall, Texas, on June 4 against Lei Jin, whom the petition describes as a Chinese citizen in Shanghai with a residence in Wisconsin, and GeneScience Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., also in Shanghai.”

The lawsuit also lists fifty “John Doe” corporations and businesses as alleged co-conspirators. The Morning News goes on to quote Amanda’s father (Gary Earhart) saying, “I used to run fitness centers. I’ve seen guys go crazy” on steroids. “The worst thing about steroids is that they work. They also work on you mentally.”

I can’t even imagine what if feels like to be in the Earhart’s shoes. No one should have to experience the death of their child much less the way they did. That said, I don’t see how they will prevail in this lawsuit. The problem, in my opinion, is not the substance but the person taking them. Dave Jacobs was a man who had issues and the one to blame, not the people who may have manufactured a steroid he may have taken. He’s certainly not the first and won’t be the last person to take steroids. You don’t read headlines about them killing someone and then themselves.

Amanda Savell was found shot to death in June, now we’re learning more of what happened as police release more information. Two stories make note that David Jacobs had steroids in his system. Plano police have said that the results are still pending for gunshot residue, which would determine if Amanda fired a weapon. The results could take months.

Dallas Morning News Report

Sporting News Story

Video interview with Amanda’s family

Monday night, Pro Bodybuilding Weekly remembered Amanda Earhart-Savell. I was honored to share a bit about Amanda with Pro Bodybuilding Weekly audience. We talked about some of her success on and offstage as well was how she would be remembered. At the end of the segment, host Dan Solomon read a note from her manager JM Manion. JM shared his thoughts and his last time speaking with Amanda. I’ve been on Pro Bodybuilding Weekly before but this time was different (obviously) and I was nervous. It is easy to get sucked into the negativity and get angry over the loss of Amanda but I want to remember what a huge heart she had and could inject humor in any situation.

In a selfish way, I am happy to be one of the last people to communicate with her. We texted each other last Monday about dieting and she was giving me a hard time about doing the “27 Days of Bodybuilding.com“. We joked about the side effects of eating too much protein and the last words I will ever get from Amanda read, “Ha holy shit rolling laughing on that one ya I have done that before ha”. I am thankful my last communication with her was what I will always remember her by. Funny and full of life. Rest In Peace Amanda.

You can listen to the replay from the show here.

I’ve been informed by the family and her best friend who is currently at the Earhart residence that the cause of death was murder/suicide and not a double homicide as some people have thought. The news is slow to become public but again I have confirmed that is was in fact murder/suicide. I will post more information around the case as it becomes available. A quick search on “Amanda Savell” turns up hundreds of news stories, most of which are the same associated press story.

Update news from Plano Texas:

Plano Police: Steroids Dealer Killed Himself

PLANO (CBS 11 News) ― David Jacobs, an admitted and convicted steroids dealer, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.  That’s according to Sgt. Andrae Smith of the Plano Police Department.

The woman who was found with him, 30-year-old Amanda Jo Earhart-Savell, died of multiple gunshot wounds, Smith said.

Sources close to the investigation told CBS 11 News Thursday that Jacobs, 35, had suffered two gunshot wounds: one to the stomach and one to the head.

Police found the bodies at Jacobs’ Plano house Thursday morning.  Published reports say the two were engaged to be married.

Savell worked as a fitness model. Photos of her have appeared in several national fitness and bodybuilding publications. She also competed in national body building competitions. As a teen, she was also a nationally ranked tennis player.

CBS 11 News observed officers carrying several brown paper bags out of the house Thursday morning. When asked if they had found any steroids in the house, police said they were still trying to determine that.

Police also say they confiscated mail from Jacobs’ house.

Jacobs’ lawyer says his client met with NFL officials last month and gave them names of players he said had bought steroids from him.

Thursday afternoon, the NFL released this statement to CBS 11 News: “We offer our sympathy to the families of David Jacobs and Amanda Jo Earhart-Savell. As we have previously confirmed, our security representatives interviewed David Jacobs on two occasions. We are reviewing the information to determine if there is documented evidence establishing any violations of our program and will follow up on any other information that is provided. It is premature to comment on any specific player at this time. Anyone found to have violated our policies will be subject to discipline, including suspension. We will continue to be responsive to any needs of law enforcement on this matter.”

On May 1, a federal judge sentenced Jacobs to three years probation and fined $25,000 on his conviction for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute anabolic steroids.

Jacobs had pleaded guilty to the crime.

Previously, Jacobs claimed that he sold steroids to former Dallas Cowboy Matt Lehr in 2006 and 2007.

Lehr’s attorney has denied the allegations.

CBS 11 News looked up Jacobs’ MySpace page. On it, he listed his nickname as “Bulletproof.”

I haven’t been able to sleep and my mind has been on Amanda and her loved ones. I decided to hunt through my thousands of photos over the years to see what I could dig up from the various shows. I found quite a few of Miss Amanda and as you can see she lit up the camera with her smile. This was tough for me to put together as it brought back so many memories and a reminder that I’ll never see her again. It brings tears to my eyes to write this and watch it again but in some strange way it begins to make this all a bit more real for me. The fitness community will never forget Amanda and her sense of humor.

I am in the process of gathering photos and interviews I’ve done with Amanda over the years as a tribute to her. Here are a couple that I’d like to share with everyone to help remind us that she was as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outer shell.

My interview with Amanda before the 2007 Arnold on Bodybuilding.com

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.

This sends chills down my spine to think it’s been one year since the fitness community heard about the tragic death of Amanda Jo Earhart-Savell. One year ago today I posted the haunting headline, “Amanda Jo Savell found Dead“. Amanda was a dear friend to many and despite being tragically taken away from us, she’ll never be forgotten.

Rest in Peace Amanda.

There is a great deal of misinformation put out on the internet. Many people make judgments and assessments based on hearsay and rumors. I follow a number of web sites and message boards which are often breeding grounds for the misinformation. Myself and those involved with HARDBODY.com strive to provide you with accurate reports. We all have established relationships with the fitness/figure industry and before reporting anything, we do our best to get the facts. That said let me set the record straight on a few things related to the upcoming Arnold Classic.

FIGURE INTERNATIONAL
• Jenny Lynn DID NOT WITHDRAW from the Arnold Classic or even from consideration of the show. She never planned to do the show and openly spoke about it on Terry and Elaine Goodlad’s radio show weeks ago. Jenny will also NOT be retiring any time soon.

• Mary Lado also did not put in for an Arnold invite. The Figure International title is up for grabs with Jenny and Mary both choosing not to compete. It’s anyone’s show but if invited I’d have to put my money on Jen Gates, Gina Aliotti, Amanda Savell or Sonia Adcock to reign supreme.

• Mary Jo Cooke and Michelle Flake battled it out at the end of the 2007 and showed they are a figure force in the IFBB. They both chose NOT to apply for an Arnold invite and we’ll see them on stage later in 2008.

• Danielle Hollenshade chose NOT to submit for an Arnold invite. Will we see her on a pro stage again? We’ll have to wait and see in ’08.

• Jessica Paxon-Putnam DID NOT put in for an Arnold invite. She will be at the show working for her sponsors, Optimum/ABB and Weider Publications.

• Nicole Wilkins, the blonde beauty who steamrolled through the competition at Team Universe, by winning both the Figure and Fitness overall titles, has put in for a Figure International invite. If accepted she will compete in Figure at the Arnold Classic. Fans will have to wait until the New York Pro Fitness for her IFBB fitness debut.

FITNESS INTERNATIONAL
• Adela Garcia is NOT retiring and has decided to sit out the Arnold Classic for a the first time in a number of years. You will see her on stage at the 2008 Fitness Olympia and perhaps before but rest assured the latin diva’s career is far from over.

• Jen Hendershott has put in for an Arnold invite and no she won’t tell me what she’s doing for her routine if invited. It’s pretty much a given that this champ will be strutting her stuff on stage the end of February.

• Julie Shipley-Childs DID NOT put in for consideration. She has become a top fitness contender but chose to take some time off before competing again.

• Angie Monteleone will NOT be competing. She too has decided to take some time off before stepping on stage again. **Note she is no longer going by Angie Monteleone-Semsch.

Valerie Waugaman and Tanji Johnson will make their television debuts in January. Don’t expect to see either American Gladiator on the Arnold stage, but you never know. Who knows what the future holds for these two but both are top IFBB professionals.

A couple of names many people thought were retired could appear on the invited. They’ve asked me not to put their names out there but don’t be surprised if you see a familiar face or two back on the Arnold stage.

Several women put in for the Arnold contests and we’ll have to wait to see who receives their acceptance letters later this month. Once the list has been announced I will be doing interviews and features on the competitors for bodybuilding.com. There will most likely be a few surprises.