5 Shocking Facts Surrounding the Murder of Sara Anne Wood

It has been 30 years since 12-year-old Sara Anne Wood vanished while riding her bicycle home. To this day, her body has not been found. Her tragic disappearance prompted hundreds of individuals in Central New York to join the search, quickly capturing national media attention.

The haunting story of Sara Anne Wood will be featured in the latest episode of CBS 48 Hours, which kicks off its 37th season today. This season premieres with the episode titled The Unending Search for Sara Anne Wood, delving into the unsettling circumstances surrounding Sara’s disappearance and alleged murder. The episode airs tonight at 10 p.m. ET on CBS and is available for streaming on Paramount Plus.

5 Key Details Surrounding the Murder and Disappearance of Sara Anne Wood

Before tuning into the CBS episode that recounts Sara’s story, here are five chilling details surrounding her case.

1) Who Was Sara Anne Wood?

Sara Anne Wood was just twelve years old when she went missing in August 1993 while riding her bike home from Norwich Corners Church in Sauquoit, New York. When Sara did not return, her family began to search for her. Eventually, a neighbor discovered her bicycle hidden in a bush about half a mile from the Wood family’s residence, prompting the police to be notified.

2) A Prior Abduction Attempt Leads to Sara’s Killer

In 1994, 12-year-old Becky Savarese from Pittsfield, Massachusetts was approached by a man at a busy intersection who threatened her with a gun and demanded she get into his truck. Fortunately, Becky pretended to have an asthma attack and managed to escape. After running into someone clearing snow from a sidewalk, she called the police.

A witness had also reported parts of the truck’s license plate number. Investigations led to Lewis Lent, a 43-year-old handyman and former movie theater janitor, who was driving the truck. Initially, Lent denied the accusations but later confessed to attempting to abduct Becky. Further inquiries revealed that he had attempted abductions before.

3) Disturbing Evidence Unveils More Horrors

When authorities searched Lent’s truck, they uncovered Becky’s backpack, a gun, and a ‘snatch kit’ containing duct tape and rope, indicating preparations for child abduction.

This evidence led to Lent’s arrest for Becky’s attempted abduction and connected him to two more cases, including the disappearance of Sara Anne Wood from Sauquoit and Jimmy Bernardo. All three victims were just 12 years old at the time of their abductions.

4) Sara’s Remains Have Yet to be Located

Until 1996, Sara Anne Wood’s case remained a mystery. After being arrested for the attempted abduction of Becky, Lewis Lent confessed to murdering Sara. He claimed to have buried her body in the Adirondacks near Raquette Lake, but extensive searches of the area have failed to uncover her remains. Lent continues to withhold the exact location of her burial, and the search for Sara is ongoing.

5) Sara’s Disappearance Sparked a Movement for Awareness

Though Sara is no longer with us, her memory endures in her community. Annually, her legacy is honored during the Ride for Missing Children, which raises funds for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). Edward Suk, executive director of NCMEC’s New York branch, stated:

“Sara was wearing teal and pink and was riding her bicycle when she was abducted. We honor Sara through our signature ride jersey.”

In 1995, a group of cyclists rode approximately 400 miles from Utica, New York to Washington, D.C. to raise awareness for Sara’s case, marking the beginning of a significant initiative. This event has since transformed into one of NCMEC’s most prominent annual fundraisers.

Sara’s disappearance also led to the establishment of the Sara Anne Wood Rescue Center in Utica, which developed a quick-response system for distributing missing children flyers. This initiative has resulted in the dissemination of over 10.5 million posters regarding 11,012 children, with more than 7,500 children successfully located.

Don’t miss the full story of Sara Anne Wood on CBS’s 48 Hours today.

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