When 48 Hours investigates a child’s murder in the season 37 debut on CBS and Paramount Plus on Saturday, September 21, journalist Erin Moriarty is on the scene.
“The Unending Search for Sara Anne Wood” examines the 1993 disappearance of 12-year-old Wood from Sauquoit, New York, while she was returning home after church. Lewis Lent will not reveal the location of the girl’s burial, even being imprisoned for the murder.
In 1994, Moriarty began looking into the Sara Anne Wood case for the first time. Since it was still unsolved at the time, Moriarty spoke with Becky Savarese, another 12-year-old girl. About 130 miles east of the location where Wood was taken, she was strolling through Pittsfield, Massachusetts, when a man approached, brandished a gun, and motioned for her to get into his truck. According to Moriarty, Savarese staged an asthma attack in order to flee. Lent was taken into custody a day later when she gave the man’s truck’s license plate numbers.
“The kid was very serene,” Moriarty said to B+C. “I said, did you not feel afraid? and she responded, “No.”
As a mother of a little child at the time of the Wood case, Moriarty referred to it as a “cautionary tale” that had an impact on her personally. Moriarty remarked, “I realized how easily and quickly a child can be taken.” This show serves as a reminder of that. It’s a vital story, in my opinion, to tell.
Following his admission of killing Wood, Lent produced a map showing the location of his purported burial site—a remote area of the Adirondack Mountains. She was never located, despite police investigations.
When asked why Lent hasn’t revealed more information about the grave, Moriarty replied, “That’s the only power they have.” They are in possession of knowledge.
In an effort to get Lent to reveal the location of the body’s burial, law enforcement is still working with him. “It reminds viewers about the really committed investigators who took the case so personally and are determined to bring some kind of resolution to the family at a time when there are so many questions about police work,” Moriarty said.
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Dusty, Sara Anne’s brother, was almost 17 years old when his sister was abducted. According to Moriarty, a youngster in that scenario not only loses a sibling but also has to deal with parents who are completely preoccupied with looking for and eventually losing their second child.
She also mentioned that Dusty now organizes an annual summer bike trip and makes stops at schools to give safety advice to kids. Motivated by Darrell Barton, who over the years shot the Wood family for 48 Hours, he too ended up becoming a camera operator.
“He even embraced his shooting style,” Moriarty claimed.
The podcast “Murder in the Orange Grove: The Troubled Case Against Crosley Green,” which CBS Audio debuted on September 18, is also produced by Moriarty. She claimed to have never witnessed such a passion for true crime.
Moriarty remarked, “We are so divided on political issues.” Even if we disagree on anything, we can still talk about [true crime]. Although these are serious cases, we may discuss them in a courteous manner.
Moriarty believes that the next episode of 48 Hours advances the Sara Anne Wood case, which he first encountered thirty years ago. “I’m hoping someone who watches the hour, or someone who knows Lewis Lent’s family, has more information and could advance the story,” she remarked. “I also hope that people look at this instance, learn from it, and safeguard their own children. The fact that no other family experiences what Sara Anne Wood’s parents and family have is something that truly matters to them.
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