Photo: Richmond Police Department
Her family has been targeted by scammers demanding ransom money.
By Sarah Gangraw — Written on Jan 28, 2019
The search for a Kentucky mother of four who disappeared just days after giving birth to twins is entering its fourth week. Savannah Spurlock, 22, was last seen leaving The Other Bar on South Limestone in Lexington with two men on Friday, Jan. 4.
The two men, who were recorded leaving the bar with Spurlock on surveillance footage around 2:30 a.m., have not been identified or named as suspects.
Richmond Police, the agency working the case, questioned three men — including the two Spurlock was last seen with — and released them. No arrests have been made. The department said it is following every lead and have yet to say if they believe foul play was involved.
Richmond Police Department
WKYT reported that police searched a home in Gerrard County Tuesday but authorities have not released who the residence belonged to or how it is related to Spurlock's disappearance. LEX18 reported that the home is owned by the parents of one of the men in the surveillance footage.
Spurlock's ex-boyfriend, the father of her two-year-old son and 7-week-old twins, believes they know where she is.
“I do think the guys she was with that night know exactly where she is,” Shaquille Smith, 27, wrote in a message to Fox News. “I do think she is out there somewhere worried and thinking about her kids, family, and friends.”
Smith told Fox News that he knows the names of the men but is withholding them to protect the investigation as it continues. He said he is not familiar with them, adding that they are likely from out of town.
According to Spurlock's mother, Ellen Spurlock, she and her daughter live together in Richmond. She told Fox News that Spurlock left their home with a female friend on the night of Jan. 3. The women stopped at a male friend's place, where they switched cars and headed to a Lexington bar. They eventually landed at The Other Bar, where Spurlock was spotted on surveillance leaving with two men.
At around 3 a.m., Spurlock FaceTimed her mother from a car being driven by an African American male to say she would be home in the morning. Two men were in the back seat, but Ellen Spurlock said she did not get a good look at them and is unable to say whether or not they are the men from the surveillance footage.
Richmond Police Department
Spurlock's mother reported her missing the next morning when she didn't answer her phone. Spurlock's purse and cell phone were found in one of the cars, which her mother said out of character.
Ellen Spurlock told WKYT that her daughter's disappearance has been hard on her family, especially her 4-year-old son.
“He doesn’t know what’s going on, but my fear is how long can that take place, you know? Mommy is not here for 11 days, each day is another day,” she said. “How long can that take place? Her newborn twins, her 2-year-old — the twins are too young — but the 2-year-old, he misses his mommy. He saw her on TV one night and say ‘Mommy.’ He misses her.’”
WKYT reported that scammers have been trying to use Spurlock's disappearance to get ransom money. The mom of four's family has been receiving calls and texts by people claiming to be holding Spurlock ransom, demanding money, gift cards, and Bitcoins. Spurlock's family is not falling for their scams, her mother said.
"She's only worth a thousand dollars? I mean, at least make your story more believable," Ellen Spurlock said.
The messages have been ruthless, one even claiming that "we will vanish and so will Spurlock" after getting no response from her family.
"It's very cruel. Very," Spurlock's mother said. "I mean, if these people that are doing this would think about what they would be doing in my situation, they may stop."
The missing woman's family posted a video to Facebook thanking law enforcement and anyone else involved in the search for Spurlock.
“We wanted to say thank you to all who have been praying so fervently for Savannah’s safety, that she would return safely to her babies, to her family, to her mother and father,” Spurlock's aunt Lisa Thoma said the clip. “We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for those who helped search, for those who do all they can.”
Her family just wants her home safe.
Spurlock is 5 feet tall and weighs 140 pounds, She has shoulder-length brown and blond hair and several tattoos, including one on the right side of her torso that reads, "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me," and another on her back that reads, "I'm her daughter."
Anyone with information about Spurlock's whereabouts is urged to contact Lt. Col. Rodney Richardson with Richmond police at 859-624-4776.
Sarah Gangraw writes about all things news, entertainment and crime. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter.