A tragic incident unfolded in San Antonio, Texas, when a mother and her young son, who were the subjects of a recent Amber Alert, were discovered deceased in a ditch near a local park on Tuesday, according to local law enforcement. Savannah Kriger, 32, and her son, Kaiden Kriger, 3, had been reported missing the previous night by the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities suspect that the mother may have taken her son’s life before ending her own in a suspected murder-suicide, amid an ongoing child custody dispute.
The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office was first alerted on Monday evening around 6:30 p.m., when a request for a welfare check on the Kriger family was made. Initially, deputies were unable to gain access to the residence. However, a family member later permitted them entry. Sheriff Javier Salazar, without divulging specifics, stated that the initial investigation yielded disturbing evidence.
“There were certain findings that led us to believe the child was in potential danger,” Salazar stated on Tuesday. After tracking Savannah Kriger’s cellphone, deputies located her white 2023 Lincoln Aviator near Tom Slick Community Park on the city’s west side, but there was no trace of the mother and son. An Amber Alert was subsequently issued early Tuesday morning, based on the assumption that Kaiden was in “grave or immediate danger” and had possibly been kidnapped.
By late Tuesday morning, the mother and son were found deceased near the park’s rear. A firearm was also recovered in the vicinity, according to the sheriff. “There was an ongoing custody dispute involving the child,” Salazar informed reporters at a press conference held at the park where the bodies were discovered. He added that family members had expressed concerns about their inability to contact her.
When attempts were made to reach Savannah Kriger, calls were directed to her voicemail. Her location services, which had previously enabled family members to track her location via their phones, had been deactivated, raising further concerns. The last individuals to see the mother and toddler alive were daycare workers. Savannah Kriger had left work early on Monday and picked up her son from daycare around 2 p.m., citing a doctor’s appointment.
The bodies were discovered in a drainage easement in the park, a significant distance from where the vehicle was found. “At this point, she is who we’re considering as the suspect,” Salazar stated. “We don’t believe any other suspects are outstanding.” He added that the family members are cooperating with the authorities and that the investigation would continue at the Kriger residence, with the park being considered the primary crime scene.
Court records obtained by MySanAntonio reveal that Savannah Kriger had filed for divorce from her son’s father on March 7, along with a request for a temporary restraining order. She filed for another protective order against the boy’s father on March 15. A hearing regarding child custody in the divorce case was scheduled for Tuesday morning but did not take place.