Sheriff says woman and 3-year-old son found dead were part of custody battle

In San Antonio, a mother and her three-year-old son were found deceased in what Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar suggests may be related to a child custody dispute. Savannah Kriger, aged 32, and her son Kaiden were found after relatives alerted law enforcement to their inability to contact Kriger, and an Amber Alert was issued for the child on Tuesday morning. According to Salazar, early evidence suggests the possibility of gunshots having been fired.

Salazar disclosed their death during a press briefing on Tuesday morning and mentioned that a child custody dispute was ongoing. An initial investigation into the incident led to an Amber Alert issued regarding Kaiden and a subsequent search for both mother and child. Sheriff Salazar shared that relatives had contacted the sheriff’s office, citing concerns after being unable to reach Savannah on her phone.

After entering Savannah Kriger’s residence with the help of the family members, deputies identified worrying signs within the property. A subsequent search led them to her abandoned car located in Tom Slick Park, a significant distance away from the residence. However, despite assistance from SAPD EAGLE and Park Police, the search could not find the duo in the park, leading to a decision to delay the search till daylight.

The bodies were eventually discovered by a Park Police officer on Tuesday morning in a drainage ditch near the park. Preliminary evidence, including the discovery of a firearm near the bodies and the condition of the bodies, suggest both victims were shot. Sheriff Salazar signaled that it’s unlikely others were implicated in the incident, based on current findings.

While the motive is currently unknown, it’s worth noting that Kriger was due for a court hearing on Tuesday concerning the child’s custody. The investigation remains ongoing, adding another grim layer to an already tragic situation. The ramifications of these events will almost certainly reach beyond the immediacy of this heartbreaking case.