Sheriff: Suspect found in Incline Village confesses to murder, dad's body found

A four-hour interview of homicide suspect Sean Purdy in Reno Friday night has led to the discovery of the body of his father, 52-year-old Lance Purdy of Pine Grove, Calif.

At 6:30 p.m. on January 3, 2020, detectives from the Amador County Sheriff’s Office met with the 20-year-old suspect at the Washoe County Jail in Reno, Nev. After approximately four hours of interviewing Sean, detectives said they were able to obtain a confession from Sean and the location of his father’s body.

Amador County Sheriff’s deputies began searching an area in the Amador Pines area near Pioneer, Calif. at 11:00 p.m. Friday, based on information from Sean.

At approximately 4:15 a.m. Saturday morning, deputies located a freshly dug shallow grave containing a body. Detectives and crime scene investigators from the Amador County Sheriff's Office responded to the area and processed the scene.

The body was identified as the missing father at 11:00 a.m. January 4.

The Amador County Search and Rescue team is currently searching another area of Amador County for additional evidence of the homicide.

"The Amador County Sheriff’s Office wants to express our heartfelt condolences to the Purdy family and encourage everyone to be mindful of the tragedy they are enduring," said Undersheriff Gary Redman.

"We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to the overwhelming support and assistance of the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office," Redman added.

On January 1, around 4:37 p.m., deputies from the Amador County Sheriff's Office received a call from a woman who was concerned for her husband's welfare according to a press release from their office.

The caller said her husband, Lance Purdy of Pine Grove, had flown home to check on their 20-year-old son Sean Patrick Purdy as the couple had been out of state. When she didn't hear from her husband she called the sheriff's office. A neighbor said they saw the son leaving the family home quickly in a 2017 blue Subaru Outback. A large amount of blood in and around the residence at 12495 Kevkie Court was discovered by the same neighbor.

Amador County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the home and discovered what appeared to be a homicide scene but there was no sign of Lance. An arrest warrant was issued for Sean Purdy for murder with an order to stop and detain the Subaru.

Sean Purdy was the subject of a 12-hour manhunt in Incline Village on Thursday, January 2 after the tracking of his cellphone led Washoe County Sheriff's deputies to the 7-11 on Tahoe Blvd. Purdy took off on foot and was found just after 1:00 p.m. after unconfirmed reports say he was trying to catch a ride via ride-shares at Sand Harbor.