Student Arrested in Connection with Father’s Murder
Junior Bronco confesses to patricide accusation
Sean Purdy, a 20-year-old Santa Clara student, confessed to accusations of killing his father on Friday evening, according to the Amador County Sheriff’s Office.
Purdy was a third-year student at the university and was pursuing a major in finance.
Just before the new year, Purdy was staying at his family’s Pine Grove home outside of Lake Tahoe.
His parents, who were elsewhere at the time, chose to check on him on New Year’s Day.
His father, Lance Purdy, flew out to the house.
Sometime after his arrival, his wife lost contact with him and grew concerned for him.
She then contacted the local law enforcement.
When officers from the Amador County Sheriff’s Office arrived on scene, they found what they believed to be a homicide scene and began a search for both Sean Purdy and the missing body of Lance Purdy.
Neighbors informed officers that they had witnessed Sean Purdy fleeing the home in a blue Subaru Outback in the early morning.
Law enforcement was able to track Purdy via his phone to Nevada where he was apprehended in the town of Incline Village in Washoe County.
After his arrest, Purdy faced four hours of interrogation after which he elucidated the location of his father’s remains.
The body of Lance Purdy was buried in a shallow roadside grave in the city of Pioneer, CA—only a few miles from the family’s home.
Law enforcement provided no further details about the condition of the body.
Sean Purdy has been extradited to California to face murder charges.
On Wednesday Purdy appeared in court for the first time.
He has confessed to and has been charged with the slaying of his father.
KCRA News got hold of an affidavit associated with the case which uncovered new evidence held by the court.
The affidavit noted that two suspicious notes were found in the home upon inspection.
The first read:
“[Redacted] and Sean,
“These past few months have made me incredibly depressed. I have suicidal thoughts due to Sean’s recent failures and lack of love.
“If this is my final goodbye to the family, I want you to know I enjoyed this journey, even though it ended like this. I wish I had done better.
“Lance Purdy 12/31/19”
The second seemed to provide a more sinister warning. The note read:
“2 things you should know...
“1) I SEE YOU I’ve been waiting all day to see if you would bust in here.
“2) If you take from me, I will kill you in your sleep. (I know where you sleep) Walk away now. I’m an honest person, please don’t make me do this to you.”
While the first note claimed to be from Lance Purdy, his wife noted that the handwriting looked more similar to that of their son Sean, according to KCRA.
Another slip of paper was discovered in the home—a Walmart receipt.
On the receipt was listed a set of unsettling purchases which included a machete or saw, a shovel, shoes, a hooded sweatshirt, gloves, jeans, lighters, camping fuel and a latch.
Prosecutors believe Sean Purdy withdrew the entirety of his parents’ bank account, according to the affidavit KCRA procured.
The affidavit also stated Lance Purdy planned on visiting Sean Purdy to confront him about substance abuse.
The last text from Lance Purdy said he believed Sean Purdy was home, according to KCRA.
The Santa Clara reached out to Amador County Sheriff’s office for comment, but they could not provide any new details at this time.
Sean Purdy is currently incarcerated and under investigation in Amador County. If you or anyone you know has information regarding this case, please reach out to editor@thesantaclara.org.
Contact Meghan McLaughlin at mhmclaughlin@scu.edu and Noah Sonnenburg at nasonnenburg@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.