Following tragedy, faith guides the Savey family

On July 30, 2020, the Savey family’s lives changed forever.

Ezekiel Hopkins, 36, drove his vehicle into the family’s Windermere driveway, crashing into a tree and exiting the vehicle in an attempt to evade police officers. 

Hopkins beat John Savey, 61, and son Jay Savey, 30, to death with a baseball bat and left wife Lisa Savey beaten with severe injuries. 

On Friday, March 31, justice was served when Hopkins was convicted by an Orange County jury.

Judge Diego Madrigal presided over the case, and Assistant State Attorney Sean Wiggins represented the state.

Hopkins was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder and burglary with an assault. He was found guilty of all charges and sentenced to four life terms in prison.

“First, our hearts still break for their family, and we have promised to be by their side every step of this process,” Windermere Police Chief Dave Ogden said. “While no one truly wins in these horrendous acts of violence, the family is relieved this portion has concluded and justice is being served. Our town and the Windermere Police Department will continue to support the Savey family, and we consider them a part of our family. The family has endured this horrific tragedy with dignity, grace and incredible strength entirely attributed to their steadfast faith.”

HEARTBREAKING TRAGEDY

Ogden said the truth is no one will ever know why Hopkins did what he did the night of July 30, 2020. 

When Lisa Savey heard the commotion in the driveway, she looked out the window and thought someone was trying to steal their vehicle. Ogden said the defendant’s car lights were still on; they were the same color as those on the family’s vehicle.

Lisa Savey woke her husband, John Savey, who fell asleep with his grandson watching their favorite Thursday night show together. 

John Savey grabbed a baseball bat to protect his family, opened the garage door and encountered Hopkins. John Savey inquired what Hopkins was doing, and Hopkins charged him, grabbing the bat and eventually overpowering him. He beat him with the bat as they struggled inside the garage.

When the initial attack occurred, Lisa Savey was in the garage, and John Savey told her to run into their house and get their adult son, Jay Savey, whose bedroom was on the other side of the home.  

While on that side of the home, Lisa Savey noticed Hopkins approaching her in the kitchen area.  

Ogden said Hopkins looked at Lisa Savey, smacked the bat in his hand to indicate she was next and then attacked her as she tried to defend herself with her hands crossed over her head. Lisa Savey suffered from several broken bones in her wrist and forearm, as well as damage to her skull. 

Hopkins then went after Jay Savey. 

Lisa Savey said she heard her son pleading with Hopkins, saying he didn’t have to do this to them.  

Footprint evidence showed Hopkins followed Jay Savey outside the front of the home, where he murdered him with the bat. He then returned inside the house and killed John Savey; Lisa Savey heard what she described as another beating.  

Ogden said during this period, law enforcement arrived on the scene and observed the defendant inside the home.

Hopkins jumped over the body of John Savey and entered the hallway bathroom, where he barricaded himself for nearly four hours. 

Police said it is unknown what the suspect did inside the bathroom. However, officers were uncertain if Hopkins was armed.

At some point, Hopkins fell asleep, and the officers entered the bathroom and extracted him. The officers secured the home, rendered medical aid to Lisa Savey and rescued the 9-year-old grandson, who had called 911. 

Ogden said he was fortunate to witness the Savey family’s “great resolve,” during the past two years and the long trial week. 

“While still grieving and in pain, Sunday night, Lisa asked for two things to come out of the trial,” Ogden said. “The first was for God to be glorified, and the second was for justice to be served. On Tuesday, after the opening of the 911 tapes, we witnessed several of the jury members in tears, and Lisa’s response was to pray for them to endure the trial and find peace. She told me she knew how this could affect them seeing such gruesome things. This was one of the most selfless acts I have witnessed by a victim in my 37 years of police work.”

‘IT’S GOD ALL THE WAY’

When asked what has kept her going over the last few years, Lisa Savey said: “It’s God all the way.”

“I have so many people praying for me,” she said. “I heard there were people praying for me in other countries; there were two biker groups praying for me. I’ve got family in Washington State (who) are believers, and they had people praying for me. I’ve heard it’s all over that we have had people praying for us … people I’ve never even met. … It was very comforting to know.”

Lisa Savey said she could feel the prayers during her stay in the hospital.

“My mind was kind of in and out with the drugs I was given at the hospital, but I woke up to two of my girls — the third one was on the way to us — and I said, ‘How’s dad and Jay?’” she said. “And they just looked at me. They couldn’t say anything. I had never seen looks on their faces like that, and I said, ‘Both of them?’ And they just kind of nodded. … I remember praying, ‘Lord, please don’t let me be bitter.’ Because if I’m bitter, it’s going to affect everyone I know — my kids, our siblings, everybody. … It would be like poison, and you would be spewing poison on people. I just didn’t want to do that.” 

Jay Savey was the youngest of the family, with three older sisters: Ashley Lynette Savey, Jennifer Lea Savey and Kara Beth Savey Stagg.

Lisa Savey said her son and Jennifer Savey were especially close. 

“She always had protected him growing up, and I think she feels like she let him down by not protecting him that night,” Lisa Savey said. 

Lisa Savey said there are many family members and friends who are still very angry, and she has tried to talk to them and ask them not to be.

“Not for him (Hopkins), because he doesn’t care, but for their own sake,” she said. “I want them to let that go because you can’t live like that.”

On top of her family support system, Lisa Savey said the community’s support has been outstanding.

“The school my grandson had gone to for a long time, the police department, our church and the community in general just kind of wrapped their arms around us,” she said. “They walked with us. It’s not easy to ask for help, but we’ve just been blessed with a wonderful community.”

Ogden said with the WPD being a small agency, the level of service it provides is extremely important to him, and honor is No. 1.

“From Day 1, I knew we had to wrap our arms around this family, and it also gives us an opportunity to do things differently,” he said. “I’ve been doing this a long time, so I’ve lived through a lot of tragic events. But now we have a chance to kind of really surround the family as much as we can. In most situations, all you can do is walk beside people. These aren’t things that you can fix.”

Ogden said Lisa Savey’s faith has been amazing and she has continued to put others before herself.

“Usually, officers go to a scene, something terrible happens, and they never see those people again in their life,” he said. “This has been uniquely different. Officers almost never get this kind of closure. The officers actually got to hear from Lisa and hear her heart. I thought that was so important. … She provided some great healing for a lot of officers just with her positive faith. … For them to be able to see the family and to see that they’re going to make it through this has a huge impact on officer wellness.”

When the officers were angry and sad, Lisa Savey comforted them still.

“Police officers don’t like moral failures, because it’s our job to stop the bad guys from doing stuff, and this case just didn’t make sense,” Ogden said. “The family’s strong faith has just been amazing. It’s been a light for everybody to help guide them through whatever tough time they’re going through.” 

Ogden said what happened the night of July 30, 2020, will always be a part of everyone in the town. 

“Those officers — they didn’t have to come in that night,” Lisa Savey said. “Police have been run down so much lately, but it’s not fair. These guys put their lives on the line every day, and they came into a situation they had no clue about, and they protected me, they protected my grandson, and they got the bad guy. … I told them all, ‘I don’t know your name, but I love you guys. You guys are wonderful, and I will never forget you. I’ll always pray for you.’”

REMEMBERING JOHN AND JAY

Lisa Savey said her husband and son would have gone out of their way to help anyone.

“John was our glue; he was our fearless leader,” she said. “The kids loved him, the grandkids loved him, people that had worked for him loved him. I’ve been told by many people that he was the best boss they’ve ever had, because he was fair and honest. For us, he was a cheerleader, and he did the same for his employees.”

Jay Savey was borderline autistic and had different learning disabilities. But he was attending Orange Technical College to become a welder like Lisa Savey’s father.

“He was thrilled and so excited about all of that,” she said. 

Lisa Savey said both John and Jay Savey were huge Ohio State fans and had a great sense of humor. Jay Savey was similar to his father in more ways than one could count.

“They were just sweet, fun guys,” Lisa Savey said. “We live on a lake, and we had a fire pit down there, and some of our best nights were just roasting hot dogs and marshmallows and sitting there playing music and talking. We still honor them with a bonfire, even in the middle of summer.”

Lisa Savey said she obtained the pair’s lifelines from the funeral home and wears their names and thumbprints on a dog tag around her neck, close to her heart. 

“They loved God, and I know they’re with Him now,” she said. “That gives me a lot of peace to know that some day I’m going to get to see them again, because they’re going to be together with the Lord, and I’m going to get to see that.” 

Lisa Savey hopes her family and everyone impacted remembers John and Jay Savey are with the Lord, and they wouldn’t want anyone to be bitter, upset or angry.

“Our job is to try to walk with the Lord the way He wants us to and grow in our walk, mature in our walk,” she said. “Try to live a life that honors them.”

Ogden said he and Lisa Savey share similar faiths and he continues to be inspired by the family.

“We’re all here in this world and everything we’ve been through; in our faith, we’re called to share that with other people to help them get through a tough time,” Ogden said. “What we’ve seen the family go through is the ultimate resilience. It’s the ultimate resilience because of their deep faith.”