Sarah Lou Gammons was an avid piano player, and played during Sunday church services at the Gustine Presbyterian Community Church in Gustine CA 31 miles West of Merced CA and was married to the pastor, Reverend Kenneth Gammons. She also spent her time running an after school program for children.

On February 16, 1973, sometime after the children left for the day she would be found by her husband beaten and stabbed to death.

According to the archives of a local newspaper, Sarah’s husband found his wife stabbed in the face multiple times. She also had slash wounds to her neck. Sarah had been found in a home on the church’s property.