In July 2016, 14-year-old Grace Packer vanished from her home in Abington Township, Pennsylvania. For months, there were no answers—until her dismembered remains were discovered in a remote part of Luzerne County. What came next would horrify even seasoned investigators.
Grace hadn’t just been failed—she had been betrayed by the very people who were supposed to protect her. Her adoptive mother, Sara Packer, and Sara’s boyfriend, Jacob Sullivan, had planned and carried out Grace’s assault and murder as part of a disturbing and premeditated fantasy.
This case exposes deep cracks in the foster care and adoption systems, and the horrifying consequences when red flags are ignored. It’s a story of manipulation, cruelty, and a justice system trying to make sense of a senseless act.
