Steroids dealer who talked to NFL commits suicide -- twice

[Deftoner]

Nothing suspicious about this at all. Nothing to see. Move along.

Convicted steroids dealer David Jacobs found dead in Plano home

11:54 AM CDT on Thursday, June 5, 2008
By JASON TRAHAN / The Dallas Morning News
jtrahan@dallasnews.com

Convicted steroids dealer David Jacobs, who recently agreed to tell the NFL which football players received banned substances he manufactured, was found dead in his Plano home this morning.

The body of a woman identified as Amanda Jo Earhart-Savell, 30, and a gun were also found at the home.

About 11:30 a.m., four men in ski masks and raid jackets with “police” on the back — indicating they may be undercover narcotics officers — arrived at the busy scene and entered the home with a cart to carry documents.

The Dallas Morning News spoke to Mr. Jacobs frequently and exchanged e-mails with him as recently as this weekend. He was interested in getting on with his life after accepting a plea deal for three years of probation on charges related to his steroids trafficking.

Mr. Jacobs said he wanted to rebuild his nutritional supplement business, but he was having trouble getting his old client base to work with him. He also was having financial problems, but the former Marine seemed to be in good spirits.

Art Atwood, a nationally noted bodybuilder and former close friend of Mr. Jacobs, is himself awaiting sentencing on charges related to steroids trafficking. He said Thursday such stresses and pressures are “a recipe for disaster.”

He described Mr. Jacobs as a passionate man. “Whatever he did it was 100 percent. Full blaze on.”

His attorney, Hank Hockeimer, said early Thursday he had not yet been briefed on the situation at the home.

On May 21, Mr. Jacobs met with NFL security officials to share information about steroids use and their football players.

Mr. Jacobs has publicly accused ex-Dallas Cowboys lineman Matt Lehr of buying large quantities of banned substances, but has never for the record named other football players who received the steroids he manufactured.

Mr. Hockeimer said this of the meeting at the time:

“The general topic was his knowledge of steroid and human growth hormone use by current and former players. They were thorough in their questioning. David provided them with documents corroborating what he was telling them.”

Mr. Hockeimer would not say which players were discussed. But he said Mr. Jacobs provided documentary evidence of claims he was making.

At the time of Mr. Jacobs’ alleged transactions with Mr. Lehr, the football player was playing for the Atlanta Falcons. He is now signed with the New Orleans Saints.

Mr. Lehr’s attorney, Paul Coggins, has said prosecutors have informed him that Mr. Lehr will not be indicted in the Jacobs case.

Federal agents had been investigating Mr. Lehr for alleged distribution to other players, but have not commented on his status, other than to say the case is ongoing.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello at the time declined to comment on the meeting between Mr. Jacobs and league officials. He did say that the league was not paying Mr. Jacobs for his information.

Outside the Sherman federal courthouse, having just been sentenced on May 1, Mr. Jacobs said that he wanted to share his knowledge of testing loopholes and the prevalence of performance enhancing-drug use with the NFL to “clean up” the game.

Mr. Jacobs imported raw powder from China and made steroids, which he sold through a network that investigators believe could be one of the largest in the United States.

His six co-defendants were either personal trainers or amateur bodybuilders.

Staff Writer Richard Abshire contributed to this report.

[Deftoner]

Jerry Jones really did take care of business this week. First Pac-Man, then TO, now the steroids dealer. He's like Michael Corleone.

[bbrownso]

The guy already talked to NFL security about the players who bought steroids. It helps to read the whole article. :P

On May 21, Mr. Jacobs met with NFL security officials to share information about steroids use and their football players.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello at the time declined to comment on the meeting between Mr. Jacobs and league officials. He did say that the league was not paying Mr. Jacobs for his information.

[Ronin]

Originally Posted by Deftoner

Jerry Jones really did take care of business this week. First Pac-Man, then TO, now the steroids dealer. He's like Michael Corleone.

Cut it out Def.

[Lawdog]

There is little doubt there is more to this double murder.

[Deftoner]

Originally Posted by Ronin

Cut it out Def.

Today, we settle all family business.

[Deftoner]

OK, so Jerry Jones didn't have him killed. He just convinced him to do the right thing like Tom did to Frankie Pentangeli in Godfather II.

They sat in a hot bath, opened up their veins, and bled to death. And sometimes they had a little party before they did it.

M.E. says Jacobs shot himself twice; no ruling on other victim
ESPN.com news services

Updated: June 6, 2008, 3:27 PM ET

DALLAS -- A convicted steroids dealer who claimed to have sold drugs to pro football players killed himself, the Dallas County medical examiner said Friday.

Plano police found David Jacobs, 35, and Amanda Jo Earhart-Savell, 30, dead of gunshot wounds Thursday in Jacobs' Plano home. A Glock 40 semi-automatic handgun was found beside Jacobs' body; no other firearms were found in the home, Plano police officer Andrae Smith said.

The medical examiner said Jacobs suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the abdomen and the head. The final report is expected in the next 48 hours.

Authorities said Earhart-Savell was shot several times, but they issued no ruling whether it was a suicide or homicide. About a dozen investigators are working the case, police said.

Plano police officer Andrae Smith said it may take several days before they know exactly what happened to her. The investigation is consistent with a murder-suicide, "but we never rule anything out," he said.

"The investigation will look at the nature of the relationship [between Jacobs and Earhart-Savell] and tie things together," Smith said.

Earhart-Savell was a professional fitness competitor.

Police found the bodies when they went to the house after relatives of Earhart-Savell expressed concern about her whereabouts.

Jacobs met recently with NFL security officials and gave them names of players he said bought steroids from him.

Jacobs was sentenced to three years' probation and fined $25,000 in May after pleading guilty last year in federal court in Dallas to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute anabolic steroids.

Jacobs publicly identified former Dallas Cowboy Matt Lehr as one player who bought drugs from him. Lehr's attorney, Paul Coggins, has said the player passed NFL drug tests since he was suspended for four games during the 2006 season.

Lehr also played for Tampa Bay and Atlanta.

[Lawdog]

Originally Posted by Deftoner

OK, so Jerry Jones didn't have him killed. He just convinced him to do the right thing like Tom did to Frankie Pentangeli in Godfather II.

They sat in a hot bath, opened up their veins, and bled to death. And sometimes they had a little party before they did it.

Sounds more like Hannibal Lecter to me... Clarise.... oh Clarise.....?!?

[drarcher]

Jerry has the money to make sure it looked lik a suicide.