KS KS - Randy Leach, 17, Linwood, 15 Apr 1988

[Sonny Crockett]

Just heard about this extremely sad case. RL was a kid who had his whole life ahead of him, and then vanishes without a trace. I agree with others that one of two things probably happened here:

1) Something happened to RL at the party. I.e., either an alcohol overdose or something else. And, the other party-goers panicked due to fearing they would get in trouble - so, they disposed of RL & his car.

If this is what happened, it may have been similar to the well-known Kurt Sova case - also from the '80's. However, in that case KS was later found.

2) Since RL's car still hasn't been found, it's very plausible that RL accidentally drove his car into a body of water, drowned - and he/his car still haven't been found. This type of thing has happened in the past; i.e., someone drives into a body of water & is found many years later. I.e., the car could have sunk to the bottom of a lake/river; the car could have been washed down-stream; etc.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

As of Oct. 11, the organization said the case has officially been dubbed a homicide and not a missing persons cold case, however, Leach and the vehicle have never been recovered. Therefore, there is no evidence yet that a homicide actually occurred.

In Search of Randy Leach | Linwood KS

In Search of Randy Leach, Linwood, Kansas. 12,871 likes · 123 talking about this. We are a group of friends helping Harold and Alberta Leach search for their son Randy. Admin for this page is Betty...

www.facebook.com

Those in search of Randy Leach hope new feature will uncover new information

Those who continue to search for a man who disappeared more than 35 years ago hope a new feature on his missing poster will help uncover new information.

www.wibw.com

 

[annpats]

RL's car still hasn't been found, it's very plausible that RL accidentally drove his car into a body of water, drowned - and he/his car still haven't been found. This type of thing has happened in the past; i.e., someone drives into a body of water & is found many years later. I.e., the car could have sunk to the bottom of a lake/river; the car could have been washed down-stream; etc.

Yes, I also think the car being missing is the clue too.

Is there anyway we can find out the license plate or VIN and can check if it was ever found/stolen/sold...even in another state.

I shall also have a look on google satellite for any potential lakes around the Linwood, KS area.

His drink y have been spiked, he he may have driven off into a lake or river.

Or a nefarious person may have killed him and put him in his car and pushed the car into a body of water to hide all evidence.

 

[annpats]

Local bodies of water to Linwood, KS.

Linwood is right on the Kansas River. In some places nearby it is over 1000 feet wide. Not sure of depth.

Less than 30 miles from Linwood are 2 lakes. Clifton Lake and Perry Lake, both look quite large. It's not beyond the realms of possibility he and his car could be in here, especially if someone else killed him, and drove him in his own car to dispose.of evidence.

Maps attached below.

 

[Valiant]

Yes, I also think the car being missing is the clue too.

Is there anyway we can find out the license plate or VIN and can check if it was ever found/stolen/sold...even in another state.

I shall also have a look on google satellite for any potential lakes around the Linwood, KS area.

His drink y have been spiked, he he may have driven off into a lake or river.

Or a nefarious person may have killed him and put him in his car and pushed the car into a body of water to hide all evidence.

If the original agency flagged the VIN, it would have been notified of any activity.

 

[annpats]

If the original agency flagged the VIN, it would have been notified of any activity.

Good to know. Thank you.

It's the VIN has been flagged and nothing has come if it, it looks like a body of water may be the most likely option then.

 

[iamnotagolem]

As of Oct. 11, the organization said the case has officially been dubbed a homicide and not a missing persons cold case, however, Leach and the vehicle have never been recovered. Therefore, there is no evidence yet that a homicide actually occurred.

In Search of Randy Leach | Linwood KS

In Search of Randy Leach, Linwood, Kansas. 12,871 likes · 123 talking about this. We are a group of friends helping Harold and Alberta Leach search for their son Randy. Admin for this page is Betty...

www.facebook.com

Those in search of Randy Leach hope new feature will uncover new information

Those who continue to search for a man who disappeared more than 35 years ago hope a new feature on his missing poster will help uncover new information.

www.wibw.com

Wow! I really have always been of the opinion that he ended up in a body of water with his car. They must have some sort of evidence that he was murdered for this to be a homicide case, right?

 

[dotr]

Lengthy.

Sep 23, 2024

Renewed hope in 36-year-old cold case of missing Linwood teen Randy Leach

Two retired detectives are met with resistance as they try to put new eyes on the 36-year-old cold case of missing Linwood teenager Randy Leach.

www.kshb.com

'LINWOOD, Kan. — Renewed hope and cautious optimism are putting the mysterious disappearance of a Linwood, Kansas, teenager back in the spotlight.

KSHB 41 I-Team reporter Sarah Plake learned two retired detectives with decades of experience are now in the search for Randy Leach. He was 17 when he disappeared in 1988.'
'The I-Team also learned the law enforcement agencies involved in the case have put up a wall and will not let the detectives in.'

''Alberta Leach, Randy's mother, invited the I-Team to her home in Linwood where not much has changed since the 80s.
Her close friends, Betty and Larry, and the two retired detectives, Joe Langer and Mark Rokusek, gathered for a meal.
In Alberta's kitchen, heads bow for a prayer before anyone eats.
"We ask that maybe, at Your will, that will get somebody to talk," Larry said.
It's a prayer that has been repeated for 36 years.
"Help us find Randy. In Jesus' name, Amen," Larry continued.''

Leach family, KSHB
The license plate on the car Randy was driving may have looked similar to this one.

 

[dotr]

Sep 23, 2024
There's a renewed hope in the 36-year-old cold case of missing Linwood teen Randy Leach.

 

[RBC69]

Wow! I really have always been of the opinion that he ended up in a body of water with his car. They must have some sort of evidence that he was murdered for this to be a homicide case, right?

I thought the same thing. Reading the story on the Charley Project the first thing I thought of was that he might have gone into a body of water, but it seems the cops must have heard enough rumblings to think something happened to the kid. Either way I hope the family gets answers soon.

 

[Andreee]

I thought the same thing. Reading the story on the Charley Project the first thing I thought of was that he might have gone into a body of water, but it seems the cops must have heard enough rumblings to think something happened to the kid. Either way I hope the family gets answers soon.

I think AWP checked out some bodies of water several yrs ago to no avail. But of course that doesnt rule it out.

 

[MontanaMan]

I am still very bothered by this case and probably always will be. I did my utmost best to investigate this case right after it happened, so have been at it since Randy disappeared. I never put any credence in the Satanic Panic junk, so that was out the window from the beginning. I have just spent an hour or so, reading through this whole thread, and it has given me a few more ideas, but definitely nothing concrete as of yet. I don't know why this case out of all the thousands affects me so, but it always has. I think it is because Randy was an only child, and because I can relate with Randy's parents, though Harold has now passed on.
As of today, 29 October of 2024, I hope Alberta is still going as strong as she is able, and that some answers in her only child's disappearance will come soon. I just don't want it to be too late for Alberta too. She deserves to know what happened to her son. My suspicions still fall on some of the locals, and everyone who was at that party the night Randy disappeared. Someone knows something! I can almost guarantee that someone in the area knows exactly what happened to Randy, but is still choosing to not come forward. Talk about some bad karma! I hope that the guilty person or persons, read the many posts on this thread here on WS. Maybe it will melt the ice in their hearts and they will finally spill the pertinent info before we lose Alberta too. I don't even know if she is still around, but I sure hope she is.
One way or another, we are going to get this case solved. Whomever the person(s) is, that has the pertinent information, that they have been carrying around for many years now, I hope they will find the courage and temerity to just pick up the phone, or type an email and send it to the proper investigating authorities. I am sure they can choose to be anonymous if they want to be. Hasn't enough time passed? I certainly think it has, and I truly hope the person(s) who have the info, will just do the right thing and spill it. The time to be truthful, and to help get this disappearance solved permanently, is now. Let's get this one solved, not only for Randy's sake, but for Alberta's, as well.