MI MI - Robert 'Dick' Lepsy, 33, Traverse City, 29 Oct 1969

[los2188]

Dick Lepsy

Robert Richard Lepsy, a grocery store manager, husband, and father of four, disappeared October 29 of 1969 and hasn't been seen or heard from since. Dick Lepsy's station wagon was found in the parking lot of the Cherry Capitol Airport in Traverse City, Michigan, a few days after he disappeared. The keys were in the ignition and a half a pack of Dick’s favorite cigarettes were on the dash. If he fled Northern Michigan, all he had with him were the clothes on his back.

Dick Lepsy/ D.B. Cooper??

This missing person is very similar in appearance to the D.B. Cooper suspect sketches and has not been seen since the skyjacking. Many experts believe the Cooper suspect died during the jump. He is also the same height, weight, and has the same hair and eye color. Dick Lepsy vanished October 29, 1969 from Grayling Michigan. His car was found a few day later in an airport parking lot.

http://www.michiganmysteries.com/#/lepsy/4581551701

 

[Richard]

Amazing similarity between the photo and the sketch. Even the sunglasses match!

There have been many theories and speculations over the past decades as to who "D.B.Cooper" was.

Actually, the mystery man signed on the flight as "Dan Cooper" and it was the FBI that screwed up and released the name D.B.Cooper to the press and into American folk lore. An FBI agent in Washington State attempted to locate any "Dan Cooper" in the area where the plane flight originated, and the closest name he could find in the phone directory was "D.B. Cooper". He quickly learned that it was not the person they were after, but some how that name was released.

There are a number of facts which are actually known about the hijacker, and there is a thread here on Websleuths which discusses the case in some detail.

Surprising that Dick Lepsy has not been listed among the missing sooner than this. Do you have any more information about him?

 

[Tulessa]

I hope los gets interested in these old cases. They are fascinating and he's a darn good researcher.

 

[Nmiwrecks]

Dick Lepsy is probably one of the most obscure missing person cases out there. He was originally thought to have run off, but family and co-workers now believe something happened to him the day he disappeared, October 29, 1969. He does bare a striking resemblance to the D.B. Cooper suspect. I wrote a book about his case and another story of a couple who disappeared with their Cessna aircraft entitled:"STILL MISSING: Rethinking the D.B.Cooper Case and Other Mysterious Unsolved Disappearances". I hope to draw attention to these two cases and hopefully generate information that will lead to there resolutions.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Missing for 45 years today. Whether he was met with foul play or decided to leave on his own accord, I hope his family gets some kind of closure soon.

 

[Nmiwrecks]

Today is the 45th anniversary of the disappearance of this man, Dick Lepsy. His car was found in the Cherry Capitol Airport parking lot in Traverse City, unlocked, keys in the ignition and half a pack of cigarettes on the dash. He was never seen or heard from again. This is one of Michigan's most obscure missing person cases.

Dick was a married father of four. He lived in Grayling and was the manager of Glen’s Market there. He was 33 years old when he vanished. If you find the time, please send the Lepsy family positive thoughts and prayers. Please share.

 

[skydelta3574]

Interesting, I've never heard of this case until now. Bumping, I suppose.

 

[Satch]

Interesting!

Was his name "Robert" or "Dick?" Charley Project refers to him as Robert Lepsy. Dick would be a nickname for Richard, as Bob would be a nickname or Robert. What name was traditionally associated with this individual? Charlie Project lists Richard as his middle name:

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/l/lepsy_robert.html

Satch

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Here's a recent article that talks more about Lepsy and D.B. Cooper.

Could missing man from Grayling, Mich. be D.B. Cooper?

 

[Richard]

Bumping. Missing for almost 49 years now.

 

[Satch]

Recent article. Former FBI agents claims they found the REAL DB Cooper! Will they re-open the case? That is the question:

D.B. Cooper: Investigators Claim They’ve Discovered Skyjacker’s Identity – Rolling Stone

Satch

 

[Richard]

Interesting possibility, but I think a rather remote one, that Lepsy and "D.B. Cooper" are the same person. However, the case of Lepsy's disappearance is a fascinating one.

 

[Richard]

Missing for over 50 years now...

 

[Richard]

Robert "Dick" Lepsy, missing since 29 October 1969

 

[Richard]

Robert "Dick" Lepsy, with his family circa 1969

LINK:

Robert Richard "Dick" Lepsy - Disappeared on October 29, 1969 | wzzm13.com

 

[CastlesBurning]

They have been missing in Michigan the longest: 12 people last seen before 1970



Robert Richard Lepsy was last seen on Oct. 29, 1969, in Grayling.

He left his place of employment mid-afternoon for lunch and was never seen again.

His car was found abandoned in a parking lot in Traverse City three days later. The doors were unlocked, keys were in the ignition and cigarettes were on the dashboard.

He has a scar on his scalp and his two front teeth are crooked. He was last seen wearing a pumpkin-colored crew neck sweatshirt, London Fog beige raincoat and black loafers.

He was legally declared dead in 1976.

Robert Richard Lepsy	Details
Missing Age	33
Current Age	85
Height	5′10′' - 6′
Weight	180 - 190 lbs
Eyes	Brown
Hair	Black

Anyone with information should contact the Grayling City Police at 989-348-4621.

 

[Pennysmom1]

Updated 5/1/2022

4425DMMI - Robert Richard Lepsy

4425DMMI - Robert Richard Lepsy​

Name: Robert Richard Lepsy
Case Classification: Missing
Missing Since: October 29, 1969
Location Last Seen: Grayling, Crawford County, Michigan

Physical Description​

Date of Birth: July 26, 1936
Age: 33 years old
Race: White
Gender: Male
Height: 5'10-6'0"
Weight: 180-190 lbs.
Hair Color: Black hair, balding
Eye Color: Dark brown
Nickname/Alias: Dick
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Scar from pineal cyst removal on scalp

Identifiers​

Dentals: Crooked front 2 teeth
Fingerprints: Unknown
DNA: Unknown

Clothing & Personal Items​

Clothing: Blue jeans, pumpkin colored crew neck sweater, London Fog beige raincoat, black loafers
Jewelry: Watch
Additional Personal Items: Unknown

Circumstances of Disappearance​

On October 29, 1969, Robert, a manager at Glen's Market left work for a midafternoon lunch break, stating he was going for a ride. A couple of hours later, Richard called the grocery store from the nearby town of Traverse City and said he was talking the rest of the day off. He was never seen or heard from again.

Three days later, Richard's station wagon was found abandoned in the Traverse City Cherry Capitol Airport's parking lot. The car was unlocked with the keys in the ignition and half a pack of cigarettes left on the dashboard.

Because of the unusual circumstances surrounding Richard’s disappearance, he was not officially considered a missing person until 2011. He was declared legally dead in 1976.

It was considered that he might be the hijacker DB Cooper due to his resemblance when he went missing.

Investigating Agency(s)​

Agency Name: Grayling City Police Department
Agency Contact Person: Chief Doug Baum
Agency Phone Number: 989-348-4621
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: 40-0443-11

Information Source(s)​

NamUs
WZZM-News

Admin Notes​

Added: 5/8/11; Last Updated: 5/1/22 - By: hb

 

[PGHJW]

In 1986 the wife and daughter seemed fairly confident that he was alive. Who knows if this was because of some facts/information that have never be revealed. Nevertheless, it's not uncommon to live to be 87 years old these days. He could very well be alive if he did in fact take off.