Randy Wayne Leach would be 55 now. He’s been missing from Linwood, Kansas, since April 15, 1988. The photos of Randy above include an age-progressed image to 51 years on the right.
Randy was last seen at a party at a friend’s house. He was driving his mother’s gray 1985 Dodge 600 sedan with Kansas plates: LVJ8721. One of his physical characteristics is a mole on his left ear.
According to The Charley Project, Randy’s disappearance is classified as a non-family abduction. At the time he disappeared, he was 17, stood 6’3″ tall and weighed around 220 pounds. He had brown hair and blue eyes, and was wearing a blue T-shirt with a pocket, blue Levi’s brand jeans, white socks, and low-cut sneakers.
In 1988, Randy was a Linwood High School senior. He left home on April 15, 1988, around 6:30 p.m. or 6:45 p.m. to attend a friend’s pre-graduation party. He stopped at Stouts’ Corner, a convenience store, for some items and gasoline. He met with a friend between 7:00-8:00 p.m., and they went to DeSoto to see the car Randy was restoring.
Randy is said to have arrived at the party between 9:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. after making his stops. For more pictures of Randy, including a photo of the vehicle similar to what he was driving, visit The Charley Project, which also indicates Randy had $50 to $60 in cash.
There was a high number of guests at the party. There was drugs and alcohol. Witnesses indicated Randy was behaving like he was drunk, but it’s also not clear if he was consuming alcohol and he allegedly told a friend he didn’t know what was wrong. It’s clear that the detectives who are helping Randy’s mother want anyone who was at that party that have not talked to anyone about this case, to reach out to the authorities.
It’s unknown exactly what time Randy left the party. Some reported seeing him as late as 2:15 a.m., and no one saw him leave. He also had a 12:30 a.m. curfew, something he usually adhered to. On April 16, his parents reported him missing.
According to investigators, when they arrived to the area of the party, it had already been cleaned up and there was no evidence found. Not long after Randy’s disappearance, the house where the party was held had been destroyed by fire.
The authorities don’t believe Randy left on his own because his family and friends indicated he didn’t have plans to leave home. He also had his vehicle he was restoring.
In 2001, Randy was declared legally dead according to The Charley Project or its resources. Randy is still listed on the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs #MP6284). While this website indicates Randy left the party at 6:30 p.m., that is the approximate time he left his home to go to the party. He’s also listed on the Doe Network (#6DMKS).
In September 2024, KSHB 41 published Renewed hope in 36-year-old cold case of missing Linwood teen Randy Leach–2 retired detectives join in search but are met with resistance. This is an in-depth article focused on where the case stood at the time and some of the obstacles it faced. Details surrounding the case are included. Go here to read it in its entirety.
The above article includes discussion with Randy’s mother and the two retired detectives. My takeaway was that Randy’s mother couldn’t have access to the case file because it’s still an open matter. Also, it appears that since the detectives are retired, they can’t have access either. The above article also discusses the various theories and rumors associated with this missing person’s case.
Randy’s dad, Harold Leach passed away in 2021, at age 79. The Lawrence Journal-World published his obituary on January 31, 2021. You can read it here.
If you have any information, please contact any of the following, and remember no detail is too small.