Lawrence “Larry” “LP” Powers of Murphys California presumed dead under suspicious circumstances after disappearing in 2007.
Sedona AZ (May 27, 2016) – The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help with a 2007 missing person’s case that has strong indications of foul play. The victim, Lawrence “Larry” J. Powers, 58 years old at the time, has been missing since April 9, 2007, when he was last seen in the company of Anthony Richards, then 44 years of age. The two men were seen together in Salome (AZ) and Wickenburg (AZ) that day at two different gold mining stores. The day prior, Powers and Richards were seen together at the LDMA (Lost Dutchman’s Mining Association) camp in Stanton, Arizona.
Powers and Richards were partners in the Big Nugget mining claim near Bagdad, Arizona, at the time Powers went missing.
Powers, also known as “Larry” or “LP”, would be 67 years of age today. He was 5’6″ tall and weighed about 135 pounds in 2007; Richards is now 53 years old and is 6’1″ in height and weighs about 200 pounds.
BACKGROUND – In June 2007, friends of Larry Powers reported him missing. Deputies learned that Powers had a joint mining claim outside of Bagdad, Arizona, with Anthony Richards. A missing persons report had also been filed by Powers family members in California with the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office as Powers home is located in the town of Murphys, California.
Purchases were discovered on Powers credit card which directly benefitted Richards. Powers family members expressed concern about his well-being and suspected Richards of foul play. In the weeks that followed, more claims from Powers friends concerning his safety in light of his relationship with Richards were documented.
The investigation was eventually turned over to YCSO detectives and Cold Case investigators who developed a timeline of activity for the pair. Part of the timeline involved the criminal use of Powers identity by Richards to purchase merchandise using Larry Power’s credit card. Powers was declared as presumed dead by the California Superior Court in 2012.
A lengthy investigation over the next period of years involving YCSO detectives and cold case volunteers resulted in a 23 count indictment against Richards for charges including Trafficking in Stolen Property belonging to Powers, Theft of a handgun belonging to Powers, Theft of a Credit Card belonging to Powers, Forgery, and 19 counts of Identity Theft for use of Powers credit to complete purchases in three different states. A majority of the credit charges were made following Powers reported disappearance. A warrant was issued and Richards was recently arrested in the Terrebonne, Oregon area, pending extradition. On May 5, 2016, YCSO detectives transported him from Oregon to the Camp Verde Detention Center where Richards remains in custody on a $100,000 bond.
YCSO investigators are seeking anyone with information on the whereabouts of Larry Powers and or anyone who has any knowledge of what lead to Power’s disappearance, as well as those who possess knowledge of Power’s relationship with Richards. Anyone with information is urged to call Detective John McDormett at 928-777-7334 or Yavapai Silent Witness at 1-800-932-3232.
Citizens can contact the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office with information or questions at 928-771-3260 or the YCSO website at www.ycsoaz.gov.
Read www.SedonaEye.com for daily news and interactive views!
