Archive for Sunday, October 1, 2006
KU play explores teen’s disappearance
Unsolved 1988 case still haunts parents in Linwood
October 1, 2006
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Harold Leach has pretty much given up hope that his son, Randy, will ever be found alive.
But the Linwood man still has hope that he’ll learn what happened to Randy.
That hope, at least for the moment, lies in “Leaves of Words,” a play about the mystery written by a Kansas University graduate student that will make its premiere next weekend.
“We thought it would be a terrific idea, and we were more than happy to get any help we could on it,” Leach says. “We knew it might generate some curiosity and maybe a phone call or two with some insight into what did take place. I don’t know much more now about what happened than I did 18 years ago.”
The play, produced by KU’s English Alternative Theatre, was written by Tim Macy, a Topeka student majoring in playwriting.
He got the idea from his father, who was interested in the case and collected newspaper clippings on it.
At the time, Leach’s disappearance was big news locally. He was last seen April 15, 1988, at a party five miles from his home.
“I thought it would be a good subject,” Macy says. “I went out and talked with (Harold Leach) for a little while to feel him out and see if he was receptive. We ended up talking for three hours.”
Randy Leach
The play, which runs about one hour, 20 minutes, features Lawrence actor Jeremy Auman playing the part of Harold Leach. The father character narrates the play, going through various scenarios that could have happened to his son.
“It’s more the hashing-out of the scenarios with the father,” Macy says. “I wanted to illustrate this is a frustrated person because he ran into so many brick walls.”
Not only have investigators never found Randy Leach, they never found the 1985 Dodge 500 he was driving at the time.
The various scenarios — dealt with both by investigators and in the play — range from suicide or runaway to being murdered by drug dealers or satanists.
Macy sorted through hundreds of police reports and other documents to write the play and tried to include as many possible scenarios as he could.
“Even with that, I didn’t manage to get all the scenarios in,” he says. “It could have been a four-hour, epic play.”
‘Intense play’
Past Event
"Leaves of Words"
- When: Friday, October 6, 2006, 8 p.m. to 9:20 p.m.
- Where: Lawrence Arts Center, 940 N.H., Lawrence
- Cost: $6 - $10
- More on this event....
The story — both in real life and onstage — is captivating, actors involved say.
“One thing this play does is it really pulls the thousands of pieces of information together into one dramatic fashion,” Auman says.
Garrett Kelly, a freshman from Tonganoxie who plays Randy Leach in the production, says it’s not difficult to put himself in a similar situation.
“It’s a very intense play and story,” Kelly says. “He’s sort of my age, too, so it’s scary to think about it. I’ve been to parties.”
Kelly says there’s added pressure knowing the case affected local people.
“It’s really tough,” he says. “I never knew this person, and this was a real person. People coming to see the play know this kid, and this story affected people. You have to imitate it, but you can’t recreate it.”
Parents’ hope
Mackenzie Wiglesworth, left, a KU sophomore from Olathe, portrays a girlfriend of Randy Leach in a rehearsal with Tonganoxie freshman Garrett Kelly, who portrays the missing teen. The play, by the English Alternative Theatre, examines several story lines of what could have happened to Leach, who disappeared in 1988.
Harold Leach and his wife, Alberta, plan to attend all three performances of “Leaves of Words.” They say many friends and family also will attend.
“I know it won’t be easy, but it’s kind of like you don’t really have a choice as far as we’re concerned,” Leach says. “It’s something we need to do.”
Detectives have opened new investigations into the case occasionally through the years. The most recent came in late 2002, when the Leavenworth County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation briefly formed a task force to look at the case.
But that investigation, like the others, didn’t lead anywhere. Leach still isn’t sure which — if any — of the scenarios he’s thought of seems most plausible.
He still has hope that a show such as “America’s Most Wanted” will pick up the story and shed a national spotlight on it.
But for now, he’s hoping the play and new media attention surrounding it might convince someone to finally explain what happened.
“A lot of the guys now — this was 18 years ago — may have children almost as old as Randy was,” Leach says. “We’d hope they had some sort of conscience, even if they were involved. All it takes is one phone call.”
From left, actors Jeremy Auman, KU graduate, portrays Harold Leach, Randy’s father; Dylan Walker, KU senior from Anchorage, Alaska, portrays a drug addict, and Robert Steele, senior from Kansas City, Kan., portrays a police officer in a rehearsal from “Leaves of Words.” The play opens Friday at the Lawrence Arts Center.
1 October 2006 at 10:20 a.m.
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Kelly Powell (Kelly Powell) says…
If they use real names in this play I stop it while it is on stage…..The leach's are hurting over randy, I sympathize with them…..What they fail to understand or care about is the other people who have been hurt too….hurt by rumors that got started,the lies and innuendos that have cause more than a few people to have to be interviewed every few years by investigators…..I wonder if harold told the writer the stuff about him and terry martin …martin who would play himself off as a reporter for the kc star or unsolved mysteries…..martin who seduced a female detective and illegally obtained the investigation reports for the leach case….martin who then tried to sell them to anybody he could…martin(aka harry lee harper) who ran off when his plans fell through and using the story that “the satanist” were out to muder him(sounds like a great story to sell).
Or i wonder if harold told the story about how he gave his cousin my address and the man held me and witnesses at gunpoint until the cops managed to show up…..other peoples lives have been ruined by this and never one word of apology from him and his family when all the evidence proves them wrong on many things.
the best article written about this (the martin thing not the gun thing) is done by the kc star you will have to look in the archives, but the story is well worth the couple of bucks.
1 October 2006 at 12:36 p.m.
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Jeremy Auman (Jeremy Auman) says…
The only name used in this play is Randy Leach. Mr. Rombeck and other journalists covering the performance have chosen to write their coverage more on the case than on the play itself. This is a theatrical event not Cold Case Files. It is unfotunate and probabaly unavoidable when dealing with such material. This is sensitve stuff, many people have had their lives “ruined” over this thing. This play has no answers and never proclaims to. It explores many possible scenarios not all of which are favorable toward the Leaches. The play is called Leaves of Words, it is about words, so many generated by so many people over so many years.
It is unfortunate that innocent people heve been harrassed, and many people are owed apologies, and all of us as human beings that value life are owed answers. Since the beginining this investigation has been flawed. Leaves of Words recognizes that this is the most true fact, other than the fact that Randy hasn't been seen since that night. Plays serve many functions and this play doesn't solely exsist to put forth Harold Leach's theories, or any others for that matter. What happend here is a prime example of the American Justice system failing. Although times were different then and in missing person cases esp. involving teens the authorities were more apt to take a “wait and see” approach. That's why as years go by people will be questioned repeatedly, new investigators have to check statements, and in a case filled with pages and pages of conjecture and rhetoric the facts are blurred.
Martin even though he was trying to “make his name” did do thorough research, in fact the Star barely covered the case, perhaps to avoid assocation with Martin's scandolous and fraudulent behavior. Nevertheless, the play is not in “bad taste” and to suggest not writing about a case that is not solved, is the proverbial ostrich in the sand, and a recuring theme in regards to the Leach case. Harold Leach was forthcoming on the good, the bad, and the ugly of this case. He did not write, or have anything to do with the production other than providing documents and telling stories to the playwright, thru the course of their interviews.
Many lives were ruined, and regardless of how people feel about Mr Leach and his obsession with the case, witnesses and police ineptitude, one fact is clear: Randy Leach is gone with no explanation. No father, mother, aunt, friend or human being should have to live with that. Unfortunately in our society it happens all the time. We can cast blame on ghosts and shadows or we can stand up in whatever way possible to keep things like this from happening. That is what Leaves of Words might help to accomplish.
1 October 2006 at 6 p.m.
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Kelly Powell (Kelly Powell) says…
Sounds fine and dandy until you are the one staring down a barrel of a 357 with a drunk meth head interrogating you….and the star did a whole page and 3/4 of another about the martin aspect….i've personally seen the rumor mill take off every time there is another investigation and I'm telling you this right here and now, this play will help warp more peoples perceptions just as much as 18 years have.
1 October 2006 at 6:06 p.m.
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Kelly Powell (Kelly Powell) says…
And if you were harassed as much as me and others over something for allmost 20 years, i believe you would want to bury that damm ostrich all the way into the sand…..have fun hurting people for your art.
1 October 2006 at 7:17 p.m.
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Katmandu (Anonymous) says…
rednekbuddha - What did happen at the Erwin's party the night that Randy Leach disappeared? You were there. Why not use this forum to enlighten us with your version of events?
1 October 2006 at 8:33 p.m.
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Kelly Powell (Kelly Powell) says…
Because it was allmost 20 years ago…I have answered to legal authoritys and to harold leach…..I want this done…obviously telling the truth has not done a damm thing….this sh!t is cyclic…about every three years I have to see that f*cking picture again….I have no idea what happened to this guy, but as anybodys god as my witness, if he shows up alive somewhere I will beat him to death for the grief he has caused me and mine.
1 October 2006 at 8:56 p.m.
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Katmandu (Anonymous) says…
You sound as though you are prone to violence.
1 October 2006 at 10:35 p.m.
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pity2bu (Anonymous) says…
rednekbuddha don't bring God into this as a witness, because he can never take the witness stand and testify on behalf of your integrity. When you use something like this phrase you must be hiding something.
Open the case up and letttt'sss digggggggggg till we can't diggggg anymore. If that's for years then let's do it.
2 October 2006 at 10:43 a.m.
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Kelly Powell (Kelly Powell) says…
spend the cash and do a background search on me if you are so interested ……Plus this is not “digging”, This is a play…..How much of it is fiction? I'll find out when I see it….As for hiding something…I do not see your name behind your moniker….What are you hiding?
If I decided to make a comic book about this whole fiasco, I bet the leaches would raise a stink about it….i know, I'm a heartless b*stard for being fed up and sick of having to deal with a persons disappearance for allmost 20 years….I have allready had at least 10 people come up and tell me about this play and proceed with the whole armchair detective b.s….how many more will it be after the play?
If i was truly “prone” to violence, I would of exacted payback years ago….i was the one held at gunpoint, and I was the one who dropped charges as a token of goodwill…..Did I ever get a thank you?I was accused by harold and martin years back….Something along the lines of”we know you did it, but if you show us where the body is we will give you money, immunity and make you a hero”….This line of b.s was followed by accusations of me being a satanist and my best friend being worse….I called harold a few years later and told him i forgave him for this…..What irks me is the man never once tried talking to me….I would of told him the same thing(the truth) but he had to go all sherlock holmes at me…..he acted put out that I contacted him!
I have cooperated with the cops from day one…..i went out of my way not to get into a feud with the leache family…..Man, I must be some kind of monster.
2 October 2006 at 4:09 p.m.
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Kelly Powell (Kelly Powell) says…
and pity2bu….in what context was i calling god forth to testify to my integrity? i swore on any gods name that if the guy was alive i would beat him lifeless for the trouble he has caused people….believe me that exact quote is in the last deposition i gave to the police three years ago…. here is a question…I passed a polygraph…did harold leach ever have to take one?
2 October 2006 at 5:53 p.m.
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Katmandu (Anonymous) says…
My understanding is that Harold did take a polygraph during the 2002 re-investigation - and he passed. Harold shares his ideas as to what he thinks happened at the party with anyone who asks. I'm sure that you have told your story to the police, but the public has not heard your take on what was happening that night. Tell us what was going on the party. What do you think happened to Randy Leach?
2 October 2006 at 9:43 p.m.
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Kelly Powell (Kelly Powell) says…
who are you? I do not give information to a masked man….I have told my story to anybody who has asked me to my face….What is the basis of your understanding? are you part of this thing or just another vulture?You want to know, put your real name up on the board like I have……..Here is the gist of it though….I went to a party,….randy was intoxicated….I left the party….two weeks later I am being hassled by the cops….That is what it really boils down to….Myself(outsider) and my best friend(local weirdo) and a whole bunch of townies caving in to the leading questions of the leavenworth county cops(who was using the whole thing as carte blanche to crack down on drug dealers)so i will ask once again….who are you? put up a name or shut up.
2 October 2006 at 9:58 p.m.
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justsomewench (Anonymous) says…
beat 'em to the punch, kelly. sounds like it's been an interesting ride. there's an author out there that'd put it down on paper for ya, surely.
i've always heard this story, but never really knew much about it…sounds like it got a lot creepier than it had to.
3 October 2006 at 12:46 p.m.
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AslanTheLion (Anonymous) says…
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
3 October 2006 at 2:23 p.m.
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Kelly Powell (Kelly Powell) says…
Screw you buddy….walk in my shoes for 18 years and see how warm and gooey you would feel about this…..i do not remember ME lying to the leach family….I certainly do not remember ME putting a gun to anyones head and threatening their life……while on the other hand I remember THEM doing this to me……I cooperated for 18 years and the one time i told them i was sick of answering question(the same questions) I was thrown in jail for the weekend…..i have property confiscated by the cops and never returned….How much testing do you need to do before you can say it has nothing to do with this case?
and let's look at the lies here….Harold says he got police investigation reports from unknown sources…but in the kc star article, sept 5, 1993 shows that he was given this material by martin, who got it from weston(a detective who was suduced by martin….I wonder how her husband , the sheriff felt about this?) Hell, i have the reports……why lie about this?
Anytime in the last 18 years the leach family could of tried talking to me like a human being….but what they did was harrass my family through the mail….so i'm a cold bastard…I am what THEY made me.
3 October 2006 at 2:38 p.m.
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Kelly Powell (Kelly Powell) says…
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
3 October 2006 at 2:41 p.m.
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Kelly Powell (Kelly Powell) says…
something came out wrong….Leavenworth polic threw me in jail for a weekend because I refused to answer any more questions(I did the next week….)and aslan…..Real christian of you wishing harm on my offspring….If I had kids I would be wounded….Anytime you feel like growing a pair look me up.
3 October 2006 at 3:01 p.m.
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myopinionwontmatter (Anonymous) says…
My only thoughts on this matter are…for someone so “innocent” you certainly are doing alot of defending yourself here….hummmm…..whats up with that?
3 October 2006 at 4:40 p.m.
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dthroat (Anonymous) says…
Or maybe (despite his vociforus (sp??) protestations, he did NOT cooperate with the police and made everybodys life miserable.
not saying he was involved. i personally do not think he was, but he “doth protest too much.”
Redneck - get a life and get over it if you are not guilty. And like I say, I don't think you were. Just move on.
3 October 2006 at 8:30 p.m.
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Katmandu (Anonymous) says…
justsomewench: Kelly doesn't need an author to write his story for him. He has a strong voice and the passion to do it himself - and do it well. And, Mr. rednekbuddha, if you did have children and one of them disappeared under mysterious circumstances, I think that your passion for finding that child might express itself in ways that would make Harold Leach look like a choirboy. Put yourself in his moccasins for awhile, and grow a heart.
4 October 2006 at 8:31 a.m.
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myopinionwontmatter (Anonymous) says…
It all boils down to one thing -why this play is even being done. To basically show the errors made and the time lost in the investigation of a missing child. With the amber alerts that we have now days this case could or should have been solved. It also portrays the frustration (s) that the parents of Randy have had to go thru for YEARS…..my heart goes out to them…how they must go on every day with no “answers”…Mr Powell should let his anger go and “move on” if he has no information or guilt in regards to this case. I can't imagine if this had happened to his child, would he post such comments with no regards to the “purgatory” the Leach's have had to endure all these past years as well as other affected family members and will continue to endure as well, until this case is solved….Lets look “outside the box” in regards to this play portrayal..and learn from the mistakes made in the past, so that another family doesn't have to experience this type of tragedy.
4 October 2006 at 6:10 p.m.
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Katmandu (Anonymous) says…
My understanding is that Bear Lake was never actually searched. Are there divers in the Linwood / Lawrence area (or a diving club) who would take that on as a project - and perhaps have a look at several of the large ponds in the area as well?
5 October 2006 at 9:28 a.m.
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Kelly Powell (Kelly Powell) says…
It's kind of hard to just move on when you get messed with every couple of years….This idea of a play royally pissed me off……But i promise to try to keep an open mind when I go to see it….What I want is them to understand that during their grieving and searching for answers they crossed the line with many people…..And maybe they should try to make amends for that.
5 October 2006 at 9:43 a.m.
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Kelly Powell (Kelly Powell) says…
as to growing a heart……like I have allready posted, i turned the other cheek many times in respect for their pain…..I was dragged into this debacle and do not think I am being unfair in wanting them to recognize that they have wronged people.
6 October 2006 at 10:11 a.m.
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Emily Hadley (Emily Hadley) says…
I think the playwrite is trying to expose many things that went wrong in this investigation, absolutely including everything that happened to Kelly, his friends, and so many others over the years.
I hope you all understand that noone hoping to solve this has all the information, no matter how much we wish we could form sound conclusions from what we heard or saw. It is tempting to form easy answers, but hopefully we can avoid mob justice and trial by fire at this late date.
Many productions have been based on real tragedy. The story is worth being shared, even though no amount of time could pass for the play to be free of the original emotional toll. Those who are put off by the case history are probably best served by steering clear of this recent attention.
It is unfortunate that the police and others dealing with this case were not prepared for it, but I believe that is, to an extent, a price we pay for living in an area where such a disappearance is so unlikely.
Hopefully we can all appreciate the effort Macy has put into synthesizing the information he has gathered, whether we have a direct connection to Randy, have others about whom we have no answers, or find interest in criminal investigation and conspiracy.
7 October 2006 at 3:39 p.m.
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JHAWKGURL (Anonymous) says…
Kelly
i personally would LOVE to be there for you someday if god forbid something happened to your offspring….I would LOVE to see how you react! You made a choice to be at a party and obviously something you did or said ( I think you know what I am talking about) caused some eyebrows to be raised as to your integrity. did you do something that caused the police to interrogate you??
why are you so hung up on this play?? personally i dont even think you HAD to reply to this whole ljworld. blog unless you have something to hide? Right? SO WHAT if this play “offends” you! you kelly powell did not loose your only child and 18 years later STILL have no answers. So you have been “inconvenienced” in your life….well buddy you were at the party…..and bad things happened…but you are alive, your family knows where you are…..your parents have not spent 18 years wondering where you are?? right??? so get over it! i am very happy that Mr. Macy is putting on this play. I think it is good for not only the Leaches but the entire family of Randy Leach and his friends who have lived the past 18 years without him and lived the past 18 years with nightmares of wondering HOW or IF he was killed. I hope you get over yourself and quit asking for pity…. I believe in God and I belive that whoever had anything to do with the whole disappearence of Randy Leach will meet their maker someday and when they do….they will be punished. My advice to you Kelly is to just get over it…freaking get over it!!! if you are innocent then get on with you life….if you are not…and I am not saying that you are or are not innocent..but if you are not….then I hope you can sleep well at night…….
7 October 2006 at 3:43 p.m.
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JHAWKGURL (Anonymous) says…
Kelly, also….as you replied earlier
“Screw you buddy….walk in my shoes for 18 years and see how warm and gooey you would feel about this…..i do not remember ME lying to the leach family”
Well Kelly SCREW you as least you ARE alive and can walk in shoes…and you say that you “do not remember lying the Leach family”
Well, what do you remember?
7 October 2006 at 3:46 p.m.
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JHAWKGURL (Anonymous) says…
ALSO Kelly, in your first response
“If they use real names in this play I stop it while it is on stage…..”
why would you go?? If you are so tore up about your past 18 years of “LIVING” with interrogation, why would you attend and bring back the stress of what you have been through?? Just a thought??
7 October 2006 at 5:24 p.m.
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Kelly Powell (Kelly Powell) says…
jhawkgirl….I would love to be there if something happened and you got your life threatened and was accused and harassed because you were at a party…..You people are so ready to turn a blind eye to the actions of others simply because it cost you nothing to do so….while i and others had to pay the price….i also see how you take part of an earlier post and leave out the rest….Have you ever suffered a home invasion? Have you ever had a cocked 357 placed against your skull? i bet you would be upset if people just brushed it off with a “have a heart, they are hurting'….that only goes so far
i really do not know what you are talking about at the party….Do you mean when i tried to get him to give up his car keys and asked him if he ever thought about dieing?(He was in no condition to drive and I tried to shock him) Or was it because i was playing around in the bonfire and blowing fireballs and such? or are you talking about when the irwin girl was placed over a dog house and some said “let the sacrifice commence?”….While she was giggling and laughing? does any of this warrant the b.s i and others went through?
Ask the leavenworth cops how much i have cooperated with them…..Ask them how i compare to others who still live in that community.
the reason i give a crap about this is that in my opinion this play will cement false ideas into the heads of people and BECOME reality….That is why I am speaking up now…..That is why I am making sure that if old dirty laundryy is brought up I will make sure it is not too one sided.
The only thing i truly feel bad about is that during the interview with martin and leach, i stated that ken huffman was there…..After they grilled me about it for an hour…..I was not sure if he had been there and finally gave them something they wanted….it had been five years and i truly could not remember if he was there or not…Ken, I am sorry for the weekend in jail you spent because of me.
7 October 2006 at 5:26 p.m.
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Kelly Powell (Kelly Powell) says…
And the author of this play stated he hoped it would cause discussion and discourse about the leach case….He got his wish.
7 October 2006 at 5:48 p.m.
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Kelly Powell (Kelly Powell) says…
And if i was “hiding” something….wouldnt i just keep low? Believe me lady, I have not been able to keep a secret since i discovered the truth serum called booze when i was 15…….boil down all my statements…..Hell I even apologize for what i said i would do if randy was still alive…..I want the leach family to apologize for the heavy handed way they tried to get information from me….I will 'let it go” when I hear from them that they were wrong in this matter…..
7 October 2006 at 10:01 p.m.
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Kelly Powell (Kelly Powell) says…
Just saw the play……..
8 October 2006 at 1:09 a.m.
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yammytam (Anonymous) says…
I know for a fact that Kelly and Robbie had nothing to do with it I knew them well and lost contact with them after I divorced that town Kelly and Rob were good people and would never hurt Randy and its a shame how they were both harrassed all because they way they looked and acted but if you got to know them you would know what good people they really were inside if either of you read this email me I would love to reconnect we had some good times Tammy
8 October 2006 at 1:50 a.m.
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Kelly Powell (Kelly Powell) says…
Thank you tammy, you have no idea how good that makes me feel…..I'll get a hold of you this week and will tell rob you want to hear from him…..Like i said, i just saw the play and I was correct in throwing out the info that I did…Not one referance to the hijinks that him and his family did…..just more of the same old story….but now randy is the all american kid pariah ed by all the hedonist lying scumbags that made up the rest of the teenagers at that time…..the class of 88 was how big?40 or 50?the class of 87 was around 37……And apparently we were in cahoots with the lv police to cover up a murder…..The same story terry martin tried to sell in 93……It was shot full of holes then, and it does not hold water now….but hey people, you want to believe in satanic drug cartels that permeate every level of a county so thoroughly that not one piece of credible evidence has been found and no one in 18 years have said anything…..not even to use it to plea bargin out of a crime, then be my guest.
8 October 2006 at 2:29 a.m.
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yammytam (Anonymous) says…
Hey Kelly I just realized we were at the same play I thought I saw you but wasnt sure did Rob go??
8 October 2006 at 4:11 a.m.
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JHAWKGURL (Anonymous) says…
Kelly
So, you saw the play and nobody pointed a finger or said anything about you?? Right? SO..get on with your life…as we continue to get on with ours…get over the pity that you want…have i had a home invasion?? no but I lived the past 18 years with nightmares about what the hell happened to Randy!!!! You said
“You people are so ready to turn a blind eye to the actions of others simply because it cost you nothing to do so”
yes kelly it did cost us something!!! It cost us to live the rest of our lives because nobody wants to state what happened at the party!! What really happened!!!! Dont tell me that nobody there knows…that nobody saw anything!! there were people there and they know what happened!!!
Like I said before I am not saying you are or are not innocent..that is not my job to do…
8 October 2006 at 11:44 a.m.
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Kelly Powell (Kelly Powell) says…
Pity? i want vindication….and no, the finger was not specifically pointed at anybody….Because the author knew he would get his ass sued off if that happened……
Why does it bother you so much when other people want the truth to be known? Sure, it is not the truth YOU want to hear….but the premise of that since you cannot find an answer then everybody is lieing(including the police) is harmful at best….
the last scenario at the play…randy is screaming 'i will not be sacrificed”…..how many people have to tell you he said that in a drunken stupor when he saw people holding down a laughing girl on a dog house and someone said “let the sacrifice commence”? this and a few other strands of b.s is apperentley enough to weave a broadcloth of “satanic drug cartels”(terry martins quote, not mine).
as for his girl friend…..i talked to rob last night and neither one of us saw her there…..that does not mean anything, but thought you should know this.
18 years have passed and never have i got a civil reply from the family……they have amends to make and I will be a thorn in their side until i and others get the vindication we are owed……..
Oh and i love the outrage about harold having to take a poly….really sucks when people do not believe you.
8 October 2006 at 11:50 a.m.
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Kelly Powell (Kelly Powell) says…
tammy….rob lives out of state, but he is planning a visit…..he would of came for the play, but it was short notice for him.
8 October 2006 at 12:06 p.m.
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Kelly Powell (Kelly Powell) says…
“Like I said before i am not saying you are or not innocent…that is not my job to do…”
no, it is not…..neither is it to hinder others who have relative information about this…i know, how dare i speak out at this….you want to know my honest opinion…. the personal investigation by harold leach and his family and other non law enforcement persons is the biggest set back to happen to the leach case…. you helped turn this into a circus(granted, lv investigators were doing a fine job of that all by themselves)….and when your bull in a china shop tactics did not work….When you managed to step on the toes of the investigators enough to start to alienate them, you cried conspiracy!!
8 October 2006 at 12:57 p.m.
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yammytam (Anonymous) says…
i get so sick of hearing what happened at that party the crime did not happen at the party i was there till the next morning i know and as for the reason why the grounds were cleaned up we were told to pick up all our trash and crap before we went to bed they investigated the wrong people …..did anyone check the little drug trailer next door what about matt zimmerman was he questioned i know in 91 when he kicked my door in with some others he kept shouting lets just do to them what was done to randy i told the cops all this but did they listen hell no like i said they harrased the wrong people and because of that we may never know ……
8 October 2006 at 1:46 p.m.
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tuschkahouma (Anonymous) says…
I remember having to guard Randy Leach in a high school
basketball game that spring of 1988. He had about 3
inches of height and about 60 pounds advantage on me.
We even played in that quonset hut gymnasium before
the high school was consolidated with Basehor. A month
after that game, I saw him at a north Lawrence gas
station and we recounted the game we playe against
each other. He was a good kid. It just makes me wonder
why people still think small towns are safe. I'm not trying
to single out Linwood specifically, I've simply had too
much experience observing these small towns.
8 October 2006 at 2:14 p.m.
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Kelly Powell (Kelly Powell) says…
ya, mutt zimmerman was questioned…he was in jail at the time.
8 October 2006 at 3:07 p.m.
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smalltowngirl26 (Anonymous) says…
Then who was it who rode around with Randy that day? I thought it was the guy who lived behind the old grocery store that later burned down. Was that not Mutt?
8 October 2006 at 4:39 p.m.
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yammytam (Anonymous) says…
do you remember who lived in that little trailer next to erwins house it was like right at the front of the driveway kelly email me yammytam@yahoo.com
8 October 2006 at 5:12 p.m.
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Kelly Powell (Kelly Powell) says…
I have no idea…but “the iron bridge” was three blocks away(everything in that town was three blocks away) and zimmerman never hung out with randy as i remember.
i do give kudos for the review of the play….It was fair and balanced….that's refreshing.
8 October 2006 at 7:48 p.m.
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yammytam (Anonymous) says…
no zimmerman never did hang out with randy…….the play was good although some of it was bullcaca….. i wish we knew what happened to him and i have this sinking feeling we may never know……………….
8 October 2006 at 10:26 p.m.
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yammytam (Anonymous) says…
i know who was riding around with him but that doesnt matter it wasnt mutt and fyi mutt lived right on main street not behind the old store i dont think mutt did it but he knows something about something just because of some of the stuff he had said over the years
9 October 2006 at 9:06 a.m.
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KUDRAMA (Anonymous) says…
This has been a very interest subject to say the least, I have sympathy for the Leach family and everybody involved in this real life nightmare, it sounds like a lot of toes was step on and many people wrongly accused, Although if I had kids and something happen like what Mr. and Mrs. Leach experienced, I’m not sure I would do anything different. Damn right I would be upset and yes may do things incorrectly but damn it we are dealing with a human life! It’s my feeling somebody knows what happen, It gives me chills to think that somebody is living with this secret and goes on day to day, After almost 19 years why hasn’t someone called anonymously to the Leach family??? Who was the last person to see Randy Leach?? What do they say?? Who is this mut guy and have the police talked to him.
9 October 2006 at 10:42 a.m.
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Kelly Powell (Kelly Powell) says…
Yes kudrama…they have talked to him…mutt may of been a junkie and a thief(like so many of us in that town) but he was not a murderer….
contrary to what the play implied, the cops were looking for somebody to bust…in fact, If it had been a straight forward homicide(randys body actually discovered and dead) somebody would of went to jail….whether or not that person was guilty would of been moot.
9 October 2006 at 11:04 a.m.
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KUDRAMA (Anonymous) says…
It seems as if after one question is asked, ten questions arise. The play question the party’s attendees, although reading on the post it seems it may have not happen quite that way, did every body know each other at the party, like the play portrayed?Rednekbuddha sounds like you’ve also been through hell , assuming you was at the party what is your gut feeling, sucide?? Where’s the car??? If not sucide, and he just up and moved away I have a hard time thinking he would never call or something. Whats everybodys opion that actully knew Randy Leach??
9 October 2006 at 11:41 a.m.
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Kelly Powell (Kelly Powell) says…
i try not to theorize anymore….So many people throw out so many wild theories that i decided years ago to just concentrate on what I know to be factual…That is one of the reasons I was against this play…in a literary sense it was fine and dandy…..i would of enjoyed it if I did not know anything about the case…but now there is going to be a bunch of people using a fictionalized play as one of their main sources of info when they start sherlock homesing.
I would not say “been through hell”….having cancer would be hell….But all the anger and frustration comes pouring back evertime there is that picture in the paper…….and the paranoia of getting interrogated at gunpoint again….but wait, This will sound like I want “pity”…..I would just like to see and end to this even if they do not find him….Or at the very least never having to worry about the cops showing up at my workplace every three years.
9 October 2006 at 12:24 p.m.
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KUDRAMA (Anonymous) says…
rednekbuddha I'm not trying to call ya out,Although I am interested,I grew up hearing bits and pieces about Randy Leach (i was 7 in 1988) I also am from a small town that was pretty tight nit group,we knew every thing about everybody it seemed, I drove to the little gas station off of Kansas # 32 and seen Linwood,It just puzzles me no one knows anything,Is there something I'm missing?
9 October 2006 at 12:45 p.m.
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Kelly Powell (Kelly Powell) says…
i did not believeyou were trying to call me out…in fact your posts were very fair….the fact that this was such a small community is what makes this so weird…..you end up with two camps…the “nobody in such a small group could keep that big of a secret” crowd(I'm a proud member of this one) and the”It must be a huge conspiracy” crowd.
the premise that randy was murdered because he was going to snitch on dealers is laughable….everybody in town knew who was into what and believe me, there were plenty of snitches allready there….i know the leaches love their son, but in the 18 years they have turned him into a hero and a saint….they have warped their memories to the point that “satanic drug cartels” seem reasonable…..and their son must be the hero in their passion play. Cynical and cruel? Maybe….but no crueler then their pogram on anybody who did not cave in to their theorys or accusations.
9 October 2006 at 1:36 p.m.
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KUDRAMA (Anonymous) says…
I believe what you are saying reference the two camps theories but this even makes it weirder yet, ………and, is mut, matt, zimmerman all the same because yammytam said she seen him with Randy Leach then you said he was in jail?? So could he have been in two places the same evening?? It just caught my attention when I was reading back though the post. Not trying to “sherlock homesing” But as I’ve stated before somebody has to know, I could belive someone could discard a body and maybe even get away with it, but how could you discard a body and a full size car? Based only on the stuff I’ve read over the years I always felt the guy probably ran off, But based on the play Mr. Leach protrayed that not being a option. In the play Mr. Leach said he had taken “pictures” of satanic stuff in a cave. Was Satanism even present in Linwood in 1988??
9 October 2006 at 2:08 p.m.
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Kelly Powell (Kelly Powell) says…
no, tammy said mutt was NOT in the car…please re read……you were a little young to remember, but satanism was the in vogue boogey man during that time…If you listened to iron maiden and ever once drew a pentagram, you were a satanist….i do not believe he has photos of the 'cave” He states that he has all these santanic imagery on film….Well even if somebody cleaned the walls of the cave…IR or UV imagery would show the figure on the walls…….And where are these photos? i believe if they existed that they would of been printed….but hey, i do not even know where this cave is, so I am bordering on theory.
9 October 2006 at 2:15 p.m.
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KUDRAMA (Anonymous) says…
Good point!
9 October 2006 at 3:36 p.m.
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smalltowngirl26 (Anonymous) says…
There is no way the kids at the party could of pulled off the “perfect murder” and kept there mouths shut for so long. Growing up in Linwood this disappearance has always made me uneasy. I know firsthand you can't keep secrets around there. Until recently I believed it had to be Harold. Made the most sense. They were strict parents, kid came home drunk, Dad got pissed and roughed the boy up, got carried away….Tragic. But why would he keep bringing it up if he'd gotten away with it? How would he have passed a poly. Believe me, I would feel better thinking that was what happened.
9 October 2006 at 5:30 p.m.
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Kelly Powell (Kelly Powell) says…
I do not know….but i do know it is time to start declaring people innocent….and that some apologies from the family are in order….i could of aired a lot more dirty laundry about this family, but did not, on the grounds that I really am not trying to be vindictive or vengeful….i just want some of the wrongs righted….the fact that their child dissappeared should not give carte blanche for their wrong doings.
9 October 2006 at 5:32 p.m.
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KUDRAMA (Anonymous) says…
I hear what you’re saying and agree that it would be the easy answer, but it also doesn’t make sense. Nothing makes sense……If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got….my point is for 18 years the Leach family has created hate and discontent to people they suspected based on information provided by attendees of the party hoping to get answers. Not that any of us would do anything different in the same situation, But are there any other theories exist that haven’t be explored?
9 October 2006 at 5:35 p.m.
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KUDRAMA