Fairfield Township police started digging in a West Chester backyard on Oct. 27, 2026, after a tip suggested the remains of Rigoberto Jose Garcia, who vanished on Jan. 12, 2018, could be buried on the property.
Timeline of events
Garcia was reported missing by his family two days after his disappearance. Nearly nine years later, a series of incidents involving the property owner, Lawana Tzeiranakis, led investigators to the site.
On Oct. 7, 2026, Lawana was a passenger in a 1965 Cobra that crashed in Sharonville. A witness described the vehicle as “out of control, swerving across all the lanes.” Lawana was hospitalized and released on Oct. 16.
Just after midnight on Oct. 20, Lawana’s sister called 911 from the West Chester home, reporting that her sister was “bleeding profusely out of her mouth.” Lawana’s mouth had been wired shut after the crash; she was taken to the hospital and died shortly thereafter.
That same day, police received a tip that Garcia’s body might be buried in Lawana’s backyard. The tip prompted the opening of a new investigation into the long‑standing missing‑person case.
Police actions and related reports
Following the tip, officers filed a theft report on Oct. 22, assigning an investigator to the home, though the report provided no further details. The next day, a family member filed a separate report alleging that relatives had accused them of stealing a deceased family member’s car; the report did not name any individuals.
Digging continued through the weekend and into the following week, with crews working through a large portion of the backyard on Gregory Creek Lane as documented by WLWT drone footage.
Arrest of a person of interest
On Oct. 31, Gary Tzeiranakis, one of Lawana’s sons, was arrested in Montgomery County, Indiana, on a charge of unlawful carrying of a firearm. Police in Crawfordsville received an alert from a Flock camera about a missing Ohio resident entering the city, located the vehicle, and confirmed Gary was the missing individual.
During a search, officers found a handgun in a briefcase inside the vehicle. Because Gary has a prior felony conviction, carrying the firearm was unlawful. He appeared in court on Nov. 5, posted a $2,000 bond, and was released.
Fairfield Township police have identified Gary Tzeiranakis as a person of interest in Garcia’s disappearance, stating they would like to speak with him but do not consider him a suspect. Multiple sources told WLWT that Gary previously worked with Garcia.
Ongoing investigation
The excavation remains ongoing as investigators seek to determine whether Garcia’s remains are present and to uncover any connection between the 2018 disappearance and the recent events surrounding the Tzeiranakis family. Authorities have not released further details pending the outcome of the dig.
Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.
