Officials from the Kansas Bureau of Investigations (KBI) and the Leavenworth County Sheriff’s Office joined a group of out‑of‑state searchers and community volunteers Thursday morning to investigate a new tip in the long‑standing disappearance of Randy Leach.
Search effort focused on wooded area near Loring Road
The search team converged on a heavily forested parcel near the 12000 block of Loring Road in Bonner Springs. According to the Leach family, volunteers sifted through soil and debris for several hours, but no evidence was uncovered.
Melissa Underwood, the KBI spokesperson, told KSHB‑41 that the agency employed cadaver‑trained K9 units and ground‑penetrating radar during the operation. “No evidence was found today,” Underwood said, adding that the private group Peace River K9 Search and Rescue also participated.
Off‑duty officer leads investigation
Blake McMahan, a police officer who has been investigating the case on his own time, explained that a recent lead directed him to the Loring Road location. McMahan, who has interviewed dozens of witnesses since the 1988 disappearance, believes Leach never left the graduation bonfire party in rural Linwood and may have encountered foul play.
The team remained on site for a little over two hours before concluding the day’s search. Underwood emphasized that both KBI and the Leavenworth County Sheriff’s Office will continue to follow up on any new, credible leads.
Community urged to help
Leach was 17 when he vanished after attending a graduation bonfire in April 1988. His family maintains a Facebook page, “In Search of Randy Leach,” and asks anyone with information—no matter how small—to reach out. Tips can also be submitted directly to KBI or the Leavenworth County Sheriff’s Office.
The renewed search underscores the dedication of law‑enforcement partners and local volunteers who remain committed to bringing closure to a case that has haunted the community for more than three decades.
Original reporting: KSHB 41 Kansas City (local) — read the source article.
