92. The Mysterious & Unsolved Murder of Larry Groves

In January 2003, 40-year-old Lawrence “Larry” Groves vanished from his Lakeville, Indiana home.

Months later, after black flies swarmed the siding of his house and blackbirds gathered in the yard, a horrific discovery was made beneath a hidden trap door in the floor — Larry’s body, concealed in the crawl space under his home.

What followed was a case filled with unanswered questions, conflicting reports, suspicious activity, and DNA that led nowhere. Larry had fought back. Evidence was found. A person of interest was identified. And yet, more than two decades later, his murder remains unsolved.

Larry was openly gay in a time and place where that came with risk. He was vibrant, unapologetic, deeply loyal to his friends — and, according to some, overlooked by a community that didn’t always accept him.

Why didn’t this case receive more attention?

Who was banging on his door the night he was last heard from?

And how does a case with DNA evidence still go cold?

Today, we’re diving into the still-unsolved 2003 homicide of Lawrence Howard Groves — Indiana Cold Case #80 on the T.I.P.S. deck.

For anyone who might have information related to the homicide of Mr. Groves, they can call the Indiana State Police Cold Case hotline at 833-466-2653, send an email to ispcoldcase@isp.in.gov, or call the ISP Bremen Post at 574-546-4900 and ask to speak with Det. Arthur Smith. They can also contact Michiana Crime Stoppers and leave an anonymous tip.

SOURCES:

https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/fnu6ue/on_june_18th_2003_5_months_after_his/

https://uncovered.com/cases/lawrence-howard-groves-lakeville-in

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.in.gov/idoc/files/2ndEditionHEARTS.pdf

https://www.in.gov/isp/crime-reporting/cold-case-investigations/cold-cases-by-county/bremen-district-investigations/lawrence-larry-howard-groves-01282003/

South Bend Tribune: https://www.newspapers.com/image/511548734/?match=1&terms=lawrence%20howard%20groves

https://www.newspapers.com/image/511545000/?match=1&terms=lawrence%20howard%20groves

https://www.in.gov/isp/crime-reporting/cold-case-investigations/cold-cases-by-county/bremen-district-investigations/lawrence-larry-howard-groves-01282003/

https://imgur.com/a/larry-groves-newspaper-clippings-GjdJQLK