One Friday afternoon in 1994, 35-year-old Lawrence O’Connell seemingly vanished into thin air after leaving his workplace, and a disturbing discovery the following day left everyone with more questions than answers.
Courtesy of DC Crime Solvers
Episode Info
If you know anything about the murder of Lawrence O’Connell in February 1994, please call the Metropolitan Police Department’s Synchronized Operations Command Center at 202-727-9099.
An undated photo of Lawrence. Courtesy: Jim Trainum
Voice of America is located in the heart of D.C., just a block away from the Capitol Building. Courtesy: Google
A map showing where Lawrence disappeared from and where his body was found — the two locations are about 2.5 miles apart. Courtesy: Google
Lawrence’s obituary. Courtesy: The Boston Globe
A still shot of the woman who used Lawrence’s card at an ATM (top) and a composite sketch of her (bottom). Courtesy: Metropolitan Police Department
Episode Source Material
- Courthouse News Service: Judge reluctantly kills NPR-inspired lawsuit, by Zack Huffman.
- Criminal investigation and procedure, by D. Kim Rossmo.
- Current: This American Life story prompts $5M lawsuit over 1994 false confession.
- Mobile Transaction: The historical roots of electronic card machines, by Emily Sorensen.
- USCourts: Case 1:14-cv-01505-APM.
- The Boston Globe: Lawrence O’Connell, 35.
- The Boston Globe: ATM photo helps probe in killing of ex-Mass. Man, by Traci Grant.
- The Washington Post: Woman, 20, ordered held in slaying, by Linda Wheeler.
- The Washington Post: Woman sought in abduction, slaying.
- The Washington Post: VA. man slain after leaving district workplace, police say, by Nancy Lewis and Debbi Wilgoren.
- The Washington Post: Man’s bank card used minutes after abduction, by Linda Wheeler.
- The Washington Post: D.C. police charge homeless woman in death of abducted federal worker, by Avis Thomas-Lester and Linda Wheeler.
- The Washington Post: Suspect in death of VOA worker freed by delay, by Linda Wheeler.
- The Washington Post: New suspect sought in ‘94 D.C. slaying, by Linda Wheeler.
- Voice of America: Missions and Values.
- Weather Spark: February 1994 weather history in Washington, D.C.