Going West: True Crime Episode 597: Randy Leach – Party at the End of the Road Hosts: Daphne Woolsoncroft & Heath Merryman
Release Date: April 7, 2026

Episode Overview

Daphne and Heath revisit the 1988 disappearance of Randy Leach, a 17-year-old from rural Kansas who vanished after a high school graduation party. The case stands as one of Kansas’ most mystifying unsolved mysteries. The hosts methodically break down the events of that night, the initial investigation, enduring theories—including cult rituals and accidental death—and the desperate efforts of Randy’s family to find the truth. This episode is filled with haunting details, deep dives into local rumors, and a thorough examination of why Randy and his mother’s car have never been found.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Randy's Background and the Night of Disappearance (03:28 – 12:04)

• Randy Leach was a responsible and well-liked teen from Linwood, Kansas. Athletic, diligent, and excited about life after graduation, Randy had just received a John Deere tractor and was waiting on a restored 1966 Mustang.
• On April 15, 1988, Randy borrowed his mother’s gray 1985 Dodge 600 to run errands, check on his Mustang at a DeSoto body shop, and attend a graduation party in Bonner Springs.
• He bought a small amount of gas and some snacks at 9:30pm (07:28), before heading to the party at about 10pm.
• According to party hosts and friends, Randy was not known as a partier and reportedly seemed “out of his element” that night. Some observed that he was struggling to walk, yet wasn’t seen consistently holding a drink.

Quote:
“He seemed to be kind of out of his element at the party that night.” – Heath (10:17)

2. Events at the Party & Immediate Aftermath (10:08 – 17:44)

• The party, hosted by classmate Kim Irwin’s parents, drew up to 150 people. Kim’s mother mixed and sold alcoholic drinks to minors (10:08), which both hosts note as highly illegal but not unusual for rural Kansas in the 1980s.
• Accounts suggest Randy was impaired by around 1:30am. His friend, John Burns, offered a ride home, but Randy couldn’t find his keys. When John returned at 2am, both Randy and the car were gone.
• Annie Irwin, party host, last saw him waiting for the bathroom around 2:05am.

3. Discovery of His Disappearance (12:04 – 16:57)

• Randy’s mom, Alberta, woke at 6am to find him and the car missing—a major red flag given his reliable nature.
• Alberta and her police officer brother headed to the Irwins’ house by 7am. They were disturbed by how thoroughly the party site had been cleaned and the Irwin family's seemingly blasé attitude.

Quote:
"[Annie Irwin said] 'Mrs. Leach, can I get you a beer?' No ma’am, I want to know where my son is." – Alberta Leach, as recounted by Daphne (15:47)

4. Initial Police Response & Challenges (16:57 – 23:02)

• Law enforcement asked Alberta to wait over 24 hours to file a report, assuming Randy would return. The formal missing persons case wasn't opened until Sunday, two days after the disappearance.
• Early theories revolved around accidental drunkenness or drug use. Despite rumors of Randy being "stoned," his friends maintained he was not a known drug user.

Quote:
“My idea from the start, Hank, is that he didn’t run away, and we wasted five or six weeks at least... [Lt. Spellman replied], 'My feeling is that there is foul play.'” – Harold Leach & Lt. Hank Spellman (Telephone conversation, recounted at 23:27)

5. Community and Parental Efforts (23:27 – 27:04)

• Randy’s parents raised a reward, distributed thousands of flyers, and led tireless searches. They remained vocal about the sheriff’s office being slow and inattentive.
• Three arrests of party attendees in 1993 yielded no new leads.

6. Enduring Theories & Notable Suspects (33:11 – 48:00)

A. Something Went Wrong at the Party

• Many believe Randy died or was killed at the party; the Irwins soon left town and their house later burned down (33:11).

B. Drugged or Misadventure? (34:04)

• Classmate Leann speculated Randy’s impairment was more akin to having been drugged with GHB than marijuna or alcohol.
• The party had adult attendees from Kansas City who brought harder drugs, e.g., cocaine. Tension between the local teens and out-of-town adults left Randy isolated among strangers late in the night.

C. Party Rumors: Drug Overdose and Cover-Up (40:15)

• Some argued Randy overdosed—possibly unintentionally—and the panic led to his body and car being disposed of, perhaps in a local waterway or over state lines.
• No evidence of either Randy or his mother’s car has been found, despite extensive air, ground, and water searches.

D. Named Suspects & Strange Behavior

• Steve Dougherty: Allegedly drove slowly past the Leach home the morning Randy was discovered missing, possibly to gauge reaction (41:56).
• Dan Flanagan: Randy parked on Flanagan’s land before the party. Rumors swirled that Randy and Dan argued over drugs in Dan's house, with Randy allegedly killed and the car driven to Missouri. In 2018, Flanagan killed his girlfriend, and referenced this being his “first time enraged in 30 years,” eerily close to the anniversary of Randy’s disappearance (47:03).

Quote:
“[Dan Flanagan said] this was the first time he had become enraged in 30 years.” – Daphne (47:03)

E. Occult/Cult Theories (48:02)

• 1990 tip: a witness claimed he saw Randy’s body hung in a cave amid pentagrams and alleged ritual activity; this coincided with the era’s 'Satanic Panic.'
• The tipster passed polygraphs, but was using drugs at the time and left town soon after. No physical evidence supported these claims.

7. Search Efforts and Technological Hurdles (50:09 – 58:53)

• Family, police, and volunteer groups (including divers and pilots) searched rivers, lakes, and fields without locating the car or Randy.
• The Kansas landscape—being flat and lacking deep water due to drought at the time—posed challenges to hiding a car.
• Recent searches using drones, sonar, and ground-penetrating radar have yielded nothing.
• Adventures With Purpose (renowned search/diver group) helped search but backed away in 2021 due to unspecified threats or legal issues with their founder.

8. Where Things Stand Today (57:02 – 58:53)

• Other teams, such as Echo Divers, have searched local waterways; in October 2025, they found a car in Nine Mile Creek (not yet linked to the case).
• Cadaver dogs, ground, air, and underwater search teams have repeatedly come up empty.
• Randy was legally declared dead in 2001, but his mother Alberta continues to seek answers. Community events keep the case alive.
• Officially, the sheriff’s office says the case remains open; Alberta, however, remains skeptical.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “He’s 17, he’s a senior in high school, he’s at a party, he’s probably just out with his friends… This is just not the one. Yeah, I mean, this kid was about to graduate from high school.” – Heath (17:34, 21:08)
• “There are so many searches being done and so many different methods… they’re not finding anything in the air, on the ground, or underwater.” – Daphne (52:37)
• “If he was impaired and he got into his car and started driving, and he got into an accident during the short drive to his home, it probably would have happened sooner rather than later. And they searched the whole area—again, underwater, ground, air… I really do believe that something was done to him.” – Daphne (61:02)
• “Man, it’s just like you’d really love to find that Dodge. You’d really love to find that car. Just to… get something somewhat closer to finding Randy.” – Heath (61:02)

Important Timestamps

• 03:28 — Randy Leach’s background and the night he vanished
• 07:28 — Timeline details of Randy’s last movements
• 10:08 — Adult host selling alcohol to teens at party
• 12:04 — Alberta discovers Randy missing, immediate family investigation
• 13:38 — Suspicious site cleanup by Irwin family
• 16:57 — Police delay missing persons report, early investigation issues
• 23:27 — Harold confronts police about foul play
• 34:04 — Drugging theory and unusual party dynamics
• 40:15 — Overdose, cover-up, and disposal theories
• 41:56 — Suspect: Steve Dougherty and suspicious behavior
• 44:08 — Suspect: Dan Flanagan’s violent history
• 47:03 — Flanagan’s incriminating “30 years” comment
• 48:02 — Occult/cult theories, satanic panic witness tip
• 50:09 — Search efforts in the years following Randy’s disappearance
• 54:19 — Adventures With Purpose involvement and withdrawal
• 57:02 — Most recent searches and new car found
• 58:53 — Case details, physical description, and contact info

Case Details & Contact

• Randy Leach: 6 ft 2 in, blue eyes, brown hair. Last seen wearing a blue t-shirt, jeans, white tennis shoes, and driving a gray four-door 1985 Dodge 600 (KS lic# LVJ8721).
• Reward: $5,000
• Contact:
  • Leavenworth Co. Sheriff’s Office: 913-682-5724
  • Kansas Bureau of Investigation: 1-800-KS-CRIME

Tone & Host Reflections

• The hosts maintain an empathetic yet inquisitive tone, openly weighing the believability of various theories and highlighting inconsistencies or unusual behavior from key parties.
• Both express frustration at law enforcement’s early handling and admiration for Alberta and Harold Leach’s relentless advocacy.
• There’s a clear undercurrent of sadness, skepticism, and respect for unresolved loss.

Summary Takeaway

This episode stands out for its detailed reconstruction of a haunting rural mystery. With sensitive yet thorough analysis, Going West underscores both the deep strangeness and profound pain surrounding the Randy Leach case—and the dogged hope that even decades later, the truth can still come to light.