Account
Dec 19, 2013
Dec 20, 2021
Larry
Perry
54
8
57 inches
50 lbs
White / Caucasian
Male
In the quiet community of Dumfries, Virginia, a young boy's life took a tragic and mysterious turn on the evening of May 22, 1979. Eight-year-old Larry Wayne Perry, a child described as trusting, finished supper at the home he shared with his maternal grandparents and went out to play around 8:00 p.m. He was last seen wearing a light blue pullover t-shirt with a "Superman" logo, brown or rust-colored pants, and blue and yellow sneakers. Witnesses reported seeing Larry chasing after a four-wheel-drive truck in an area frequented by local children as a playground. When he didn't return home, his concerned grandparents reported him missing just after midnight. This marked the beginning of a decades-long search for answers and a painful journey for a family left in agonizing uncertainty. The investigation into Larry's disappearance quickly focused on the driver of the truck, a man named Michael Carl George. When initially questioned the day after Larry went missing, George denied having any knowledge of the boy's whereabouts. However, the investigation continued, and for years, police considered him a prime suspect. The case saw a significant development in August of 1982 when George confessed to his involvement in Larry's disappearance. He claimed that he had taken the boy target shooting and that Larry had accidentally shot himself with George's pistol. According to George, he panicked and buried the boy's body in a ravine, covering it with leaves and branches. Despite his confession and an extensive search of the area he indicated, Larry's remains were never recovered. Authorities were skeptical of George's account of an accidental shooting, believing the act was intentional. Despite their suspicions, they were unable to prove murder. In 1984, Michael Carl George pleaded guilty to abduction and involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to a short prison term, being released in 1986. Following his release, George's violent tendencies escalated, leading to the kidnapping, torture, and murder of a 15-year-old boy in 1990. He also claimed to have murdered another individual, though this was never confirmed. Michael Carl George was executed in 1997 for his later crimes. The case of Larry Wayne Perry officially remains unsolved, with foul play strongly suspected. The tragic disappearance of a young, trusting boy left a permanent scar on his family and community, a heart-wrenching story of a life cut short and a search for closure that continues to this day.
May 22, 1979
Dumfries
Virginia
Prince William County
No
29214
Prince William County Police Department
Woodbridge
Virginia
Prince William County
22191
15948 Donald Curtis Drive, Virginia
7037926500
County
Law Enforcement
Prince William County Police Department
Brown
Brown
Brown
06/11/2026
