In a tragic turn of events that left a family heartbroken and a community searching for answers, 23-year-old Richard A. Preston III was found deceased in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 20, 2013. His death was the grim culmination of a violent abduction that began in the neighboring city of Independence.
On the evening of his death, witnesses saw Preston being forcibly pushed into a black Chevrolet Malibu near South Brookside Avenue in Independence.
The vehicle then sped away, marking the last time he was seen alive by those who knew him. The following day, his body was discovered in the backseat of a car near Truman Road and Interstate 435 in Kansas City, riddled with multiple gunshot wounds.
The Independence Police Department quickly took the lead in the investigation, classifying Preston's death as a homicide. Despite having surveillance footage of the abduction, authorities did not release it to the public. In the initial stages of the investigation, no suspects were publicly identified, and no arrests were made, leaving the case unsolved.
Richard Preston's family was left to grapple with the devastating loss of a man they described as a beloved member of the community with many friends. They held funeral services for him on July 26, 2013, at Greater Work International Ministries, followed by his interment at XII Gates Memorial Gardens. In the face of their grief, his family remained resolute in their pursuit of justice, continually appealing for any information that could lead to the apprehension of those responsible for his murder. The investigation into the death of Richard Preston remains active as law enforcement continues to seek leads.
