In the late summer of 1988, concern grew for Vernon Lester Larkin, a 30-year-old man, when his mother found herself unable to reach him for several days. On the morning of Wednesday, September 7th, his mother's worry prompted her to contact the manager of his apartment building to check on his well-being. A maintenance worker entered Larkin's residence and made a grim discovery.
Vernon was found deceased, lying on the floor of his living room.
It was quickly apparent that foul play was involved. Investigators determined that items were missing from his apartment, including a television and a VCR. More significantly, Larkin's dark blue 1988 Ford Mustang was also gone. The last time anyone had seen Vernon and his vehicle was on the morning of Sunday, September 4th, at his apartment complex. His absence was noted when he failed to show up for his scheduled shift at work on September 6th.
The investigation into Vernon Larkin's death took a turn when his stolen Ford Mustang was located. On September 19, 1988, the Atlanta Police Department recovered the vehicle at 156 7th Street NE in Atlanta, Georgia. Despite the recovery of his car, the case surrounding his death remains unsolved. There have been no arrests made in connection with the death of Vernon Lester Larkin, and the case has since gone cold. Authorities continue to seek information from the public that might lead to a break in this decades-old case.
