TUSCARAWAS COUNTY, OHIO — A gruesome case dating back to 1998 has been solved, revealing that a man dismembered his father’s body and disposed of the remains in two suitcases that were later found by children. Larry Drotleff, 81, has confessed to the crime after a decades-long investigation that finally identified his father, Lawrence A. Drotleff, as the victim.
The Initial Discovery
The case began on February 1, 1998, when a group of children found a suitcase containing several male body parts along Winkler Hill Road in Dover Township, about 85 miles south of Cleveland. A second suitcase containing additional body parts was discovered a week later, about 15 miles away. Despite DNA testing confirming the remains belonged to the same individual, the victim’s identity remained a mystery for decades.
Breakthrough in the Case
In 2023, the case was reopened and reexamined using advanced DNA testing methods. This ultimately led authorities to Larry Drotleff, the son of the victim, in January 2024. During an interview with law enforcement, Drotleff allegedly confessed to the dismemberment of his father’s body after he found him dead in their shared home.
According to the Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office, Drotleff stated that he had left for work one day, and when he returned, he discovered his father’s body. He reportedly cut up the body with a manual hand saw and disposed of the remains in the two suitcases as well as in a dumpster near his workplace.
Identifying the Victim
Through DNA testing, investigators confirmed that Lawrence A. Drotleff was the victim. He would have been around 93 years old when the remains were discovered. The sheriff’s office also noted the inhumane treatment of the body, with their statement highlighting the difficulty in understanding how such greed and disregard for human life could lead to such actions.
Federal Charges for Theft
While the case does not lead to a murder charge due to Ohio’s statute of limitations, Larry Drotleff is facing federal charges for allegedly stealing his father’s Social Security and pension benefits for over 15 years. Federal prosecutors say that after his father’s death, Drotleff continued to collect benefits, totaling nearly $250,000.
According to the federal criminal complaint, Drotleff stole $111,485 in Social Security benefits and $135,040 from his father’s General Electric pension between February 1998 and September 2010. These funds were deposited into his father’s accounts, as authorities were unaware of his death.
The Sheriff’s Office Statement
The Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office emphasized the disturbing nature of the crime, stating that while the case didn’t result in a murder charge, the disrespect shown to the body was unacceptable. “It remains difficult to comprehend that the greed of theft could cause someone to treat their father’s body in this manner,” the sheriff’s office said in its statement.
