A Platte County missing persons case resolved last week when a vehicle containing a body was pulled from Smithville Lake in Clay County.
The family of Richard Hollman reported the 75 year old missing in September, with his last known location in the Smithville Lake area. According to missing persons posts made on social media by his family, he was driving a gold 2009 Lexus RX5 and was believed to have been confused.
On Tuesday Feb. 17, at approximately 8 a.m., the Platte County Sheriff’s Office received notification that a vehicle associated with the investigation was possibly in the waters of Smithville Lake near the Crows Creek boat ramp. The search of this area had previously been initiated as part of an ongoing missing person investigation being conducted by the Platte County Sheriff’s Office.
At approximately 1 p.m., members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) dive team entered the water and confirmed that the vehicle in the water was the vehicle associated with Platte County’s missing person’s case. The MSHP diving team also advised that there was a deceased individual inside of the vehicle. The vehicle and deceased individual were recovered from Smithville Lake.
“I commend the hard work and investigative hours that the detectives assigned to this case put in over the past three months and appreciated the assistance provided by the outside agencies involved, particularly the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol,” said Platte County Sheriff Erik Holland.
The deceased individual was believed to be the party from the original missing person’s report but was transported to the medical examiner’s office to assist in positive identification.
Hollman’s daughter confirmed her father was found in Smithville Lake that day. Currently foul play is not suspected, according to the sheriff’s office. Hollman will be laid to rest March 6 at Riverside Cemetery.