Recovered Body Identified. Case Being Treated as a Homicide

The Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office received a call regarding the discover of a body in a field on Tuesday February 13, 2024 when workers on a local farm were picking up rocks.  The workers found what appeared to be a body lying in an overgrown brush patch and called 911.

The Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office responded and began working the scene along with the Lawrence County Coroner’s Office.

The remains located were badly decomposed and had possibly been in the area for several weeks.

An autopsy was conducted and the identity was determined to be Larry E. Rysted, 40 of Greenfield, MO.

Further information during the autopsy led to the determination that the cause of death was likely homicide.

The Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office activated the Lawrence County Critical Incident Team to help assist in the ongoing investigation.

The LCCIT is comprised of law enforcement personnel from agencies within Lawrence County who come together to help with major crime incidents to help supply staffing, resources and other necessary components to help work crime scenes.

Agencies that have been involved in this activation include the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, Aurora/Marionville Police Department, Monett Police Department, Missouri Department of Conservation and Officers from the Quapaw Nation in Oklahoma.

More information regarding the investigation will be released as it becomes available.