The person at the center of this case
Larry Johnson
Missing Person · Open
37 years waiting · since 1989
Missing Person: Larry Johnson
Justice for Larry Johnson — the trail went cold in 1989, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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person
Lead #1Morris Triplett was Johnson's companion on the fishing trip (MP 23166) - what were the circumstances of his disappearance and is there any connection between the two cases?
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evidence
Lead #2No trace of either person or their fishing vessel has been recovered despite wide-ranging searches - what happened to them during or after the fishing trip?
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location
Lead #3The exact location where they were fishing or where the boat was last seen is not specified - identifying this could be crucial to understanding their disappearance.
Larry Johnson, a 20-year-old male, disappeared on August 4, 1989, during a fishing trip with Morris Triplett in Carolina Beach, North Carolina. The two left around 5:30 AM on Friday, and when they failed to return by 9 AM Saturday, families alerted authorities who launched extensive searches by the Carolina Beach Police Department and US Coast Guard. Despite wide-ranging efforts, no trace of Johnson has been found, leaving the circumstances of his disappearance unclear after more than three decades.
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
⏰
timeline
Lead #4The 16-hour gap between departure at 5:30 AM Friday and the report at 9 AM Saturday - what was the expected return time and why did it take so long for families to report them missing?
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Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP25605. Missing person: Larry Johnson.
Last known contact: 1989-08-04 in Carolina Beach, New Hanover, NC. Circumstances: Fishing trip with Morris Triplett, MP 23166, in which they left at around 5:30 am on Friday, August 4, 1989.
When they hadn't returned home by 9 am on Saturday, August 5, 1989, the families became concerned for their whereabouts. The Carolina Beach Police Department and US Coast Guard searched the area widely without any success.
Demographics: 20 years, Male, White / Caucasian. Physical description: 5 ft 10 in, 165 lbs, hair: Brown, eyes: Brown.
Investigating agency: United States Coast Guard Investigative Service.
Timeline of Events
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1989-08-04
05:30Fishing trip departure
Larry Johnson and Morris Triplett left for a fishing trip at approximately 5:30 AM on Friday, August 4, 1989 from Carolina Beach.
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1989-08-05
09:00Families report missing
When Johnson and Triplett had not returned home by 9 AM on Saturday, August 5, 1989, their families became concerned and reported them missing.
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1989-08-05
Search operations begin
Carolina Beach Police Department and US Coast Guard initiated extensive search operations in the area.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:August 4, 1989 at 5:30 AM
Last Updated:September 26, 2026
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Phone: 2023723000
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Case Information
Incident:August 4, 1989 at 5:30 AM
Last Updated:September 26, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 2023723000
You can remain anonymous