Left and Center: Lloyd, circa 1981
Right: Age-Progressed to age 20
Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance
Missing Since: August 24, 1981
Missing From: Caledon, Ontario, Canada
Classification: Non-Family Abduction
Date Of Birth: September 4, 1966
Age: 14 years old
Height and Weight: 5’0″ and 79 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: White Male, Blonde hair, Blue eyes, Lloyd has a small brown birthmark on the left side of his waist and a darkened front tooth
Clothing/Jewelry Description: A blue and white long sleeve shirt, blue jeans, and tan colored work boots
Details of Disappearance
Lloyd was last seen in Caledon, Ontario, Canada on August 24th 1981. He left his family’s farm on Horseshoe Hill Road at 5:00 pm on his bike to head over to a friend’s house and never returned.
Larsfolk disappeared with his friend, John McCormick Jr,. The two boys were last known to be playing in a gravel pit located on the McCormick family farm on Horseshoe Hill Road and situated 10 miles north of Brampton. It was Lloyd’s first time over at the McCormick family home.
The McCormick farm property was 85-150 acres in total. The two were last seen driving in John’s beat up black Chevrolet around the property at some point between 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm. The car was used as a field car at the time. John’s father drove his sister Kim to another home on Horseshoe Hill Road to babysit around this time.
When Kim was dropped off at home at 9:00 pm, the driver said he saw two boys and a girl on the property. He said he had a hard time turning his car around to get off the McCormick property because of the boys. He described the girl as being a teenager with blonde hair and a pageboy haircut. The girl’s identity is unknown. The man didn’t come forward with this information until June of 2008, 27 years after the boys vanished.
The vehicle was found abandoned with its hood up and all the doors open. Some reports state the car was found at the edge of a woodlot on the farm while others state it was found on a dirt road leading to the gravel pit. Lloyd’s prized bike which he had won at Dairy Queen was found right where he had left it leaving against the house.
When John’s mother was unable to find either of them, she walked to Lloyd’s home at 10:45 pm and asked his parents if they knew where the boys were. That’s when it was discovered they were missing. Both boys were reported missing at 12:30 am.
Neither Lloyd nor John have ever been seen or heard from since 1981. Police initially believed both boys had simply run away from home. The entire property was searched after their disappearance and tracker dogs were brought in to assist. They traced the boys scent to a pond on the property which was drained and searched with no results.
The possibility that the boys died in a rockslide in the gravel pit and became buried on the property was also investigated but no evidence was found to support this. In November of 1981, police equipped with a helicopter and an infrared camera searched the property for the boys bodies but nothing was found during the search.
Police no longer believe either boy left on their own accord. They’ve investigated the possibility that both boys were abducted by a stranger but no evidence has emerged to prove this. Several possible suspects have been identified in the case, including John’s own father, John McCormick Sr,.
John’s father was described as a volatile, paranoid alcoholic who loved guns. The two had a strained relationship at the time of John’s disappearance. McCormick Sr. kept a small mini fridge next to his bed where he kept his liquor and he’d drink from morning until night.
John’s family and those who knew him recalled that his father was abusive towards him. He would become enraged with John Jr. when he’d drive the field car around the property because he’d be tearing up the grass and ground. His drinking only fueled his rage which was almost always directed at his son.
In fact, John Jr. spent most of the summer of 1981 in Virginia with relatives because he had an explosive fight with his father that resulted in his arm being broken. He returned home on August 14th 1981, ten days before his disappearance. John McCormick Sr. died in 1987. Lloyd’s family has accused the McCormick family of being uncooperative in the investigation, noting that they refused to speak with reporters and were not forthcoming with what exactly happened on the farm that night.
The Larsfolk family has also accused police of mishandling the investigation into the boys’ disappearances when they first occurred. They said the police waited to send their pictures and information to other police departments, newspapers and television stations therefore delaying any reports on sightings or information.
Another potential suspect in the case is George McCullough, a mechanic who worked odd jobs around the McCormick family farm. He also worked at John McCormick Sr.’s auto body shop on Hockley Road. He was 27 years old in 1981 and had three daughters with blonde hair like the one who might’ve been seen with the boys on the night they vanished.
McCullough lived in the Hockley Valley at the time of the disappearances. He resided in a brown, dilapidated shack about 20 km away from Horseshoe Hill Road. His house was located near gullies of distinct, bright red Queenston shale. The day after the disappearances, McCullough was seen on the McCormick property with his white truck which was covered in red clay. His coveralls were apparently caked in red clay as well.
Those who knew McCullough described him as intimidating and scary. He was an alcoholic who had gotten into trouble with the law previously. There’s a rumor that he burnt down a house killing either his wife or girlfriend. In July of 1999, he killed his dog by chaining her to the back of his pickup truck and driving which viciously dragged her down the street.
The trial for his animal cruelty case was highly publicized, even resulting in an angry mob physically and verbally confronting McCullough at the courthouse. In March of 2000, McCullough died from long and throat cancer. He was never charged in relation to the 1981 disappearances of both boys but he hasn’t been ruled out as a suspect either.
In May of 2000, ground penetrating technology was used to search the concrete floor of the McCormick family farm for any potential human remains but nothing evidence was found during the search. Ten years later, six more locations on the property were also searched with no results.
Lloyd’s family believes both boys might’ve been picked up by someone while hitchhiking on the night of their disappearances and that this person is responsible for their presumed deaths. However, no evidence exists to support this theory.
At the time of his disappearance, Lloyd had recently moved to Caledon from Fort Erie where his family had previously run a greenhouse business. Lloyd worked at his family’s business and hoped to take over until they were forced to sell the business. Larsfolk also spent many afternoons on the Niagara River casting his fishing line. He would catch fish and sell them to the men at the racetrack so it looked like the men were fishing instead of betting.
In the days leading up to his disappearance, Lloyd went with John McCormick Jr. to Mayfield Secondary School so he could sign up for classes. Larsfolk was excited at the prospect of meeting new people and staring school again. His family said he wasn’t the best student but that he was smart. Lloyd was known to enjoy hockey.
Larsfolk and McCormick Jr. have never been found. The case remains unsolved and foul play is suspected.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Caledon OPP 877-934-6363
Source Information
The Orangeville Banner 08/28/1981
The Orangeville Banner 11/04/1981
The Orangeville Banner 02/02/1983
The Orangeville Banner 08/24/1983
The Orangeville Banner 05/02/1986