LARRY VANNOY 1962 - 1986 AIRCRAFT MECHANIC DEN SLC MARRIED TO RESERVATIONS AGENT NANCY VANNOY WHO FLEW WEST ON JAN 31, 2017. Larry Vannoy killed in Phoenix Just heard from Mary Cuthbertson that Larry went outside last night or the night before to investigate the sound of his pickup being started. Wife went out and couldn't find him and called 911. Larry was apparently killed by two or three indian kids who stole his truck and when he tried to stop them they beat him to death. Jake will have more about this later. -Clyde Hart (11/20/00) Re: Larry Vannoy killed in Phoenix My sympathies to his family. I can truely relate to their pain. December 13 will mark the 10th. anniversary of my son's tragic death. He was murdered and robbed while attempting to deliver a pizza. The two scumbags that killed him are serving time in prison. My son lost his life at the age of 21, while the killers got $20 and a pizza from him. -Darrell Robson (11/20/00) This article is out of the Arizona Republic dated November 20, 2000.....Larry was in Maintenance with Frontier in Denver and Salt Lake City.....He then moved to Phoenix in 1986 to work with America West Airlines, and retired in 1999. He is survived by his wife, Nancy who worked in DENRK and SLCRK from 1973 to 1986 Ahwatukee man slain, tried to stop thieves By David Proffitt The Arizona Republic Nov. 20, 2000 An Ahwatukee man who tried to stop thieves from stealing a truck out of his own driveway Saturday night was found beaten to death Sunday afternoon, apparently the victim of the car thieves who drove off with him still in the bed of the truck, police said. Larry Leon Vannoy, 66, reportedly heard noises around 10:30 p.m. Saturday in front of his house in the 4600 block of East Walatowa Street. He told his wife to call 911 while he went out to investigate. She told police several men were already inside their GMC Sierra pickup starting it up, and that Vannoy jumped into the bed as they pulled out of the driveway. Authorities were investigating the crime as a missing-person's case until Mesa police stopped a truck matching the description before dawn Sunday, and found blood inside it. "When the vehicle was found this morning with blood in it, we knew that this victim was probably the victim of foul play," said Detective Tony Morales, spokesman for the Phoenix Police Department. "Sadly enough, that turned out to be the case." Vannoy was found beaten to death Sunday afternoon near the Wild Horse Casino south of Ahwatukee on the Gila River Indian Reservation, police said. James Leonard Cooper, 21, and Bayle Eddie Whiteman, 15, both of the Gila River Indian Reservation, were arrested and booked for armed robbery, kidnapping and first-degree murder and other charges, Morales said. Police are still seeking a third man in connection with the murder. -H.P. Robbie (11/20/00) I was just checking out the site to see if anyone sent in the news on Larry Vannoy. I notice that a couple of folks sent Larry Benoit. His name was Larry Vannoy, not Benoit. Just wanted to make that correction. -Mary Cuthbertson (11/21/00) Machete tied to reservation slaying Patricia Biggs The Arizona Republic Nov. 21, 2000 An Ahwatukee Foothills man who tried to stop thieves from taking his truck was killed with a machete, according to police reports. Larry Leon Vannoy, 66, yelled for help from the bed of his truck Saturday night as three suspects drove him to a side road on the Gila River Indian Reservation. Vannoy was struck repeatedly near the head and neck with a machete, then his body was dragged away from the road, police said. On Monday, Dale Eddie Whitman, 15, and James L. Cooper, 21, were charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping and armed robbery in Vannoy's death. Whitman was charged as an adult. A third suspect remained at large Monday evening. Only hours before his death, Vannoy had been honored for his volunteerism at the Ahwatukee Recreation Center. "He was what we call a 'Hot Flash,' " said Jolynn Bricker, activities director at the center. She presented Vannoy and other volunteers with pins at a dance Saturday. "It was a joyous time; everybody was getting together and glad to recognize these people," said David Seward, 65, another member. Vannoy, who lived in the 4600 block of East Walatowa Street, was born in Virginia and lived in Colorado and Utah before moving to Arizona. He worked for Frontier Airlines for 25 years and retired this year from his job as supervisor of mechanics at America West Airlines. Vannoy and his wife, Nancy, had been members of the recreation center since 1988. On Nov. 11, he was elected to the center's board of directors. "He was just getting ready to enjoy life," Seward said. Neighbors visited outside Monday, talking about the tragedy that occurred in their midst. "I just feel sad, that's all," Bill Boyce said. "I don't understand why he jumped in the back of that truck." Keith Collier, a neighbor and friend, said he and Vannoy often would meet in the greenbelt behind their homes to pick up litter. "I missed him Sunday morning when I went for my walk, picking up," Collier said. "When I got back to the house, my wife told me the police had been here." A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday at the Ahwatukee Recreation Center, 5002 E. Cheyenne Drive. Prosecutor 'furious' over suspect's release By Carol Sowers and Judi Villa The Arizona Republic Nov. 22, 2000 A Gila River Indian community prosecutor and probation officer are outraged that a tribal judge ignored their pleas and released a convicted car thief with a long criminal history five weeks before he was accused of hacking an Ahwatukee community leader to death. "I am absolutely furious about this," tribal prosecutor Sheldon Stewart said Tuesday. "But there isn't much we can do." Now there is confusion about what to do next - whether federal or county officials will prosecute, and whether the two murder suspects could escape the death penalty and face a relatively lenient prison sentence. James L. Cooper, 21, is accused with another suspect of killing 66-year-old Larry Leon Vannoy after stealing his truck from his driveway Saturday in Ahwatukee. Mesa police stopped Cooper for drunken driving early Sunday, behind the wheel of Vannoy's truck. Tribal Judge Spencer Thomas had released Cooper 20 months before he completed his sentence in the tribal jail. Stewart said Thomas made a grave error when he granted Cooper's request to release him. Thomas refused to comment. Cooper's three-inch thick criminal file details a long criminal history of assaults, jail escapes, car thefts, and probation violations. He had been sentenced on Dec. 21, 1999, to five years in jail, with no possibility of probation. Cooper was to be released in July 2004. But on Oct. 11, he asked Thomas to commute his sentence. Stewart and tribal probation officer Priscilla Garman objected. Thomas ignored their pleas and sentenced Cooper to 41/2 years' probation. On Oct. 14, Cooper walked out of jail. Thirty six days later, Cooper and Dale Whitman, 15, were behind bars, accused of killing Vannoy and stealing his $5,000 truck. Maricopa County Superior Court records paint a chilling picture of Vannoy's last moments. He had jumped in the bed of his truck to try to stop the truck thieves and yelled for help as Cooper drove to the Gila River Indian Reservation. A third man, who hasn't been arrested, threatened to cut Vannoy's head off. The suspects stopped the truck near the tribe's popular Wild Horse Casino, where they struck Vannoy repeatedly on his head and neck with a machete. "Appears the assailant was attempting to decapitate, but did not succeed," the court records say. Vannoy never had a chance to escape. Cooper told police that he ordered Vannoy out of the truck, then claimed he didn't know what happened next. Whitman admitted to police that he and Cooper kicked Vannoy, but he said the third man stabbed him. Blood was on Whitman's shoes when he was arrested. Cooper's pants had not only blood but also "body tissue" on them. And in the pocket of Cooper's pants was a "well-worn silver dollar." Vannoy's wife told police her husband carried such a dollar. Vannoy's pants pockets were turned inside out and empty when his body was found. After the attack, reports say Cooper dropped off the third man on the reservation, then stopped along Interstate 10 at the Gila River to get rid of the machete. Whitman, who is being held on $354,000 bail, led investigators to the weapon. Cooper has been refused bail. Garman, the probation officer, said she is mystified by Thomas' decision to release Cooper. Probation, she said, "was not the answer to his problems." Now there are questions about who will prosecute Cooper, and Whitman, both residents of the Gila River Indian Community south of Phoenix. The confusion arises because the crime spree started in Phoenix on Saturday with the theft of Vannoy's truck, and ended with his slaying on the reservation. The federal courts usually prosecute crimes on Indian reservations. Considering the "heinous nature of the crime," Stewart said he is concerned about handing the defendants over to federal jurisdiction, which has no provisions for the death penalty. He added that under federal law, defendants using alcohol during the commission of a homicide could be charged only with second- degree murder and be out of prison in 10 years. It is not clear whether either suspect was under the influence of drugs or alcohol when Vannoy was stabbed to death. Bill FitzGerald, spokesman for the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, said county officials have been in touch with federal prosecutors to decide whether the case should be transferred to U.S. District Court. "Right now," FitzGerald said, "we are prosecuting this case." Police identify 3rd suspect in killing of Ahwatukee man By Carol Sowers The Arizona Republic Nov. 24, 2000 Phoenix police have identified a third suspect in the machete slaying of an Ahwatukee man who was killed after he tried to stop the theft of his truck. Authorities are looking for Kenrick Vincent, 25, who may still be on the Gila River Reservation, where the body of Larry Vannoy, 66, was found over the weekend. Vincent is 5 feet, 11 inches tall, weighs 200 pounds, and has brown hair and eyes. Vannoy was killed with a machete after he leaped into the back of his truck to try to prevent it from being stolen from his driveway. His body was found near the Wild Horse Pass Casino on the reservation south of Phoenix. James Cooper, 21, and Dale Whitman, 15, were arrested and booked into a Maricopa County jail on suspicion of first-degree murder, kidnapping and armed robbery. Whitman told police that the third suspect stabbed Vannoy to death, according to court records. Whitman is being held on $354,000 bail. Cooper, who has a long criminal history on the reservation, was denied bond. All three men live on the reservation. OBITUARY Larry Leon Vannoy 66, of Phoenix AZ, passed away November 18, 2000. Memorial service is 11am, Sat., Nov. 25, Ahwatukee Recreation Ctr., 5001 E. Cheyenne Dr., Phoenix, AZ. -ARIZONA REPUBLIC (11/24/00) Larry was a quiet guy, He had probably 30 to 35 years in as a Frontier Mechanic, most of it in the Hangar. I think I knew him 10 years before I ever heard him speak. But he was a Stand Up great guy, an excellent mechanic who just did his job and never harmed a fly. My sincerest condolences to his family. -Jim Taylor (11/30/00) A few days ago, they arrested the 3rd suspect in Larry's murder. He's 25 and also appears to be the same fine speciman of pond scum as the first 2 suspects. Larry's widow, Nancy, was on the TV news a few nights ago and gave a very tender, heart-wrenching interview about always loving and being kind to each other. She said the hardest part was that she never got to say goodbye. I knew Nancy when she worked in res in Den. She was a beautiful lady then and still is. Keep her in your prayers and hearts this Holiday Season! -Diane Olesky (12/1/00) Larry worked as a mechanic for Frontier about 25 years in SLC and DEN. His wife Nancy worked SLCRK and DENRK from 1973 until 1986. They moved to PHX in 1986 after the bankruptcy so Larry could work for America West. He retired over a year ago as maintenance supervisor. He and Nancy lived in Ahwatukee and had been active in the Recreation Center there since 1988. Last November 11 Larry was elected to the Board of Directors and on November 18 he was honored at the Center for his work there. Several hours afterwards at about 10:30 p.m., while sitting in his livingroom, Larry heard his truck start up. He yelled for Nancy to call 911 and ran out the front door. His truck, with 3 men in it, was leaving his driveway. Larry ran and jumped into the bed of the truck. He yelled for help as the truck was driven to a side road near the Gila River Indian Reservation. There he was attacked by the three men and one of them killed him with repeated blows to the head and neck with a machete and his body was dragged away from the road. Just before dawn the police investigating the case stopped a truck matching the description of Larry’s truck and found blood in it. Two men were arrested then and the third caught not long afterwards. The three, ages 15, 21 & 25, have been charged with kidnapping, murder and armed robbery. One of the suspects had been put on 4 years probation just the month before and reportedly had a criminal file 3 inches thick. A large memorial service was held for Larry, who was 66, at the Ahwatukee Recreation Center on November 25, 2000. Nancy was interviewed on TV not long afterwards and said the hardest part was that she never got to say goodbye. -FRONTIER NEWS, WINTER 2001 Happy New Year, hope all is well with you! Can you forward me Nancy Vannoys address? I was shocked to hear of Larry's Death. He was a such a great person, and I can't believe what happened to him. I would love to send Nancy my condolences. -Linda Piscitelli (2/1/01) Judge Sets Date for Vannoy Murder Trial By Doug Murphy Staff Writer An Oct. 15 trial date has been set for the teen-ager and two men charged with the murder of Ahwatukee Foothills resident Larry Vannoy. Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Peter Reinstein set the trial date during a March 16 hearing. Deputy county attorney Noel Levy told Reinstein that mid-October appears to be realistic "at this time." Court-appointed defense attorney Timothy Mackay, who represents 27-year-old defendant Kenrick Vincent, asked for a midsummer trial date. Reinstein rejected the request, instead consolidating the cases into one trial. Vincent, James Cooper, 21, and Dale Whitman, 15, will stand trial together for the first-degree murder, robbery and kidnapping of Vannoy. All three defendants are residents of the Gila River Indian Community. Levy has filed court documents indicating that he intends to seek the death penalty for both Vincent and Cooper. Whitman, under Arizona law, cannot be sentenced to death because of his age. According to Phoenix police reports, the three came to Ahwatukee Foothills to steal a vehicle the night of Nov. 18, 2000. Vannoy, 66, heard the three attempting to take his prized 1985 GMC Sierra pickup out of his driveway in the 4600 block of East Walatowa Street around 10 p.m. and jumped into the bed of the truck as it sped away. He was discovered dead the next morning on the Gila River Indian Community near Wild Horse Pass Casino off Maricopa Road, south of Ahwatukee Foothills. A machete was used in the deadly attack. When Cooper and Whitman were arrested by Mesa police, driving Vannoy's pickup truck early Nov. 19, blood was discovered on both their shoes. Vincent was arrested 10 days later on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, east of Scottsdale. He was extradited to Phoenix in December. AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS (FL Club 6/11/01) Here is a shot of the swing shift mechanics, leads and supervisor performing the last overhaul of a CV 580. DEN, about 1981 or '82. Leads were Ray Maxfield and Bill Patterson. Supervisor was Mike Humphries. I'm in there, too. Enjoy! Note that Larry Vannoy is sitting on the stairs (at the top)...way too sad. -M. Scott Borden 1978-1986 (9-28-01) Teen-ager pleads guilty in Vannoy murder Trades testimony for lesser charge By Doug Murphy Staff Writer Charged with first-degree murder, 16-year-old Dale Eddie Whitman changed his plea Tuesday from innocent to guilty in Maricopa County Superior Court. Whitman has admitted to being the first to stab Larry Vannoy last November during an Ahwatukee Foothills vehicle theft that turned into murder. Two other defendants will go on trial for the same crime in February and face the possibility of death by lethal injection. As part of the plea agreement between Whitman and the Maricopa County Attorney's office, he escaped the possibility of life in prison but will face a sentence of at least 16 years without the possibility of probation, according to portions of the plea agreement that were read in court by Judge James Padish. Because of his age Whitman was never eligible for the death penalty. In return for the reduced sentence, Whitman agreed to testify honestly and accurately against fellow defendant Kenrick Vincent, 26. Whitman does not have to testify against the third defendant, James Cooper, 22, who is a cousin. All three are members of the Gila River Indian Community. According to police and court documents, the trio came to Ahwatukee Foothills intending to steal a vehicle Nov. 18, 2000. They saw Vannoy's prized pickup truck sitting in his driveway in the 4600 block of East Walatowa Street and Cooper hot-wired the vehicle. As the three were driving away, Vannoy came out of the house and jumped in the back, trying to stop the theft, according to police documents. Whitman's attorney, Richard Miller, told Padish on Tuesday that "Mr. Vannoy was banging and yelling to passersby to call the police" as the three drove east on Interstate 10 heading to the Gila River Indian Community. Miller said Whitman has admitted he opened the window in the back of the cab and reached out, stabbing Vannoy non-fatally, as the truck headed east. When the truck stopped, according to what Whitman has told investigators, it was Vincent who then used a home-made cleaver to hack Vannoy to death. Miller said Whitman has also admitted to stabbing Vannoy once in the heart, as he lay on the ground, before he died. As part of the plea agreement, Whitman's first-degree murder charge was reduced to second-degree murder and two other charges, kidnapping and robbery, were dropped according to Deputy County Attorney Noel Levy. Padish accepted Whitman's plea and set sentencing for Feb. 27. Cooper and Vincent are scheduled to go on trial Feb. 14 for first-degree murder, kidnapping and robbery. Nancy Vannoy, who has attended all the court proceedings sat stoically as Whitman admitted his role in her husband's death. Afterward she declined to speak with the press. -Ahwatukee Foothills News 11/09/01 Widow relives anguish of murder during trial By Claudia I. Provencio The Arizona Republic Nancy Vannoy knows this will be another rough week, maybe the worst since her husband was killed with a machete as he tried to stop thieves from taking his prized pickup from their driveway. She has testified in the murder trial of James Cooper; 22, one of three Gila Indian River Ciommunity residents charged in the Nov.19, 2000, death of her husband, Larry, 66, and plans to be there every day this week. "They're so clinical in the court-room, Vannoy said, her voice trailing off. She has walked out a few times, including when prosecutor Noel Levy described her husband's head, neck and chest wounds. "I see him lying there on that field even though I don't know where that field is," she said. Larry Vannoy's body was found near the Wild Horse Casino on the Gila River Reservation south of Phoenix the morning after the theft. Cooper is charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery and kidnapping. Closing arguments in his trial be-fore Judge James Padish in Maricopa County Superior Court will be today. The prosecution rested Monday, and the defense presented no witnesses. Levy said fingerprints and footprints at the scene matched Cooper's. Defense attorney Bruce Peterson said evidence shows Cooper took the vehicle but not that he tookpart in the beating and murder. Nancy Vannoy is attending the trial even though she knows convictions won't bring her husband back. "I'll never get over it," she said sitting in her Ahwatukee home where she has two poster boards covered in pictures of the two of them. Four months before his death, the couple had rented a limousine and eaten at a fancy restaurant to celebrate 25 years of marriage. Larry had retired as supervisor of mechanics for America West Airlines. He's the first thing on her mind every. morning. She misses holding his hand and having him sneak up on her in the kitchen to put his arms around her. Every time she changes a light bulb or tends to the yard, all things Larry used to do, she fights tears. On the night of his murder; the couple had just come home from a reception honoring Larry for his volunteer work with the Ahwatukee Recreation Center and his election to its board. Typically the last to leave a dance, the couple, tired from a trip to Puerto Peijasco, Sonora, decided to leave early. When they got home, Larry broke another habit. With his mother's van and the couple's other vehicle in the garage, he parked his '85 GMC Sierra pickup in the driveway. While Larry was checking on his ailing mother, Nancy Vannoy heard someone trying to start the diesel-engine truck She told Larry. He ran out and tried to stop the thieves by jumping into the pickup bed. "He was raised in Montana and Wyoming. He was a cowboy," she said. "If someone had tried to steal his horse, he would have done the same thing." Her mother-in-law died three weeks to the day of Larry's death. Vannoy is bracing herself for the April trial of Kenrick Vincent, 27, the second defendant. Like Cooper; he is charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery and kidnapping. A third defendant, Dale Eddie Whitman, 16, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder last November. He won't be sentenced until the other trials are completed. Vannoy said she's sure the defendants' families are suffering just as much, but they live with their pain differently "Every time he (Larry) would leave the house whether it was to go to the grocery store or to get gas, anything, he always gave me a kiss before he left. But he didn't give me a kiss the night he ran out chasing those guys." Jury returns guilty verdict in murder By Carol Sowers The Arizona Republic March 07, 2002 One of three defendants charged with hacking an Ahwatukee Foothills man to death and dumping his body on the Gila River Reservation was found guilty Wednesday of first-degree murder. James Cooper, 27, showed no emotion as the verdict was read. Cooper, who could face the death penalty, is expected to be sentenced May 31 by Judge James Padish of Maricopa County Superior Court. The seven-man, five-woman jury deliberated about six hours before finding Cooper guilty in the Nov. 19, 2000, slaying of Larry Vannoy, 66, who was beaten and slashed with a machete after he tried to stop three men from stealing his pickup truck from his driveway. Nancy Vannoy, Larry's widow, said after the verdict she was relieved that Cooper had been found guilty but said, "No way it will ever bring Larry back." A second defendant, Dale Eddie Whitman, 16, pleaded guilty last November to second-degree murder and is awaiting sentencing. Kendrick Vincent, 27, also charged with first-degree murder, is to be tried April 8. Regarding the trial; update - the trial for Vincent has been delayed until June 4th. Looks like this whole thing is going to take about two years before it is over. -Nancy Vannoy (4/2/02) MAN ACCEPTS LIFE PLEA BARGAIN IN MACHETE KILLING, KIDNAPPING Kenric Vincent accepted a plea bargain Wednesday that will put him in prison for the rest of his life for murdering a man with a machete. Vincent, and two other men killed Larry Vannoy, 66, in November 2000. Vincent, Dale Eddie Whitman, and James L. Cooper hot-wired Vannoy's pickup truck outside Vannoy's Ahwatukee home. As they drove off, Vannoy jumped into the truck bed and held on as the thieves drove down I-10 and turned onto Gila River Indian Community land. -ARIZONA REPUBLIC (6/5/02) Teen sentenced to prison in Vannoy murder case Mesa, Arizona (AP) A teenager was sentenced to 20 years in prison in the murder of an Ahwatukee Foothills man. Dale Whitman, 17, of the Gila River Indian Community received the sentence Aug. 13 in the death of Larry Vannoy, 66. Vannoy's body was found near the Wild Horse Pass Casino in the Gila River community Nov. 19, 2000. Whitman and two other Gila River men were arrested. James Cooper, 21, and Kenrick Vincent, 27, were convicted of first-degree murder. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office will seek the death penalty for both men, deputy county attorney Noel Levy said. -Indian Country News (8/14/02) L VANNOY Aircraft mechanic seniority date of 2/8/62 on the 11/1/76 FL/IAM Seniority List. -Jake Lamkins (11/26/10) Subject: Updated memrial webpage LARRY VANNOY 1962 - 1986 AIRCRAFT MECHANIC SLC DEN http://FAL-1.tripod.com/Larry_Vannoy.html Post your remembrances of Larry who was murdered Nov 18, 2000. -Jake Lamkins I remember my good friends, Nancy Vannoy and Larry, came to SLC when they opened the res office. Also, they use to have bumper stickers that read "if you think our liquor laws are funny...wait till you see our underwear" I was there over 20 years. I loved it. -Bill Guthrie (2/7/16) L L VANNOY Aircraft mechanic seniority date of 2/8/62, #64, per the May 1986 FL/IAM Seniority list. -Jake Lamkins (6/5/17) FLacebook - FL Club FLight West: Larry Vannoy DEN SLC aircraft mechanic Larry Vannoy's memorial webpage has been updated at http://FAL-1.tripod.com/Larry_Vannoy.html Over a dozen items added and a web link to his wife Nancy's memorial webpage who flew west last January. -Jake Lamkins (6/6/17)