On Feb. 22, 1981, Lee Ray Rowland was discovered lying face down on his bed by his parents. The 30-year-old was pronounced deceased a few moments later.
Rowland’s parents went away for the weekend and when they came home, they found their residence ransacked and property had been taken.
Lee’s parents left their home on Feb. 17, 1981 and last spoke to their son on Feb. 20. Lee’s mother mentioned that he called out of work because someone slashed the tires on his car.
Garden Grove police found Rowland’s vehicle engulfed in flames at 3:30 a.m. on Feb. 21, 1981, prior to the discovery of Lee’s body.
Witnesses of the vehicle incident reported it being dropped off behind a business with a second vehicle following. A subject got out of the victim’s vehicle and got in the second vehicle. A few moments later, the vehicle erupted in flames.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department investigators are still hoping to find new information about the murder of Lee Ray Rowland.
