LaRoy Earl Gorman was a self made man. From the age of nineteen (19) until his untimely death at age sixty two (62), LaRoy scaled the proverbial ladder of success in the banking world. At the time of his death, LaRoy was acting as the Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Charleston National Bank, a role which basically had him running the daily affairs of the institution. At this time, Charleston National was in the process of incorporating the insolvent First National Bank of South Charleston, a move that LaRoy played an integral part in. But was it a role which cost him his life?
LaRoy was remembered as friendly and outgoing and was well respected among his peers. On the evening of November 12, 1982, LaRoy arrived at the Steak and Ale in Charleston with his girlfriend around 6:00pm. It is said that he was supposed to meet a colleague at 5:30pm, but had been tied up in a meeting with representatives of the Bank of Point Pleasant which caused him to be late. His colleague left the Steak and Ale around 5:50pm, ten (10) minutes before LaRoy arrived. The pair entered the restaurant and proceeded to the bar/ lounge area where they were ultimately seated at a table in the back corner. LaRoy was a known creature of habit and the Steak and Ale was one establishment in which he frequented on the regular. He knew many of the individuals in the lounge that evening, and was remembered to have visited with quite a number of people.
Two (2) hours later, around 8:00pm, LaRoy and his date exited the Steak and Ale. Ever the gentlemen, LaRoy opened the passenger side car door of his Ford LTE for his date before proceeding around the vehicle to the drivers side. It is at this point that all hell seemingly broke loose. Three (3) gunshots were heard to ring out before the car, which had been backed into the spot next to Gorman’s LTE, peeled out of the parking lot. LaRoy stood leaning against his vehicle with one arm on the door and one on the roof. He had been struck three (3) times, twice in the right arm and once in the abdomen.
Not wanting to attract attention from the media, LaRoy downplayed the extent of his injuries. However, while being interviewed by representatives of the Charleston Police Department, LaRoy collapsed on the pavement. He was taken to CAMC Memorial Hospital where he was in stable condition upon admission however, the full extent of his injuries was soon revealed. One of the bullets which struck his arm, had hit his elbow, shattering the bone and another which had entered through his back, pierced his liver and had caused massive internal bleeding in the abdomen. LaRoy was immediately sedated and brought into surgery but not before being interviewed by Officer Sadler with Charleston PD. From this conversation we were able to learn the following about LaRoy’s assailant: he was a white male with a dark complexion, slim face, dark medium length hair and glasses. LaRoy claimed to not know the identity of the person who shot him, nor could he think of anyone who would want to cause him harm. Although, he did mention that he thought that the shooter could have been across the bar from where he and his date were speaking with friends earlier in the evening.
Despite the best efforts of the CAMC Medical team, LaRoy Gorman succumbed to his injuries at 4:57am on November 13, 1982. He was sixty two (62) years old. His death, catapulted the Charleston PD into a full on homicide investigation. But what started out as a seemingly straightforward investigation into the death of one of Charleston’s most respectable citizens, soon turned into a convoluted web of a secrets and a seemingly double life blurred by public facade.
Rumors began to circulate including a revolving door of women coming from Gorman’s apartment at Terrace Park East, accusations of sexual assault in the workplace and homemade pornography films to name a few. Could Gorman have had more enemies than even he was aware of?
Perhaps the most curious of all stemmed from the recent takeover of the First National Bank of South Charleston. It is known that many stockholders lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in the takeover. Could Gorman have been taken out by an angry stockholder?
Here is what we know:
GORMAN’S ASSAILANT: Described as being a caucasian male, thick eyebrows, dark medium length hair, glasses, full mustache. He stood between 5’8” and 5’10” and was wearing white button down shirt with a dark colored jacket.
ASSAILANT’S VEHICLE: Grey, Brown or Beige Chevrolet Monte Carlo or Pontiac Grand Prix. Older Model (Such as early 1970’s). The vehicle exited the Steak and Ale parking lot turning LEFT onto Ferry Street.
It has been forty (40) years since LaRoy Gorman was senselessly murdered in cold blood. Police are no closer today to solving this crime than they were during those initial weeks back in 1982. If you or anyone you know has any information regarding the death of LaRoy Gorman, please contact Crime Stoppers at (304) 255-STOP. You are not required to give your name and are able to submit anonymously. You can also contact the Charleston Police Department at (304) 348-6480.
Stay tuned for the Cold Case Crew’s upcoming episode, “The Murder of LaRoy Gorman” airing July 6, 2022. Be sure to LIKE, SHARE and SUBSCRIBE to the Cold Case Crew.
What’s YOUR Theory?
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References:
WV State Archives
Newspapers:
The Charleston Gazette
The Daily Mail
The Register Herald
The Post Herald
Youtube:
Mysterious WV- “The Murder of LaRoy Gorman”
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