Bethany Markowski’s father has always been central to the investigation, but over 20 years later, many of his statements and actions remain under scrutiny. Here’s what we know, based on official timelines, public records, and interview footage.
Timeline: Larry’s Confirmed Whereabouts (March 2–4, 2001)
- Friday, March 2: Larry picked Bethany up from the neutral custody exchange point at the Waverly, TN exit, per court arrangement.
- Saturday, March 3: Larry and Bethany were seen in Little Rock, Arkansas at the home of his friend, Harold. (Larry later denied going to Arkansas, despite the sighting.)
- Sunday, March 4: Bethany called her mother at 9:38 a.m. from Gleason, TN. Larry’s phone pinged around Natchez Trace State Park around 12:12 p.m., not near the route to Jackson.
- Larry claimed they arrived at Old Hickory Mall in Jackson around 1:30–2:00 p.m.
- A witness in Parkers Crossroads saw Larry alone at 2:00 p.m., saying he had “just dropped off his daughter.”
- Larry did not notify mall security until 5:15 p.m., the same time Bethany was due to be returned to family.
Sources: wbbjtv.com, people.com, fbi.gov
Inconsistencies in His Story
Larry has provided multiple, conflicting versions of the events from that weekend:
- Denied going to Arkansas, though witnesses (including Harold) confirm Bethany was there.
- Claimed Bethany went into the mall alone, yet no security footage or eyewitnesses ever placed her inside.
- Told investigators he napped for 30 minutes in the car, but was seen alone at a gas station 25 miles away around the same time.
Despite these contradictions, Larry has maintained that he had nothing to do with Bethany’s disappearance.
Sources: Crime Watch Daily, WBBJ-TV
What Larry Has Said Publicly
In an interview with WBBJ-TV, Larry said:
“We took a nap in the van. She wanted to go up in the mall… I made a mistake by letting her go in the mall. I shouldn’t have done that.”
In a 2018 appearance with Crime Watch Daily, he claimed to still hold out hope that Bethany will return.
Larry has also called suspicions against him a “witch hunt” and denied suggestions that he intended to flee the country.
Direct Quotes from Larry Markowski (From Crime Watch Daily Interview in 2018)
“Well, I picked her up on Friday. Went to Arkansas. And the whole time we’s there—we was up all night, visitin’ and everything else. We came back to my house in Gleason.”
“Well, she wanted to go back to the mall in Jackson to go to Claire’s and the game room. So we got to the mall—I think it was about 1:30, 2 o’clock in the afternoon.”
“So I stretched out on the back seat of the van. It wasn’t about 30 minutes later I went in. I couldn’t find her. I went out to the mall. I looked for her everywhere. I couldn’t find her.”
“Oh yes they have [called me a suspect].”
“Okay, well let me tell you somethin’, sir. They’ve got a podcast going saying that I’m a mean villain of a human being.”
“Well, that’s not true.”
(In response to the claim that he was indifferent to Bethany’s disappearance)
“I was gonna go on the Montel Williams Show. I was called right over to my brother’s house and TBI told me not to do it, right after Bethany disappeared, because they said it would jeopardize the case.”
“I’ve got pictures [of Bethany] right up—right up within a month of Jonnie taking off with Bethany. And this ain’t all of them.”
“I’ve got Bethany’s baby books. I’ve got her first baby shoes.”
“That’s Bethany Christmas Day. That was a month before. That’s my oldest daughter Jenny.”
“They say I always dyed my hair. They tried to say I dyed my hair, I went to the mall in sunglasses and I pulled this big old scheme is what they’ve said. What they said… I’ve never dyed my hair.”
“Well, my hair—what color is that hair? [Reporter: Doesn’t look jet black.] …but it’s black.”
“No, sir.”
(In response to being asked if he had dyed his hair jet black and was walking around the mall wearing sunglasses)
“I’m a truck driver. I drove all 48 states, Canada. If I was gonna go to Mexico, wouldn’t I not have left Little Rock and went to Mexico?”
“And I dang sure wouldn’t have took my van down there and called my so-called buddy Harold to come and get the van. Nothing was ever said like that.”
“It’s a witch hunt. And a pack of lies of what they’re saying.”
“Actually, the woman looked like Jonnie’s mother.”
(In response to being asked about the police sketch of the woman spotted with a girl resembling Bethany actually resembling one of his family members)
“I have no idea. If they [Jonnie’s side] don’t have her, then somebody took her.”
“Yes, I do [believe Bethany is still alive]. I’ve never felt that—anything else.”
“I believe somebody has her, and I believe she gon’ come home—just like Jaycee Dugard. I follow stuff. I don’t care how they smear me. All I care about is my daughter. I love my daughter with all my heart.”
“Absolutely not.”
(In response to the interviewer asking: “You had no involvement in Bethany’s disappearance?”)
Sources: wbbjtv.com, podcasts.apple.com, truecrimenews.com
Polygraph Results & Public Response
- Larry reportedly failed a police-administered polygraph test.
- Jonnie, Bethany’s mother, passed her polygraph.
- Despite this, no charges have ever been filed and Larry has never been named a suspect—only a “person of interest.”
Public forums and advocacy groups have widely criticized the response, with many questioning why the failed polygraph didn’t prompt more aggressive follow-up.
Sources: wbbjtv.com, truecrimenews.com
Questions That Remain Unanswered
Investigators and family members still seek clarity on key issues:
- Why was Larry seen alone at Parkers Crossroads before he reported Bethany missing?
- Why did he wait until after the scheduled custody drop-off to reveal she was missing?
- Why did police allow the van to leave the state, reportedly ending up in Puerto Rico?
Despite these open questions, law enforcement has never named Larry as a suspect.
Sources: fbi.gov, people.com, wbbjtv.com
Do You Remember Larry?
If you ever worked with, knew, or encountered Larry Markowski in the early 2000s—or if you remember anything strange in the time after Bethany disappeared—we want to hear from you.
Even a small detail—a place he mentioned, a behavior that seemed off—could help connect missing dots.
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We will not stop until the full truth comes out. If you know something—or remember something—this is your moment to speak up.
Let’s continue to build this page about Larry Markowski with facts and information from witnesses and first-hand accounts.
