OSBI searches for murder weapon in 2001 cold case

(WAGONER, Okla.) On Friday, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI), Wagoner Police Department and the Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) Police Department dive team searched the Verdigris River under the Highway 69 bridge in Wagoner County. The dive was an effort to find the potential weapon used in the murder of 59-year-old Richard Piersall in April of 2001. A customer trying to buy a cup of coffee at the Kum & Go convenience store around 1:30 a.m. on April 9, 2001 called police when he couldn’t find a cashier and noticed an empty cash register drawer on the floor. Wagoner police arrived at the store and found Piersall shot to death in the back room of the store where he worked as a clerk. The store did not have any surveillance equipment. Investigators developed several suspects during the investigation but no arrests have been made. Piersall is the ten of hearts in th e first deck of the OSBI Cold Case Cards. The cards are distributed by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections through prison canteens where they can be purchased by inmates. The goal is to generate leads through the prison system by having a murdered or missing persons face, name and case information seen by inmates. Even though Piersall's case is cold, the OSBI is still actively pursuing leads as demonstrated by Friday’s search for the murder weapon. If you have any information about the person or persons responsible for Piersall’s death, please contact the Wagoner Police Department or the OSBI at (800) 522-8017 or email tips@osbi.ok.gov. You can remain anonymous.