07/04/05 (Updated): Tony Luzio Jr., Powell, OH

I am saddened to report that the remains of Anthony "Tony" Luzio Jr.  have been found. 

After an extensive 9-1/2 year search covering many of the county's 1,000 bodies of water, Tony's car was found submerged in a lake in October 2014.

According to the Daily Mail.com:

Dennis and Tammy Watters who own Team Watters Sonar Search and Recovery in Moro, Illinois travelled to Delaware County eight times over the past year to help search for Luzio and in that time became close to Luzio parents Carla and Anthony Sr. The heartbroken parents along with the Watterses looked for ponds that could hide a car and be driven into from a road. They used geographic-information-systems technology to search for bodies of water that back in 2005 would have had no obstacles like trees or fences around them.

The search company, which relies largely on donations, found the car using a small boat equipped with sonar. A fire department diver confirmed it was Luzio's car. The clothing matched what the missing man was last seen wearing and his driver's license was inside the car.

Police believe he drove off the roadway.

Source:

Associated Press and Alexandra Klausner for MailOnline. Man who went missing nine years ago is found dead in car pulled from Ohio pond. October 22. Accessed 2014, April 26 from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2803914/Man-missing-9-years-dead-car-Ohio-pond.html.

* * * * * *
Full Story:

Anthony J. Luzio Jr., called Tony, by his friends, was last seen on July 4, 2005 after leaving a party. He never made it home to his apartment. 

Tony was described as a loyal friend with a great sense of humor who enjoyed playing cards with his friends, especially blackjack. On the evening of July 3, 2005, Tony Luzio Jr. left his home to play cards at a friend's house. At around 11:30 p.m., Tony and the group of friends stopped at a local hangout to meet up with some additional friends. They stayed until 2:30 a.m. on July 4, then headed over to party at a friend's home near Rutherford Road and Sawmill Parkway, less than 1 mile from Tony's residence in Powell, Ohio. Witnesses say they saw Tony leaving the party at around 4 a.m., and that he was intoxicated. Friends assumed he was heading back to his apartment, even though he had given the key to one of his friends. It was the last time that anyone saw the young man.

On July 4, Tony was supposed to work at The Limited Brands Inc. at 12 p.m., where he worked the third shift as security. He never showed up for work, and his family has not heard from him. Tony's family says that missing work and not being in touch with his parents is extremely out of character for him. When Tony's  father, Anthony Luzio Sr., could not locate his son, he called the local police department and reported him missing.

Tony's disappearance has been featured on America's Most Wanted twice, but the case is still in need of new leads from the public.

Tony was a 1998 graduate of Olentangy High School. He went on to attend Ohio State University and Franklin University. He was an avid reader, gifted writer and artist and was family oriented. He enjoys travels to Florida with his family and going to see the Cleveland Indians spring training camp with his father. It would not be like him to disappear.


The Search for Tony Luzio Jr.

Police have searched the nearby Scioto River and surrounding wooded areas. They have found no trace of Tony or his car. Tony had limited funds at the time he disappeared and there has been no activity on his bank account or his cell phone.

Tony's father, Anthony Luzio, Sr. is a 31-year-veteran with the Columbus Police Department in Ohio. He has told the media that he never suspected that he would one day be on the other side of the fence.

"Because of my profession, you tend to think the worst has happened," Sgt. Tony Luzio Sr. said. "We certainly hope that's not the case here and that he's just having some issues that we need to deal with," says Anthony Luzio, Sr. I've dealt with this situation in my career numerous times, and always thought that I could feel what people felt," he said. "I just can't explain the pain."

"We will take care of him, no matter what," said Tony's mother, Carla Luzio. "We just love him so much and we miss him so much, and he needs to come home. Because we're having a hard time going on without him, and we really, really need him. And we need the public's help."

If you have any information, contact the Delaware County Sheriff's Office at (877) 645-8477 or Crime Stoppers at (877) 645-TIPS.



Case Details
Name/age: Tony Luzio, 25
Physical Description: White, 6'3', 200 lbs, brown hair, brown eyes
Residence: Powell, Ohio
Last Seen: 7/4/05, 4 a.m., near Rutherford Road off Sawmill Parkway in Delaware County in Powell, Ohio. He was driving a silver, four-door 2004 Honda Civic with the license plate number DCA 5615. The car also has a Bush-Cheney sticker on the rear window and a Fraternal Order of Police medallion on the rear plate.
Reward: There is a $100,000 reward being offered for information about Tony's disappearance.
Investigating Agency: Delaware County Sheriff's Office at (877) 645-8477 or Crime Stoppers at (877) 645-TIPS.


Sources
America's Most Wanted
FBI
Legacy.com. Obituary.

First published: July 4, 2005. Revised April 26, 2015.