RIVARD, Stephen David

Mohave Daily News ~ 1987 Stephen, who usually went by the name of Steve was a fun loving 20 something when his life was cut short. Steve was on a birthday trip from Mesa in June 1987. They went to the area to spend a week gambling and enjoying the Colorado River. Steve was invited on the trip by his best friend's parents Robert (Bob) and Sue Reynolds of Saguaro St in Mesa. Bob and Sue lost track of Steve, apparently he ventured over to the Arizona side of the Colorado to spend some time at Davis Camp, which is a beach area but is also frequented by transients. Those who last witnessed seeing Steve claimed that he left the area with several young men who were heading to Henderson. One was driving a dark colored Trans Am or Firebird and the other was driving a small pickup truck, white with a "V" dent in the tail gate. Steve's body turned up at about 700 Shoreline Drive in Bullhead City about a week after last being seen. Coincidently, he turned up missing the same day the new Laughlin Bridge was to open. Some theorize he was beaten up and thrown over the then closed bridge and then drown because he was unconscious. Others speculate that this may have been a ritualistic killing on his 22nd birthday, although no solid evidence exists. Ironically his surname means "of the river". The case remains cold. Newspaper article from the time have many facts wrong, it is not clear if the police provided the misinformation or this was a product of poor reporting.