Authorities yesterday arrested a 44-year-old man who reported his wife missing in Caroline County in 1995.

State police picked up Lawrence Peter Gaudenzi during a traffic stop in the Mount Jackson area of Shenandoah County. He is charged with murder in the death of Lisa Kathy Gaudenzi, who was 31 when she disappeared.

Authorities believe she was killed "on or about" Jan. 25, 1995, but her body still hasn't been found.

"I would not agree to bring a charge unless I thought there were evidence sufficient to get a conviction," said Caroline Commonwealth's Attorney Anthony G. "Tony" Spencer.

Gaudenzi was living in Timberville in Rockingham County at the time of his arrest yesterday.

State police got involved in the missing-person case in 1997 and conducted numerous interviews with people who provided information on Lawrence and Lisa Gaudenzi, said state police Sgt. Thomas A. Cunningham Jr.

Recently, state police investigators discovered what Cunningham described as "crucial information" that prompted Spencer to present evidence to a special grand jury, which returned an indictment on the murder charge.

Spencer and Cunningham declined to discuss the evidence, citing the ongoing case.

"There are still active components to this investigation," Cunningham said.
Contact Reed Williams at (804) 649-6332 or rwilliams@timesdispatch.com.