But Mr Robinson has been left "upset" with the handling of the case and believes authorities could have began an extensive search much earlier. Also, theres some paint transfer from the vehicle. It was Mr Robinsons second job of the day and Mr Elliott said he had asked him if he wanted to go to Phoenix to rest. Market data provided by Factset. Human remains have been found during the search for a geologist who left a worksite in the desert in Arizona four months ago, but his father has said that the bones discovered arent those of his missing son. The Buckeye Police Department has confirmed that the remains found by the volunteers searching for 24-year-old Daniel Robinson were human. The desert search for Robinson has led to the recovery of "close to five or six human remains in the areas we searched" that belonged to other missing persons, according to Robinson II. At the time of Petitos disappearance, many news outlets were once again criticized for ignoring missing persons cases involving people of color. To honor the one-year mark, David will be hosting a commemorative event at the Arizona Capitol on June 25 to remember Daniel and others who are missing. As part of their missing persons investigation, police found and interviewed the woman who said she'd met Daniel after he made a delivery at her house. Daniel Robinson, a 24-year-old geologist living in Arizona, has been missing for over three months. On September 23, Robinson II told CNN that he has sympathy for the family of Petito, a 22-year-old who was missing for several days before she was found dead near Grand Teton National Park on September 19, but wishes his son, who is Black, had as much national attention. Something was going on. Jeff McGrath: He advised his son is missing, he needs help to find his son. Police learned in the weeks before his disappearance, Daniel had met a young woman through his side gig with Instacart. Where else could we have searched? Chief Hall: This is what I've been living, you know, since last summer. The department told local outlets that it does not suspect foul play, despite the bizarre condition in which Robinsons Jeep Renegade was found in the desert. Family and friends told police that Robinson was acting not like himself in the days before his disappearance, but that there were no indications that we would harm himself or intended to leave the area. He and volunteers have scoured thousands of acres of the Sonoran Desert, and he's hired a private investigator to learn anything about his son's whereabouts. On July 19, a rancher found Robinson's Jeep on his property approximately four miles southwest of the job site where Robinson was last seen, police said. And a place you don't want to have to search for your child. The hydro-geologist, Daniel Robinson, was last seen by a fellow worker and pump technician, Ken Elliot, whilst assessing a remote drill site in the Arizona desert on June 23, 2021, around 9.15-9.30 am. David Robinson: I'm a man of faith and, uh, I am always gonna believe that, despite what I see or hear or know. There are 13 species of rattlesnakes in Arizona, more than in any other state. David Aaro is a Reporter at Fox News Digital. Buckeye is about 30 miles west of downtown Phoenix. Jeff McGrath is no longer on the case because he says his investigation into the vehicle crash is complete. Day, a 25-year-old Illinois State University graduate student, was reported missing by his family and a faculty member on Aug. 25, according to the Bloomington Police Department. They have also set up a GoFundMe that has amassed nearly $130,000 to assist with search costs. Mr Robinson was last spotted on 23 June as he was leaving a worksite in the Arizona desert at Sun Valley Parkway and Cactus Road in Buckeye 35 miles west of the state capital of Pheonix. So they waited for the storm to pass. They checked Daniel's apartment and reviewed traffic security cameras -- hoping to spot his car. You guys will be on the south side.. Daniel's loved ones were "constantly calling, pleading with him to call us back," his father David Robinson said. "I want them to look for my child like they're looking for her," she said tearfully in a local TV interview. David also saw the windshield, showing an impact on the driver's side. He has again turned to the power of the internet to help aid the investigation after witnessing the mass coverage of the Gabby Petito case. (Buckeye Police Department). And sometimes it's hard to tell them apart. The Buckeye Police Department has confirmed that the remains found by the volunteers searching for 24-year-old Daniel Robinson were human. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Now that the milestone is sadly reached, they're continuing on, saying the desert is large and more of it needs to be searched. Pump technician Ken Elliott told police that Mr Robinson was saying things that did not make sense as they prepared to work on a well. as well as other partner offers and accept our. Police said they'd fished around in those pockets and found Daniel's wallet. Hes a happy guy., Josh Mankiewicz: He'd never done anything that made you think he needs to be in therapy or -- or -- or see a professional. Buckeye Police Department continue to search for the young man who went missing in late June. I will continue my searches for my son. We're talking 30 miles west of Phoenix on your odometer, and 30 degrees north of acceptable on your thermometer. That is what fathers do. We won't stop fighting for our children," he said. David Robinson: I called him immediately to try to get him on the phone to find out what's going on. Some are drawn to publicity. Volunteer Coordinator: Welcome to, uh, our, uh, latest search for Daniel Robinson.. Elliott told police he remembered Daniel staring off into the desert and saying something strange. She'd been hanging out with a friend and they had invited Daniel to stay. The car was reportedly then driven another 11 miles after the initial crash, with the ignition turned on at least another 46 times, Mr Robinson said. No shell casings found amongst the sand and stone. His father is still looking for him. The 24-year-old's car was found abandoned a month later in a ravine. The poignant plea has sparked debate regarding the handling of both cases, in both media and law enforcement. Petito vanished after embarking on a cross-country trip with her fianc Brian Laundrie before her body was tragically found on September 19. David Robinson: I would make sure of myself not to treat him any different from his siblings. As she told WGLT, she is not arguing that Petito deserves less but that Day deserves more. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. The father of Daniel said he would keep working nonstop until he learns what happened to his kid. The vehicle was then driven after that. WebWhen last seen, Daniel was described as an African American male, standing 58 and weighing 165 pounds. His father reported him missing at 7 p.m. that day. And that's when people get out of the vehicles. His living nightmare started on June 23, 2021. She also lives here in Phoenix. There are still few clues relating to his disappearance. His dad told police that in the weeks leading up to his disappearance, Robinson had told him that he met a woman and was in love with her. Once his vehicle was found it just didnt look right, David Robinson said. So until something breaks in this case, David Robinson plans to keep on searching, in the desert, under that sun. "However, he always communicates with friends and family about his travel plans.". David Robinson has also set up a website -- PleaseHelpFindDaniel.com -- with photos of Daniel, updates on the case and a form volunteers can use to sign up. Her Great Dane has found something at the base of a bush. Her remains were found in Wyoming and investigators believe she was murdered by her fianc who later died by suicide. Police then searched that area for "hours" with no success. "After the airbags came out, somebody turned that ignition over at least 46 more times. He delivered an order of alcohol to her home in Laveen, outside of Pheonix, and was invited into the home by Katelyn and a friend of hers. Daniel was last seen around 9:00 in the morning. He learned the trumpet and the French horn. The ground nearby was covered in small bits of broken glass and some pieces of the vehicle that had come off. While investigators believe the remains may not belong to Robinson due to evidence at the scene, they are still awaiting DNA testing for official confirmation, FOX 10 reported. On that June day, Daniel was scheduled to spend the morning doing field work at a development wellsite out in the desert. And we'll take any leads that are out there.. And I said, We don't do missing persons. Robinson's car was found abandoned in a desert ravine Investigators have utilized UTVs, cadaver dogs, and air support including a drone and a helicopter," Buckeye PD said in astatementon September 16. hide caption. David Robinson: He did, um, alerted me that my son's vehicle was found. For Daniel's family, help and hope are still both needed here. No one can really tell how useful or how accurate this man's account might be. That's the channel that we'll be monitoring.. "Just trying to do everything I can to find my son," he said. You would never know the difference.. Robinson II confirmed to police that all of the photos on his son's Instagram had been deleted since his disappearance. The Buckeye Police Department is asking anyone with information about Daniel's case to call them on their tip line. He would not leave his family. It might not have worked out that way because when Daniel was born, he was missing his right hand and part of his forearm. The families of two Black men who went missing in recent weeks and months Jelani Day and Daniel Robinson are drawing attention to this disparity and pleading for the public's help in finding answers. It was returned to an area near where we were searching my theory would be maybe to try to throw us off. Octavio Jones/Getty Images ", David Robinson: Exactly. So -- but I don't think it was something where he was depressed and to a point where he would go disappear or something on his own.. Now, remember those bones found on that Saturday morning in late November? After finding the car, they conducted two more ground searches on July 21, according to NBC 12 News. David Robinson: Daniel never had a diagnosis for mental health. This could be due to driver attempts to restart the vehicle or use the electrical systems. If you have any information on the whereabouts of Daniel Robinson, you're asked to call the Buckeye Police tip line call 623-349-6411. Its air bags were deployed, and evidence suggests Robinson was wearing a seat belt at the time. ", MISSING ARIZONA GEOLOGIST: NEW DETAILS RELEASED IN DISAPPEARANCE OF DANIEL ROBINSON, Daniel Robinson has been missing since June 23. Wake up to the day's most important news. I feel like it was dumped. Daniel, 24, was last seen on June 23 driving away from his location of work in the Buckeye, Arizona desert - presumably heading to the main road. Chief Hall: We still go out there and do that job. It's fall in much of America, but during the day it's still summer here. The only real lead was the desert. Helicopters, UTVs, cadaver dogs, "boots on the ground" and drones were deployed, while his frustrated father hired his own PI to help. Robinson, who lives in South Carolina, wrote that he intends to stay in the area "until we have answers and bring Daniel home safely. When Mr Robinson didnt come home that night, his father reported him missing. He also claimed local law enforcement initially took too long with the case. ", I'm shaking reading about the discovery of Gabby Petito's body in Wyoming. Robinson's father, David Robinson, along with volunteer search crews, had been searching the area of Buckeye where Robinson's Jeep was found in a ravine -- just three miles from his worksite on July 19. Elliott is a pump technician. "I started researching Arizona, and I realized theres a lot of missing cases here, he told the publication. On this November morning, the search teams focus is a section of Cactus Road. David Robinson read through that report and could not accept the scenario it suggested. He'd missed almost a days-worth of work. He sent her a text 18 hours before vanishing, saying: The world can get better, but Ill have to take all the time I can or we can, whatever, to name it. A GoFundMe page set up for Robinson, was born without a right hand, has raised more than three times its initial goal, funding private investigation services and supplies for volunteers willing to search the desert. What began as worry quickly ratcheted to panic after David's daughter drove to Daniel's apartment. It is possible that even he couldn't answer those questions. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. The human remains is not Daniel. Most recently was this past Saturday. Daniel Robinson, a 24-year-old geologist, has been missing for over three months in Arizona. Now, the climbing sun is straight in the eyeline of the people about to defy it. But there's still no trace of Daniel. Hed already hired his own expert -- a private investigator named Jeff McGrath. I will continue my searches for my son.. Jeff McGrath: What makes this such a mystery is that he just up and vanished., Buckeye Police Chief Larry Hall: We're always thinking about, where could he be? After about 15 minutes of this, he waved goodbye and abruptly left the worksite where the pair was located. Buckeye Police say he was last seen by a coworker driving away in his Jeep Renegade. BPD officer John Fermon told the station that while one detective is assigned to lead the case, other staff members are directed to help with the investigation as necessary. "I can imagine his phone ringing, ringing, ringing for I think almost a day and then finally I guess the phone died or somebody cut it off. The Buckeye Police Department has confirmed that the remains found by the volunteers searching for 24-year-old Daniel Robinson were human. "Since his disappearance, the Buckeye Police Department has worked with outside agencies to search more than 70 square miles in an effort to locate Daniel," police said. Robinson had made contact with a woman prior to his disappearance, according to a police report. A new national spotlight has been brought to Robinsons strange disappearance amid efforts to find out what happened to Gabby Petito, the 22-year-old van life blogger who disappeared on a road trip with her fianc and was later found dead in rural Wyoming. BUCKEYE, Ariz. It's been nearly nine months since Daniel Robinson was last seen driving away from his worksite in the Buckeye desert. And David is looking for a new private investigator who specializes in missing persons cases. We often visit each other, um --. In a video update posted to Twitter on Sunday afternoon, Robinson's dad and a private investigator said the remains do not appear to be that of Robinson. That's not -- that's not what our company does. And uh, he explained that they found the vehicle. Arizona police officials say human remains were found Saturday during a search for Daniel Robinson, a geologist who disappeared after driving away from a desert worksite more than four months ago. What else can we be doing? Of course, Daniel's family never wanted to reach the one-year mark, June 23, still not having enough answers to piece together what happened to him. So Ill do whatever I -- whatever it takes to make it happen, it's gonna have to happen.. BUCKEYE, AZ Apparent human remains were found Saturday in the desert near Buckeye, where volunteer-led searches have been conducted for months in hopes of finding Daniel Robinson, a 24-year-old geologist who has been missing since June. Carissa Planalp, Buckeye PDs public information officer, said the case remains a "conversation every day" and a "priority". He was then identified as a person of interest by cops, but has not been charged with any crime. David Robinson: He's always telling me he's going to live abroad. He said he sympathizes with the Petito family, while also feeling that the onslaught of media attention paid to her case has been hurtful.. A South Carolina man hired a private investigator and started an online petition to help him find his missing son. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. You know, even with the people that we have, it takes a lot of time, effort and money to, you know, keep things going. Thanks for listening. The vehicle appeared to have been hit above the windshield, he added. Daniel Robinson. Police said the state of the mangled vehicle leads them to believe foul play is not suspected, which is why the case is not a criminal investigation. Daniel had (Buckeye Police Department), ROCKY MOUNTAIN HUMAN REMAINS MAY BE THOSE OF HIKER MISSING SINCE 1983. After exchanging phone numbers, Robinson showed up at her home unannounced a few times. Ken followed tire tracks he said were Robinson's near the worksite where Robinson was last seen. A DNA test will be performed to identify the bones. Law enforcement agencies are continuing their search in a Sarasota County, Fla., nature reserve for Brian Laundrie, a person of interest in the death of Gabby Petito. His clothes, phone, keys and wallet were all inside. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. "This looked like a stage event to me," said accident reconstructionist and private investigator Jeff McGrath told NBC 12 News. I was hoping that the Buckeye Police Department, at times, was going to tell me something like that.. Its been seven months since Daniel Robinson, a 25-year-old geologist, was last seen at his work site in Buckeye, Ariz., about 50 miles southwest of Phoenix. They're looking for volunteers and more information can be found here https://pleasehelpfinddaniel.com/. Its airbags had deployed. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Is this the answer he's been chasing? Robinson, 24, was last seen leaving a job site in Buckeye, Ariz., on June 23 and was reported missing later that day. One month later, the Jeep was found, crashed on its side in a ravine about four miles from where he was last seen. Its a November morning in the desert around Buckeye, Arizona. In this first episode, we will take you into his mysterious disappearance and the ongoing search for this young man. Josh Mankiewicz: This is a real mystery, isn't it?, Jeff McGrath: Yes, it is. It just ring, ring, ring, and then finally, you know, of course, go to voicemail.. A human skull was then chillingly discovered near the site on July 31 - which was later found not to be Daniel's. Daniel Robinson is 25. According to law enforcement, Katelyn thought Mr Robinson was harmless as he only had one arm and was short in height. He then told her he loved her, according to the police report. "Just seeing all of a sudden movement, its a good feeling.". Robinson II hired his own private investigator to help with the case. Updated: 6:17 PM MST August 25, 2021 BUCKEYE, Ariz. Daniel Robinson, 24, was last seen driving a blue 2017 Jeep Renegade away from his worksite My family and I, we all feel the same way.". The human remains is not Daniel. The day before he went missing, Daniel texted her these words: I'll either see you again or I'll never see you again.. They are most active in the warmer months, especially at night. David Robinson II wrote that his son, who moved to Phoenix for a job as a field geologist after graduating from college in 2019, oversees many sites in remote desert areas and often travels long distances for work. Petito was the blonde young woman who went missing, starting a nationwide search which involved many levels of law enforcement. Authorities have asked anyone with information about Robinsons disappearance to call the Buckeye Police tip line at(623) 349-6411. And no cash withdrawn from his bank account. Like David Robinson, Jeff McGrath is a father. Since Jeff knew the ins and outs of car accidents, even ones as strange as this, he thought maybe he could help. They walk past the creosote and saguaro. We got work to do here.. It was July 20th when David received a call from the lead detective on his son's case. David Robinson: I knew right then they weren't gonna look for Daniel. They contacted Daniel's boss and started calling his friends and other family. His family could not reach him after they spoke on the evening of Aug. 23, and he was last seen on surveillance video entering a retail store in Bloomington the morning of Aug. 24. When David hung up, he headed straight from his hotel to the police department where a detective was waiting. In an online petition, the elder Robinson writes that Buckeye police are "unwilling to move beyond their theory which leads to non-action on their part," and he urges signatories to hold the department accountable for continuing to pursue answers. Here are their stories. What were you thinking on that drive?, David Robinson: I couldn't get here fast enough. "I think the quick action wasn't there quick enough," he said. We began examining the cases of the missing in America as a digital series more than eight years ago with a question for our social media followers: Do you know anyone who has simply vanished?. Daniel is a geologist and was working on a remote site near Cactus Road and Sun Valley Parkway the day he went missing. After months of pushing by David, Buckeye police reached out to the FBI. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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