Army vet's search for missing geologist son revived as new forensics may reveal truth in desert disappearance
24-year-old Daniel Robinson vanished after leaving work at around 9 a.m. on June 23, 2021, according to the Buckeye Police Department. Daniel's father, David Robinson, subsequently reported him missing later that day after his coworkers reached out to tell his family Daniel did not return to work.
"When I first called in, [authorities] made me hang the phone up, wait two hours and call back," the elder Robinson told Fox News Digital.
Army Vet Says New Evidence Suggests Foul Play In Unsolved Disappearance Of Scientist Son
After local law enforcement reportedly denied Robinson's request to begin searching for his son due to his age, the father took matters into his own hands by driving from his home in Columbia, South Carolina, to where Daniel had been seen last, 2,000 miles away in Arizona.
"I kind of lost it," Robinson said. "That prompted me to grab everything I could, throw it in my car and start driving to go find Daniel myself."
Read On The Fox News App
Upon arriving in Arizona, Robinson grew frustrated with the reported lack of urgency from officials, ultimately choosing to hire a private investigator to help search for Daniel.
Less than one month later, Daniel's 2017 Jeep Renegade was found rolled on its side in a ravine by a local rancher. The vehicle was still in drive, and had front-end impact damage and a broken driver's side window and was missing a piece of its roof.
Father's Pursuit For Missing Daughter Heats Up With New Evidence In Case That's No Longer Cold
Despite the damage, authorities ruled out foul play in Daniel's disappearance.
"Law enforcement gave me an idea of what they said happened at that scene," Robinson said. "It was unacceptable to me. It didn't make sense."
Robinson's private investigator determined that the damage to Daniel's vehicle did not match the nearby terrain, while also pointing to black box data indicating the car had driven 11 miles after the airbags had been deployed, signifying that the car may have been planted at the location where it was found.
"So all of the information – plus more – signified to my investigator that some type of foul play happened," Robinson said.
American Tourist Vanishes In Tropical Paradise After Early Morning Walk From Vacation Rental
As Robinson continued the frantic search for his son, local law enforcement tried to provide explanations for where he may have gone, further frustrating the father as Daniel remained missing.
"When [police] said, 'Hey, your son joined the monastery and became a monk,' I had to go look for monasteries," Robinson told Fox News Digital. "Can you imagine that? I had to go and check that out. [It was] a waste of a lot of money, a lot of energy."
The case remains open within the Buckeye Police Department as authorities continue to look at evidence regarding Daniel's disappearance.
"Buckeye police are committed to locating Daniel Robinson and getting answers for his loved ones and the many people who have become deeply invested in his case," the department said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "Detectives continue to investigate every tip and lead and urge anyone with information on Daniel's whereabouts to contact us."
Detectives' True Crime Podcast Helps Dig Up Breakthrough In Case That Haunted Family: 'Drew Audible Gasp'
Four years later, Robinson hopes the introduction of new Buckeye Police Department detectives and police chief will yield more promising results in finding out what happened to his son, after what had been a rocky relationship between the father and local law enforcement.
"It's given me the opportunity to get new leads in Daniel's case," Robinson said. "Hopefully that's what we'll find. Because I know forensic work will bring on some new answers, and we can go forward in another direction to find out exactly what happened to my family."
Robinson hopes new forensics data from the clothing and vehicle found at the scene will help piece together his son's final moments. But in the meantime he is still searching on foot for clues in the desert.
Missing California Mom's Family Digs For Homicide 'Cover-up Or Cleanup' As Police Eye Persons Of Interest
"Me and the volunteers that come out, they are my extended family," Robinson said. "We're actually looking for Daniel."
Throughout their efforts, Robinson and his team of volunteers have recovered seven sets of human remains to ultimately bring closure to other families with missing loved ones within the area, but his primary mission remains finding Daniel.
In April, Robinson teamed up with another father who understands the pain of losing a child all too well: Joseph Petito.
Petito's daughter, Gabby Petito, went missing just a few weeks after Daniel while on a cross-country road trip with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie. Her body was subsequently discovered in Wyoming on September 19, 2021. Investigators ruled her death a homicide, determining she had been strangled to death.
Gabby Petito Told Her Ex She Was Scared To Leave Brian Laundrie But Wanted To, Just Before Murder: New Doc
When the story regarding Gabby's disappearance first made national headlines, it "pulled Daniel's case along with it," according to Robinson.
"The first thing I'm thinking is that somebody's family is going through exactly what I am," Robinson said. "I know the pain."
GET REAL-TIME UPDATES AT THE FOX NEWS True Crime Hub
The two men forged a bond through the disappearances of their children, with Petito ultimately traveling to Arizona in April of this year to help search for clues surrounding Daniel's disappearance.
"He called me in January and said, 'Dave, I want to be a part of the search," Robinson told Fox News Digital. "He said 'I don't want it to be about Gabby. I just want to come in as a friend to come out here to help you.'"
Petito is celebrating the resurrection of evidence in Robinson's case, telling Fox News Digital the addition of new investigators is "fantastic."
"I really pray for him and his family," Petito said.
Robinson continues to advocate for missing Americans throughout the country, and he is pushing for new legislation to create federal standards regarding law enforcement's response to missing-persons reports while running for a seat in South Carolina's Second Congressional District.
"The only thing that kept me straight is my love for my son and my military training," Robinson said. "I had to rely on military training to look at my son as a mission, and I put the mission first."
Original article source: Army vet's search for missing geologist son revived as new forensics may reveal truth in desert disappearance
Solve the daily Crossword
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Los Angeles Times
14 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
Hong Kong police offer rewards for tips leading to the arrest of 19 overseas activists
HONG KONG — Hong Kong police announced rewards for information leading to the arrest of 19 overseas-based activists for their roles in what they called a subversive organization abroad, accusing them of violating a national security law imposed by Beijing. Police said in a statement Friday that the group, Hong Kong Parliament, aimed to promote self-determination and establish a 'Hong Kong constitution,' alleging it was using illegal means to overthrow and undermine China's fundamental system or usurp the institutions in power in Hong Kong or Beijing. At the request of the police, the city's court issued arrest warrants for activists Elmer Yuen, Johnny Fok, Tony Choi, Victor Ho, Keung Ka-wai and 14 others. They are alleged to have organized or participated in an election abroad for the Hong Kong Parliament, as well as setting up or becoming members of the group. According to a Facebook statement by the group on June 30, its election drew some 15,700 valid votes through mobile app and online voting systems. It said the candidates and elected members came from various regions, including Taiwan, Thailand, Australia, the U.S., Canada and Britain. While the group calls itself Hong Kong Parliament, its electoral organizing committee was founded in Canada and its influence is limited. Police already offered 1 million Hong Kong dollars, or about $127,400, for information leading to the arrest of Yuen, Ho, Fok and Choi when previous arrest warrants were issued against them. For the other 15, rewards of 200,000 Hong Kong dollars were offered, and residents were urged to provide information about the case or the people. 'The investigation is still ongoing. If necessary, police will offer bounties to hunt down more suspects in the case,' police said. They also called on the wanted activists to stop their activities, saying that they hoped they 'will take this opportunity to return to Hong Kong and turn themselves in, rather than making more mistakes.' Yuen said in a Facebook Live broadcast that the election was not quite successful in drawing active participation, and that the police campaign would help the group rally support for the resistance movement. 'It helps us with a lot of advertising,' Yuen said. During the live chat with Yuen, Sasha Gong, another activist targeted by the bounties, accused Hong Kong of becoming a police state. She said she is a U.S. citizen and would report her case to the American authorities and lawmakers. Over the last two years, Hong Kong authorities have issued arrest warrants for various activists based overseas, including former pro-democracy lawmakers Nathan Law and Ted Hui. Authorities also canceled the passports of some of them under a recent security law introduced to the city last year. The moves against overseas-based activists have drawn criticism from foreign governments, especially given the former British colony was promised that its Western-style civil liberties and semi-autonomy would be kept intact for at least 50 years when it returned to Chinese rule in 1997. U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said in a joint statement that the warrants and bounties on people living in Britain are 'another example of transnational repression,' and that the act encourages reckless behavior on U.K. soil. In March, the United States sanctioned six Chinese and Hong Kong officials who it alleged were involved in 'transnational repression' and acts that threaten to further erode the city's autonomy. Beijing and Hong Kong contend that the national security laws were necessary for the city's stability. Hong Kong police have maintained that the Beijing-imposed law applies to permanent residents in Hong Kong who violate it abroad. In retaliation for the U.S. move, China in April said it would sanction American officials, lawmakers and leaders of nongovernmental organizations who it says have 'performed poorly' on Hong Kong issues. Leung writes for the Associated Press.
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Newsweek
Photos Show Bloody Frogs, Raw Sea Cucumbers Discovered in US Airport
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A K-9 police dog and federal officials uncovered an "unusual haul" at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport which included bloody frogs and raw sea cucumbers, , Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) said on Friday. Newsweek reached out to CBP via email for additional comment. Why It Matters CBP is responsible for safeguarding the nation from potentially hazardous materials and protected wildlife being brought into the country. Discoveries like bloody frogs and raw sea cucumbers raise concerns about possible disease transmission, invasive species and violations of international trade and wildlife protection laws. These cases also highlight the importance of border inspections for both public health and environmental security. According to CBP, prohibited biological materials can threaten U.S. agriculture and ecosystem health if not properly controlled. What To Know In a post on X, CBP said that K-9 Buckie and CBP agriculture specialists discovered the items from a passenger arriving at the airport from South Korea. Along with the frogs and cucumbers, there were Other "unidentified items" discovered along with the frogs and cucumbers as well, CBP said. The items are now with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for identification, the post says. The specific date and time of the seizure was not disclosed in the post. Transporting wildlife and raw animal products into the United States is tightly regulated. Many such items require special permits and must meet strict health and safety standards. The CBP and USFWS routinely cooperate to intercept potentially illegal imports and enforce laws protecting both consumers and native species. A K-9 police dog can be seen alongside bloody frogs, raw sea cucumbers and other "unidentified items," Customs and Border Patrol says. (Photo from CBP) A K-9 police dog can be seen alongside bloody frogs, raw sea cucumbers and other "unidentified items," Customs and Border Patrol says. (Photo from CBP) What People Are Saying CBP said on its website, in part: "The products CBP prevent from entering the United States are those that would injure community health, public safety, American workers, children, or domestic plant and animal life, or those that would defeat our national interests. Sometimes the products that cause injury, or have the potential to do so, may seem fairly innocent. But, as you will see from the material that follows, appearances can be deceiving." The agency continued: "Before you leave for your trip abroad, you might want to talk to CBP about the items you plan to bring back to be sure they're not prohibited or restricted. Prohibited means the item is forbidden by law to enter the United States. Examples of prohibited items are dangerous toys, cars that don't protect their occupants in a crash, bush meat, or illegal substances like absinthe and Rohypnol. Restricted means that special licenses or permits are required from a federal agency before the item is allowed to enter the United States. Examples of restricted items include firearms, certain fruits and vegetables, animal products, animal by products, and some animals." What Happens Next The seized items remain in USFWS custody pending formal identification and review. According to CBP guidelines, travelers importing biological materials or wildlife without proper declaration or permits may face civil penalties or criminal charges. It was not immediately known to Newsweek at the time of publication if the passenger was subject to any penalty.
Politico
5 hours ago
- Politico
Why is DOJ speaking with Ghislaine Maxwell?
DAY TWO — As part of the Trump administration's effort to contain the backlash from their handling of the so-called Epstein files, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche spent a second day in Tallahassee today interviewing Ghislaine Maxwell. As a diversionary tactic, it's understandable. But as a strictly prosecutorial matter, the effort makes almost no sense. Maxwell, Epstein's longtime partner, raises multiple red flags that would ordinarily make her a very poor candidate to serve as a cooperating witness for the government. Among them: Maxwell's crimes with Jeffrey Epstein were heinous, and she went to trial instead of admitting her guilt and pleading out. She's serving a 20-year prison sentence for child sex trafficking and other crimes. On top of that, the Justice Department has already discredited her. They charged her with two perjury counts (which were later dropped after the sex trafficking conviction) and told the judge during her 2021 trial that she had been willing to 'brazenly lie under oath about her conduct.' Any credible DOJ cooperation deal at this point would require her to plead to those perjury counts, but it is far from clear whether she is willing to do that. The conduct at issue is also very old. Epstein and Maxwell's relationship dates back to the 1990s, and as a result, it will be much harder for the government to corroborate her testimony with other evidence or generate credible information that the government can act upon to charge others at this late date. Adding to the DOJ's problems is the fact that Maxwell has an obvious incentive to lie or otherwise shade her testimony to curry favor with the government. She would presumably want a pardon or commutation of her sentence at the end of the process, and the Trump administration appears particularly interested in information or testimony that would reflect well on Trump amid the growing body of information and reporting concerning his relationship with Epstein. (Trump has repeatedly and vehemently denied any involvement in or awareness of criminal misconduct on the part of Epstein or Maxwell.) Then there's the fact that Blanche himself is doing the interviews with Maxwell. The deputy AG is the DOJ's second-in-command. He presumably has more pressing and consequential matters to attend to than trying to execute a Hail-Mary cooperation deal with a child sex trafficker who is already in prison and who is unlikely to ever emerge as a credible witness in the eyes of the American public. So what gives? Trump and the DOJ are clearly feeling public and political pressure following their effort to quickly move past the Epstein saga and related conspiracy theories — theories that were advanced and indulged in recent years by Trump himself, along with Vice President JD Vance, FBI Director Kash Patel, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino, among many other Trump allies. They are also clearly reluctant to release the information that those closely following the Epstein saga actually want — witness interviews, financial records, correspondence and flight logs, among other things. Maxwell aside, it is also unlikely that the grand jury testimony that the DOJ is separately seeking to unseal in New York will satisfy those tracking the Epstein saga even if the government is successful. That is true for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that the testimony at issue likely represents only a sliver of information in the government's possession and may not have ranged widely beyond the specific charges that were brought in court against Epstein and Maxwell. As a result, onlookers should view any information that emerges through these avenues skeptically. One thing, however, is clear: The Trump administration and the DOJ are extending a saga that deeply traumatized Epstein's many victims. Under ordinary circumstances, the interests of victims in a situation like this would supersede the political interests of the White House, but they appear to have made a very different calculation. Welcome to POLITICO Nightly. Reach out with news, tips and ideas at nightly@ Or contact tonight's author at akhardori@ MORNING MONEY: CAPITAL RISK — POLITICO's flagship financial newsletter has a new Friday edition built for the economic era we're living in: one shaped by political volatility, disruption and a wave of policy decisions with sector-wide consequences. Each week, Morning Money: Capital Risk brings sharp reporting and analysis on how political risk is moving markets and how investors are adapting. Want to know how health care regulation, tariffs, or court rulings could ripple through the economy? Start here. What'd I Miss? — Trump on Hamas: 'They want to die': President Donald Trump said today Hamas 'didn't want to make a deal' and 'they want to die,' claiming the group wants to retain the hostages to keep its negotiating leverage .The comments came one day after the United States pulled out of ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas and as American allies put increasing pressure on Israel to let up on a campaign in Gaza that is causing widespread starvation. He added: 'It got to a point where you're going to have to finish the job,' an apparent reference to Israel continuing its military offensive against the group. — Trump administration moves to release billions in federal education cash: The Trump administration said today it will release billions of dollars in education funding that have been on hold for review for weeks, according to a senior administration official. Approximately $1.3 billion in money for after-school programs was released by the administration last week, with Friday's move marking the release of the remaining portion of the nearly $7 billion in funding that the administration withheld. The remaining dollars include money to support teacher preparation and students learning English, among other initiatives. — 14 Republican senators urge White House to release delayed NIH funds: Republican Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama is sounding the alarm about 'the slow disbursement rate' of National Institutes of Health funding included in the March spending bill signed by President Donald Trump. Britt, who serves as chair of the Senate Appropriations homeland subcommittee, led a letter today with thirteen of her GOP colleagues to White House Budget Chief Russ Vought, urging the Office of Management and Budget to 'fully implement' the stopgap government funding package enacted earlier this year. 'Suspension of these appropriated funds — whether formally withheld or functionally delayed — could threaten Americans' ability to access better treatments and limit our nation's leadership in biomedical science,' Britt and her colleagues warned. — Maxwell's lawyer says she's undecided on appearing for congressional testimony: A lawyer for Ghislaine Maxwell said his client is still deciding whether she will honor a congressional subpoena demanding her testimony next month before House lawmakers. 'We have to make a decision about whether she will do that or not,' said David Oscar Markus, an attorney for Maxwell, the convicted sex trafficker and co-conspirator of the deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein. 'That's been scheduled for the week of August 11th and we haven't gotten back to them on whether we'll do that.' Markus delivered these remarks after Maxwell completed a two-day interview with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche as part of the Trump administration's continued inquiry into the charges against Epstein's circle. — Pennsylvania Republican called out by Ethics panel for stock investments: A House panel tasked with investigating potential corruption charges against fellow members of Congress called on a Pennsylvania Republican to divest his family's holdings from a steel manufacturer today, citing concerns around the appearance of wrongdoing. The bipartisan Ethics Committee had been investigating a complaint that Rep. Mike Kelly's wife bought stock in Cleveland-Cliffs, an Ohio-based company, based on non-public information gleaned from Kelly's position as an elected official. Although Kelly's wife was not fully cooperative with the probe, the panel 'did not find evidence that [the lawmaker] knowingly or intentionally caused his spouse to trade based on insider information.' The panel urged Kelly and his wife to divest their holdings before he takes any more official actions related to Cleveland-Cliffs. — Venezuelan Little League team denied entry into US amid Trump travel ban: A Venezuelan Little League baseball team will not be allowed to participate in a championship tournament because the team was denied travel visas to the U.S. Little League International said on Friday the Cacique Mara Little League team from Maracaibo, Venezuela will not participate in the Senior League Baseball World Series in South Carolina this year, despite qualifying for the tournament, after being unable to obtain visas. Venezuela is among the countries the Trump administration has placed restrictions on travel to the U.S. CARNEY URGES ISRAEL — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney accused Israel late Thursday night of obstructing humanitarian aid to Gaza and called for international agencies to take over all distribution. 'Canada condemns the Israeli government's failure to prevent the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian disaster in Gaza,' Carney said. 'Israel's control of aid distribution must be replaced by comprehensive provision of humanitarian assistance led by international organizations. Many of these are holding significant Canadian-funded aid which has been blocked from delivery to starving civilians. This denial of humanitarian aid is a violation of international law,' he added. '50-50' CHANCE — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will meet Donald Trump on Sunday to discuss trade, as the U.S. president described the prospect of a deal with the EU as '50-50.' 'Following a good call' with Trump, 'we have agreed to meet in Scotland on Sunday to discuss transatlantic trade relations, and how we can keep them strong,' she said in a post on X on Friday. Three weeks ago, the EU and U.S. almost agreed on a deal for a 10 percent baseline tariff, but Trump pulled the rug out from under it by threatening 30 percent tariffs instead. A deadline of July 9 for Trump's tariffs to kick in was moved to Aug. 1. 'I would say that we have a 50-50 chance, maybe less than that, but a 50-50 chance of making a deal with the EU,' Trump told reporters at the White House before heading to the U.K. on a private visit and to meet with Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Nightly Number RADAR SWEEP READING THE STARS — Astrology, a longstanding part of Indian culture, is expanding its reach into the stock market. India's $7 billion astrology market is experiencing a boom as more people, especially younger generations, rely on planetary alignments to decide how to invest. Astrologers are offering their services to financial news shows and consultations through apps with tens of millions of users. The industry's growth has started to attract venture capitalists who see an opportunity to integrate AI into the age-old practice. Preeti Soni and Akriti Sharma report for Bloomberg. Parting Image Jacqueline Munis contributed to this newsletter. Did someone forward this email to you? Sign up here.
