Where is Daniel Robinson? Dad says geologist who went missing a year ago is still his 'mission'
BUCKEYE, ARIZONA: The father of an Arizona-based geologist who has been missing for more than a year is still waiting for answers. David Robinson II believes that his son Daniel's missing case has not received the attention it deserves.
Daniel Robinson, a hydrogeologist, was last seen at his workplace in Buckeye, Arizona on June 23, 2021. A day before, he sent a strange text to a woman whom he met for a brief period.
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Describing his son as a fighter, his father David Robinson II told Fox News Digital that despite being born without a right hand, it "didn’t stop him growing up."
People who knew Daniel believe that he would never harm himself. Records do not mention Daniel having any medical or mental health history either.
The Buckeye Police Department released a statement on June 23, 2022, one year after Daniel's disappearance. The statement read, "when a loved one is missing, it is a terrifying, confusing and stressful time for families and our entire community." The police added, "investigators continue their pursuit of answers that can bring Daniel home and provide closure for the Robinson family and the many people who have been touched by his case."
Desperate father says Daniel is his "new mission"
David Robinson left his home in South Carolina and moved to Arizona to continue looking for his son. Daniel was the youngest of four siblings. He has an older brother and twin sisters. Daniel's father has hired a private investigator while also raising money to fund the search through a GoFundMe page. David said, "I have to stay strong for Daniel."
When the lights and camera turn off, I will be here. When the interest and conversation fades, I will be here. When there's no one around, a Father will do anything it takes to be there for his son, to protect his family. - David Robinson II pic.twitter.com/WQ2OOjl3s9
— Please Help Find Daniel (@PleaseHelpFind4) February 9, 2022
The father, who served two tours in Afghanistan, said, "just because I’m retired doesn’t mean I stopped being a soldier," adding that "my son, he’s my mission. He’s my new mission."
Timeline of Daniel's disappearance
Daniel was last seen by his co-worker on June 23, 2021 at around 9 am. According to the police report, the co-worker said Daniel "was saying things that did not make sense like asking if [the coworker] wanted to go rest and then asked if he wanted to go to Phoenix to rest." Daniel then stayed at the site for about 15 minutes before "he suddenly left."
Daniel's family grew concerned when he didn't reach home till 7 pm. One of his sisters, who resides in Phoenix, checked his Tempe apartment, without success. His father then called the police. According to the authorities, a remote phone search and jeep location yielded no results.
Daniel's jeep was discovered by a rancher on July 19, battered and rolled onto its passenger side in a ravine. The SUV’s discovery was "very devastating," his father told Fox news. David said, "it was one of the hardest moments in my life," adding that "even to this day, to even think about what I saw with my eyes and the way the vehicle appeared to me."
At the end of July 2021, a skull was discovered south of where Daniel's vehicle was located. After four days, however, investigators determined it was not a match to Daniel.
Was Daniel in love?
In the weeks before his disappearance, Daniel had told his friends and family about a woman he had met. Daniel told his sister "he was in love with this woman."
The woman, meanwhile, had a different story to tell. She told police that she met Daniel on June 12, when he was working as an Instacart delivery worker. Whilst delivering the food, the woman invited Daniel to hang out with her. She claims she was drunk that night and "shouldn’t have invited a stranger into her home."
After that, according to the woman, Daniel began to text her often. His final message, sent on June 22, 2021, read,"the world can get better, but I’ll have to take all the time I can or we can, whatever to name it. I’ll either see you again or never see you again."
The Buckeye Police Department is asking anyone with information to call (623) 349-6411.