Geologist Daniel Robinson went missing in Buckeye 3 years ago: Where does the case stand now?

BUCKEYE, AZ (AZFamily)— This weekend marks three years since geologist Daniel Robinson went missing from his Buckeye worksite. This is one of Arizona’s most high-profile missing persons cases, and it has received attention nationwide.

The Buckeye Police Department has been investigating, and Daniel’s father is trying to keep his son’s case from going cold.

“This is a really emotional time for our family,” said David Robinson, Daniel’s father. “I do have moments where I wonder if my son is not here anymore, and I still need to bring him home.”

David has been fighting for answers in his son’s disappearance ever since June 23, 2021.

Daniel, a geologist, was last seen just after 9 a.m., leaving his work site at a well in Buckeye.

Three weeks later, his Jeep Renegade was found crashed in a ravine less than three miles from his work site, and data showed more than 40 ignition cycles were recorded by the car after the crash.

Daniel’s belongings and clothes were found at the crash site, too.

“I believe some type of foul play happened in that scene, in that area in the desert. I just don’t know exactly what that means or what it is,” David said.

But the Buckeye Police Department cannot confirm any foul play is involved yet is actively investigating his disappearance.

Daniel’s father helped coordinate many searches in the area and said there are things they’ve found that just don’t add up.

“Things that we found on the scene. A sock at the well site that matched a sock found at the crash site,” he said.

He also said Daniel’s sister, who lives here in the Valley and was often with Daniel, didn’t recognize the clothing found with the crashed Jeep.

“We wanted to get one of those clothing items to get tested to see if these are Daniel’s clothes so we can rule out someone else’s clothes being staged there,” David said.

He said all the airbags deployed in the Jeep as well, begging the question of whether somebody was in the passenger seat when the crash happened and, if so, who that was.

The Tempe Police Department helped Buckeye Police with the investigation because Daniel lived in Tempe and analyzed personal computers, a work computer and his iPad, but nothing led to the geologist’s whereabouts.

David said the reality is Daniel could be anywhere, so keeping name and picture in the media is something he’s committed to doing until he finds his son.

“That’s why I’m really putting all the efforts I can in keeping Daniel’s case from hitting a cold case status. There are still a lot of leads to follow,” David said. “I have to believe he’s alive. That’s what keeps me going,” said David.

This Sunday, David is holding a virtual event on his social media pages at noon called “Bring America Home” to raise awareness for Daniel’s case and other families with missing loved ones.

If you have any information on the disappearance of Daniel Robinson, please call the Buckeye Police Department.

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