Last Updated on February 13, 2022 9:03 am
Saturday April 21, 2018 marked two years since the disappearance of James Martin Roberts. It's a case that still draws deep emotions from local law enforcement officials, Robert's family members and friends.
Roberts was last seen on Thursday April 21, 2016 at approximately 12:30 pm near the intersection of Hardin Street and Rivers Street around the ASU Convocation Center. Extensive searches in Boone and in the county produced no answers. The search for Martin has led law enforcement to check tips as far as the Outer Banks and up into Virginia. The Boone Police Department has also worked with various agencies along the Appalachian Trail and as far away as Ohio.
On Saturday the Boone Police Department posted on Facebook, “Our hearts go out to the Roberts family on this day and everyday.”
The investigation is still an “active investigation”. In the same Facebook post Boone PD went on to say, “Our Criminal Investigations Unit continues to work this case. Our most recent action was having the case reviewed by a member of the VIDOCQ Society, Dave Pauly. We were able to get some fresh insights that provided us with additional investigative steps.”
In late January, WataugaOnline.com reported that the Robert's case would be featured on the national TV program “Disappeared”, produced by Investigation Discovery/ Discovery/NBC. That episode will air June 3, 2018.
In that same article in January, Boone Police Chief Dana Crawford told WataugaOnline.com, “We are trying to keep this story in the public view in hopes that someone will remember something and maybe that will generate a lead to help us find out what happened to Martin. Our detectives are still in contact with this family on a regular basis and Boone Police Department is in full support of this family.”
A Facebook page related to finding Martin continues to seek information as well. In a Saturday post by Abbie McLean Roberts:
A message to Martin-
It’s been two years today since we last heard your voice, since we last saw your face, since we last laughed at your dry, sly wit. We miss you more than words can ever say! We can understand the need to find yourself or to maybe look for a life that's different from the one you were leading and we hope that’s what you’re finding. What you don't know is how much our lives have changed since you left. Nothing seems right. Our entire world is off kilter- holidays aren't the same, things that were once special aren’t special anymore, and we seem to have no purpose. We search for you, we wait for you and pray every day for some word from you. We just want you to know how much we miss you every day! Those of us who are here missing you- and son, there are so many of us! – sometimes struggle to find a reason to get up in the morning and keep going, but we know we have to because we’re waiting for the day you're going to feel like it's time for you to come home. We hope that time is sooner rather than later because we miss you so much. If you're still on your journey of self-realization or if you’re looking for a new path, or a new purpose for your life, we're OK with that- but just please let us know that you're safe! That would mean the world. More than anything, just know how much we love you and how much we miss you and that we are counting the seconds until we see your sweet face again. All our love, Dad and Abbie
Boone Police in the same Saturday Facebook post goes on to say, “We do believe that there are people out there who know something that could help. Please contact the Boone Police Department if you can provide any information about this case.”
Anyone with information about James Martin Roberts is ask to contact Boone Police Department or High County Crime Stoppers.
*Boone Police Press Release*
On April 21, 2016, James “Martin” Roberts was reported missing to the Boone Police Department by his roommates. This being the one year anniversary of Martin’s disappearance, the Boone Police Department would like to recap the efforts taken to find Martin during the last 365 days. Throughout the past year, many agencies and individuals have contributed to our investigation. It is obvious that people really care about Martin’s welfare and everyone wants to help bring him home.
Tips and Sightings
Martin has not been located and, to this date, the law enforcement community has not received any confirmable information that would help find him. Many pieces of information have been learned and lots of people have called in possible tips and sightings. The search for Martin had led law enforcement to check tips as far as the Outer Banks and up into Virginia. The Boone Police Department has also worked with various agencies along the Appalachian Trail and as far away as Ohio.
Land & SONAR Water Searches for Martin
Because there is no real information about Martin’s whereabouts, the Boone Police Department has been searching for him anywhere he could be found. Many land searches have been conducted by both officers and citizens. These searches have occurred in many locations within the High Country. The Boone Police Department
utilized the North Catawba Fire & Rescue Dive Team during this investigation. This agency provided both personnel and specialized equipment to assist in the searches, including a rescue boat equipped with SONAR to search bodies of water. They also provided trained rescue divers to investigate anything discovered by the SONAR equipment.
The Appalachian State University Police Department has conducted several thorough searches of their entire campus and the areas surrounding. This includes all tunnels and rooftops.
Search dogs
Two separate teams of specialized human remains detection (HRD) dog teams have been used during this investigation. The use of these trained dogs allows searchers to cover more ground efficiently. One of these teams were used for land and another for water. The NC State Bureau of Investigation’s HRD dog teams helped search multiple land area locations on multiple dates. The Boone Police Department has also utilized Dr. Lisa Briggs’ HRD dog team. Dr. Briggs is a Criminologist with Western Carolina University and she owns a highly successful HRD dog named “Layla.” Layla is specially trained to search for human remains contained within bodies of water. Layla was used to search two bodies of water near the Blue Ridge Parkway. The North Catawba Fire & Rescue Dive Team again assisted with their personnel and equipment to assist in these water searches.
Helicopter
Early in the search for Martin Roberts, the North Carolina Highway Patrol provided the use of their pilots and a specially equipped helicopter to search densely wooded areas. This helicopter was equipped with a “FLIR” camera. FLIR senses infrared radiation that is typically from a heat source. FLIR was specifically used in this situation to search for human being or campfires.
Assisting Agencies
The Boone Police Department is a small agency and has reached out to many public safety partners to investigate this case. Just some of the contributing agencies are the Appalachian State University Police Department, the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office, Blowing Rock Police Department, the NC State Bureau of Investigation and State Highway Patrol, the NC and US Park Rangers, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), and the National Missing Unidentified Persons System (NAMUS) and the US Secret Service. These are just a few of the assisting agencies.
The Roberts Family
The Boone Police Department continues to work alongside the Robert’s family. We have used their family as a resource throughout this investigation. The Robert’s family has been crucial in reporting various tips and sightings that were not reported to law enforcement. The Robert’s family have been a joy to work with during this tragic situation.
Case Reviews
The Boone Police Department held many meetings, as often as daily, during this investigation. On several occasions, the entire Investigations Division have met together and gone over the entire case completely to brainstorm any new ideas to investigate.
When this investigation began to slow down and investigators felt they were running out of leads to follow-up on, the Boone Police Department sought the assistance of an outside expert in the field of criminal investigations. Scott Hartley from the North Carolina Justice Academy was brought in for two days to do a complete review of the case, including all actions taken by the Boone Police Department. Mr. Hartley was able to look at this investigation with “fresh eyes,” and point out areas of the investigation that needed more work. Mr. Hartley’s insight was very helpful and the Boone Police Department began following-up on these new ideas.
Where are we now?
Unfortunately, the Boone Police Department has not been able to uncover any confirmable or credible information that has allowed investigators to learn the whereabouts of Martin Roberts.
Where are we going with this case?
The Boone Police Department will continue to look for Martin until we find him. This week a separate outside expert in criminal investigations is reviewing the entire case for yet another “fresh eyes” perspective on this case. The Boone Police Department is also talking with Western Carolina University about possibly arranging a large-scale missing person case study by a large group of undergraduate criminology students. The Boone Police Department still continues to receive information and tips about Martin, these tips are treated as a high priority and are followed-up on immediately.
Want more details about this case?
For much more information about this investigation, including interviews with Martin Roberts’ father and the case investigators go to: http://www.thevanishedpodcast.com. Click on Listen / Episodes and scroll down to the Martin Roberts case.
Martin was last seen wearing a black, short sleeve, Appalachian State windbreaker, khaki shorts, gray new balance shoes and a white golf visor hat.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Boone Police Department at 828-268-6900 or High Country Crime Stoppers at 828-268-6959 / 828-737-0125. You may also submit a
Crime Stoppers Tip via our website at:
https://www.tipsubmit.com/webtips.aspx?AgencyID=1251
You can also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) and place “NCTIP plus your tip” in the body of the message.
