Full Name: Daniel Cornelius Robinson

Alternative Name: Danny

Case Status: Missing

Record ID#: 0445

*The names “Jane Doe”  and “John Doe” are English names used when the person’s true name is not known. If used above, the name refers to a person of unknown identity.

Date of Birth*: January 14, 1997
Birthplace:
Age at the Time: 24
Age Group: 20s
Biological Sex: Male
Hair: Short, Black Hair.
Eyes: Brown
Skin Complexion:
Shoe Size:
Ethnicity: African or Black
Nationality: United States
Languages Spoken: English

*If the date says January 1, this is often just a placeholder for an unknown specific date. It usually means “sometime that year”.

Physical Build: Slim or Thin

Height:

Weight

Distinguishing Marks:

• Physical Abnormality

Medical Condition:
Physical Abnormality: Born without the lower part of his right forearm and hand (congenital amputation/absence; he did not use a prosthetic)
Dental Condition:
Scars & Other Marks:
Piercings:
Tattoos:

Other Descriptors: Some sources describe him as clean-shaven. He worked as a field geologist/hydrogeologist for Matrix New World (or Matrix Southwest Groundwater), sharing a passion about the environment and global warming. He had recently graduated and was living in the Phoenix/Tempe area.

Clothing

The following clothing was recovered from or near his jeep.

• Jeans (turned inside out)
• T-Shirt
• Shorts
• Orange Work Vest
• Boots
• Mismatched Black Socks
• Other Clothing.

The day of his disappearance, he would have been wearing attire consistent with working outdoors in the field of geology.

Possessions:

Also found in or near his vehicle were:

• Bottled Water
• Cell Phone
• Wallet
• Keys

Date of the Disappearance*: June 23, 2021

Description: Daniel Cornelius Robinson, a 24-year-old hydrogeologist, was last seen on June 23, 2021, leaving a remote worksite in the Sonoran Desert near the intersection of Sun Valley Parkway and W. Cactus Road, north of Buckeye, Arizona.

A bright, outdoors-loving young man who had relocated from South Carolina to Arizona in 2019 after graduating from the College of Charleston with a degree in Geology, Robinson had been working as a Staff Hydrogeologist for Matrix New World Engineering (also referred to as Matrix Southwest Groundwater). He was accustomed to harsh desert conditions, hiking and navigating rough terrain. He was responsible for site oversight and often drove in difficult landscapes over long trips.

Robinson was described by his father, David Robinson II, as a “very outspoken guy. Very smart. He loves his family. Really close with his sisters and brothers. . . He loves what he does. He’s always loved the outdoors and hiking and examining rock formations” (Link, Link)

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On June 6, Daniel started working at a job site in the Arizona desert near the intersection of W. Cactus Road and Sun Valley Parkway north of the town of Buckeye. 

At approximately 9:15am, Daniel left the site in his Blue 2017 Jeep Renegade. According to reports, his colleagues were not aware of why he left the site or where he intended to go. They do believe he was driving west into the desert according to the family’s GoFundMe (Link). After he drove away, Daniel disappeared and has not been heard from since. Although Daniel was known to travel spontaneously, it was always after first communicating his plans with family and friends.

After he drove away, Daniel disappeared and has not been heard from since. Although a missing person report was filed by his father by 7:00pm, law enforcement and his family still have not heard anything new.

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Initial searches by Buckeye Police, ground crews with cadaver dogs, and the Arizona Civil Air Patrol (which conducted air and ground sweeps on July 9, 2021) did not locate Robinson or his vehicle (Link). There have been no confirmed signs of bank or phone activity since his disappearance. His phone either powered off or went out of range; it pinged once but provided no usable location data.

The situation became even more perplexing when a local rancher discovered the Jeep on July 19 (about one month later) in a ravine approximately 3–4 miles southwest of the worksite (some reports say less than three miles). The vehicle was overturned on its passenger side at the bottom of a roughly 20-foot ravine, with visible damage and deployed airbags. It appeared the driver had been wearing a seatbelt (Link, Link).

Daniel’s personal items (cellphone, wallet, keys) were found inside Clothing items, including his orange safety vest and boots (one reportedly lodged under the vehicle),were recovered at the scene. Some sources, including the family site, note that nearly all clothing down to underwear and socks was found near the Jeep, about three feet away. No blood was reported in the vehicle.

Buckeye Police have consistently stated that foul play is not suspected, viewing the incident as likely an accident in which Robinson may have left the scene on foot. Although reports suggest Daniel may have been acting somewhat peculiarly in the days leading up to the disappearance (what that behavior was is not clear), police do not believe he was a suicide risk (Link). They released an updated missing persons report in May 2023 detailing investigative efforts. The case remains open as of April 2026, with tips still encouraged via Buckeye Police.

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Questions and Discrepancies Raised by the Family and Private Investigator

The discovery raised significant questions for Robinson’s family and independent investigators:

• Time gap: The last confirmed sighting was around 9:15 a.m., but data from the vehicle’s airbag control module reportedly indicated the crash (airbag deployment) occurred around 1:30 p.m.. . . leaving roughly four hours unaccounted for.
• Vehicle data: Private investigator and accident reconstructionist Jeff McGrath (hired by David Robinson) analyzed the Jeep’s systems and reported that the vehicle was started more than 45 additional times after airbag deployment and was driven an additional ~11 miles afterward (Link). McGrath also noted that the physical damage to the Jeep did not appear consistent with the terrain or final position in the ravine, and there was possible red paint transfer suggesting contact with another vehicle. He described the scene as potentially “staged.”
• Clothing and behavior: The removal of boots and much of his clothing seemed inconsistent with Robinson’s experience in the desert and his professional habits. As a geologist familiar with the area, he would likely have taken his phone, left markers if seeking help, or headed toward known roads or the worksite. He certainly would not typically have removed his protective gear before heading out and it is unclear what if any alternative clothing would have been available in his car.
• Search coverage: The Jeep was not located during the July 9 Civil Air Patrol and ground searches despite being relatively close (within 4 miles) and near the road. Police said the ground consisted of rough terrain making it hard for them to locate the vehicle until a local rancher spotted it about 4 miles. However, the published images do not appear to show the vehicle in a hard-to-spot location from an aerial perspective.

Family members and McGrath have publicly questioned the official narrative, arguing the evidence points toward possible foul play or staging, and have pushed for further forensic analysis and involvement from other agencies (such as the FBI). David Robinson has conducted or participated in over 50 searches in the desert.

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David Robinson II, an Army veteran, has become a vocal advocate for missing persons reform. He has driven thousands of miles, organized extensive desert searches, created the website pleasehelpfinddaniel.com, and established the Daniel Robinson Foundation. He ran for U.S. Congress in South Carolina in 2024 (and planned another run in 2026) partly to push legislation such as the “Please Help Find Missing Americans Act” (sometimes called the Daniel Robinson Law) aimed at improving how missing persons cases are handled. The family offers a reward for information leading to Daniel’s return and maintains active social media presence for tips.

Multiple Victims?: No

Rumored or Actual Sightings:

*If the date says January 1, this is often just a placeholder for an unknown specific date. It usually means “sometime that year”.

Date the Body was Recovered:

Description: Unknown

Time of Death:

Cause of Death:

Recovered Remains (if partial):

Suspected Homicide?:

Multiple Victims?: No

DNA Tested (No Match): Multiple sets of human remains have been discovered in the broader search area, but none have been identified as Robinson’s:

• In late July 2021, a skull and other remains were found; DNA testing confirmed they were not his (later reports linked some remains to other individuals, such as 35-year-old Juan Fierro in one 2023 case) (Link).
• Additional remains were found in November 2021 and January 2023; none belonged to Daniel.

*If the date says January 1, this is often just a placeholder for an unknown specific date. It usually means “sometime that year”.

Description: 2017 Jeep Renegade (blue-grey) - the vehicle was located after his disappearance.

License Plate: NLA2CMA (Arizona)

Description: