Up and Vanished Weekly — VANISHED: Daniel Robinson (October 8, 2025)

Overview

This episode of Up and Vanished Weekly, hosted by Maggie Freeling and Payne Lindsey, dives deep into the mysterious 2021 disappearance of Daniel Robinson, a 24-year-old geologist who vanished in the Arizona desert. With Daniel’s case receiving less national attention than other high-profile missing persons cases, the episode aims to spotlight the complexities and unanswered questions that continue to haunt his family and the investigators. The hosts unravel Daniel’s story, examine the scene and the array of unsettling clues, and offer significant time to the voice and perspective of Daniel’s father, David Robinson, whose persistent advocacy is both heartbreaking and inspiring.

Key Topics & Insights

Daniel Robinson’s Disappearance: The Basic Facts

• Daniel disappeared June 23, 2021, after leaving a job site in Buckeye, Arizona.
• His Jeep Renegade was discovered weeks later in a remote desert ravine by a local rancher, airbags deployed, sunroof kicked out, personal belongings (including his phone and wallet) left behind — but no sign of Daniel (03:30–05:49).
• Notable detail: Daniel was born without a lower right arm, but thrived in sports, music, and academics, and was described by loved ones as 'happy go lucky' and adventurous (05:49–07:10).

The Last Sighting and Immediate Aftermath

• June 23: Daniel was at a well site with coworker Ken Elliott, who described Daniel as "acting strange," staring into the desert, and making unusual comments. Shortly after arriving, Daniel drove off into the desert and was never seen again (07:10–08:50).
• Massive search efforts turned up several sets of human remains, but none were Daniel’s.

Discovery of the Jeep and Clues at the Scene

• Rancher Jeff McGrath describes finding Daniel's Jeep: “It was just stuck in there like a dart” (10:50). He noted that the cattle (who would lick new objects due to salt) hadn’t touched the Jeep, suggesting it hadn’t been there long (11:15).
• Private investigator analysis revealed the Jeep had been driven 11 miles after its airbags deployed, indicating the accident likely happened elsewhere (12:26–13:07).
  • Quote: “That means the vehicle drove another 11 miles after the airbags came in. That concerned me because ... I haven’t seen anything like that.” — Jeff McGrath [12:26]
• The presence of Daniel's clothing and phone at the scene raised suspicions, as to why he would strip down and leave those items behind if seeking help after an accident (11:28–12:26).

Questionable Theories and Investigation

• Despite the strange evidence (scene potentially staged, delay in finding Jeep, items left behind), police declared there was "no sign of foul play."
• Daniel’s family hired private investigator Jeff McGrath, who found various anomalies (red paint on the Jeep, late placement at scene, changed stories from last person to see Daniel).

A Look Into Daniel’s State of Mind

• Police, following text review, considered whether Daniel left voluntarily or was in a mental health crisis.
  • In the days before his disappearance, Daniel repeatedly messaged a woman named Kaitlin, showing up unannounced at her home and sending some cryptic texts (14:11–16:05).
    • Quote: “I’ll either see you again or never see you again.” — Daniel to Kaitlin [15:54]

Family Response & Ongoing Search

• Extensive interview with David Robinson (Daniel’s father), who has led search efforts, advocated for media exposure, and struggled with the police’s lack of progress or urgency (19:13–37:18).
• Initial law enforcement response was lackluster; David describes days spent trying to secure police involvement, and his concern as a Black parent about calling in authorities (21:56–22:46).
• Father’s perspective on the staged nature of the scene, changes in Ken Elliott’s story, and barriers to obtaining phone and vehicle data from authorities (24:12–26:26).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

The Rancher’s Perspective on the Jeep

• “It was just stuck in there like a dart.” — Jeff McGrath (10:50)
• “That Jeep had not been there as long as you were telling me it’s been there.” — Jeff McGrath (11:15)

Private Investigator’s Technical Assessment

• “The vehicle drove another 11 miles after the airbags came in. That concerned me because ... I haven’t seen anything like that.” — Jeff McGrath (12:26)
• “Not in the ravine, no.” [to whether the Jeep sustained damage there] — Jeff McGrath (13:07)
• “If we learned breaking news tomorrow that Daniel was murdered, would it shock you?” “No, because I haven’t been able to rule that out.” — Jeff McGrath (13:08–13:17)

David Robinson on Law Enforcement Experience

• “I asked law enforcement to go out that night, go search my son. They told me they couldn’t do so until the morning... That’s not true.” — David Robinson (23:04)
• “When [the police] broke the promise...they said it was unauthorized and canceled. He's a grown man. He can disappear if he wants to. That’s when I...started heading west to go do it myself.” — David Robinson (23:21)

On Media Disparities and Advocacy

• “It took me literally three months to get [media coverage] going … But once I did, I learned some secrets. Things I’ve done on social media … But at the same time, it was during the time [Gabby] Petito case came to be.” — David Robinson (30:14–30:51)
• “Every family deserves attention. We just need to make sure it’s all focused and everybody get the same amount of type attention.” — David Robinson (32:22)

Family's Determined Search

• “Get law enforcement to do their job. It’s plain and simple as that. ... Everything we know today about my son's case didn’t come from law enforcement.” — David Robinson (29:24–30:14)
• “We have been finding human remains out there ... So there’s things out there that need to be taken. ... Even though I didn’t find my son, we brought some closure for somebody else’s family.” — David Robinson (35:56–36:11)

Timestamps & Segment Highlights

• 03:30–05:49: Discovery of Daniel’s car and belongings, early response.
• 07:10–08:50: Last sighting, coworker’s account, start of search efforts.
• 10:50–12:26: Rancher and private investigator describe key scene details.
• 14:11–16:05: Text thread with Kaitlin, implications about Daniel’s mental state.
• 19:13–37:18: David Robinson’s interview, family perspective on search, media, law enforcement, and public advocacy.
• 36:11–37:18: How listeners can support the ongoing search and advocacy efforts for Daniel.

Call to Action & How to Help

• Visit pleasehelpfinddaniel.com for details, to sign the petition to move Daniel’s case to a new jurisdiction, print or request flyers, donate, and learn more ways to assist (33:38–37:16).
• Daniel is described as a 5'8" Black man, 165 lbs, born with a partial right arm. Anyone with information should contact Buckeye Police Department at 623-386-4421 or submit a tip online.

Tone & Closing Reflections

Payne and Maggie treat the subject with deep empathy and seriousness, amplifying the frustration and heartbreak of Daniel’s family — especially David’s experiences with law enforcement, media, and the challenges Black families face in missing person cases. Their reporting channels a persistent call for justice and community support, echoing David’s determination to not let Daniel’s story fade.

“The disappearance of Daniel Robinson is truly tragic ... Since Daniel vanished, David has done everything humanly possible to bring him home.” — Maggie Freeling (37:25)

For more details or to join the search, visit: pleasehelpfinddaniel.com