Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
302 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP51851) and 4 other sources
In the late spring of 1976, a young man named Robert 'Robby' McDonald was living in Sunset, Hawaii. On May 20th, the 22-year-old informed his roommate that he was heading out to visit a friend in Kahuku. He was last seen leaving his residence on Kanalani Place, driving his maroon 1970 Toyota pickup truck. At the time, he was dressed in a white t-shirt, green shorts, and yellow slippers, and was wearing a Seiko watch with a black face and a gold band. That was the last time anyone is known to have seen or heard from him.

A few days later, on May 25th, concern for McDonald's well-being grew when his Toyota pickup was discovered abandoned in the parking lot of Swanzy Beach Park. The discovery of his vehicle without any sign of its owner intensified the mystery surrounding his sudden disappearance. In the absence of concrete evidence, the local community was filled with speculation. Rumors began to circulate that McDonald may have been the victim of foul play, possibly murdered by two acquaintances in a dispute involving drugs.

In the years that followed, the case of Robert McDonald has remained unsolved, leaving a void for his family and friends. His parents, in their desperate search for answers, hired a private investigator who developed a theory that their son may have been on his way to collect a $1,500 debt when he vanished. Despite these leads and the ongoing investigation by the Honolulu Police Department, no charges have ever been filed in connection with his disappearance, and his whereabouts remain unknown. The official classification for his case is that of an endangered missing person, a reflection of the troubling and unresolved circumstances of his last known day. The story of Robert McDonald is a somber narrative of a young man who set out for a short drive and never returned, leaving behind a series of unanswered questions and a case that has puzzled investigators for decades.

Last Seen: May 20, 1976

Possible Unidentified Matches (4)

Unidentified remains cases whose details are consistent with this person, ranked by how closely they compare. Fields that are unknown in either case are left out of the score.

82%Moderate
John Doe — Honolulu, Hawaii
UP6925 • Found Jul 7, 1987
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 19–29 vs 22 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 94%34 mi away, same county
TimingFound 11 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 6'0"
Weight 99%143 lb vs 160 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel
80%Moderate
John Doe — Haleiwa, Hawaii
UP6920 • Found May 24, 1983
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 19–40 vs 22 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%7 mi away, same county
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 6'0"
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
76%Possible
John Doe — Honolulu, Hawaii - unidentified case UP15422
John Doe — Honolulu, Hawaii
UP15422 • Found Jun 8, 2016
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 30–49 vs 22 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 94%31 mi away, same county
TimingFound 40 years after last seen
Height 100%6'1" vs 6'0"
Weight 100%165 lb vs 160 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel
76%Possible
John Doe — Honolulu, Hawaii
UP6907 • Found Feb 24, 1979
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–35 vs 22 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 96%24 mi away, same county
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 36%5'7" vs 6'0"
Weight 94%139 lb vs 160 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 0%Gray vs Hazel

These comparisons are generated automatically from public NamUs case data and are not confirmed identifications. Only DNA, dental or fingerprint comparison by investigators can confirm an identity. If you believe two cases are connected, contact the agency handling the unidentified case.

Unidentified photos are blurred because many are post-mortem. Tap a photo to reveal it.