Robert James Wykel was a 65-year-old retired sheet metal worker with a passion for restoring classic cars. In February 1996, his life took a sudden and mysterious turn when he vanished from the Seattle, Washington, area. Known to his friends as Bob, he was last seen on February 21, 1996, after he told friends he was on his way to purchase a vintage Ford Thunderbird.
Wykel, who often preferred to use cash for his business dealings, had withdrawn $5,200 from his bank account just days earlier, presumably to pay for the car. He was a man known for his generosity and his distinctive jewelry, particularly a large diamond ring he always wore. Concern grew when he failed to return home or contact his family in Illinois, which was highly uncharacteristic of him. The initial discovery that something was amiss came on March 11, 1996, when his 1989 Mercedes-Benz was found abandoned at a Park-N-Ride in Burien, Washington. Inside the vehicle was his empty wallet. Two days later, a concerned friend officially reported him missing to the King County Sheriff's Office.
The investigation into Wykel's disappearance soon focused on Myron Wynn, an acquaintance who had told Wykel about the Ford Thunderbird for sale. Detectives learned that Wynn was the last person known to have seen Wykel, and that the two men had reportedly gone together to look at the car. Wynn's statements to police were inconsistent, and he soon became a person of interest in the case. A significant breakthrough came when investigators discovered that shortly after Wykel's disappearance, Wynn had given a large diamond to his then-girlfriend. Police came to believe this was the diamond from Wykel's distinctive ring, suggesting robbery as a motive for his disappearance and likely murder. Despite their suspicions, with no body and limited evidence, the case grew cold after Wynn moved to Texas. For years, Wykel's family was left without answers, and in 2003, he was declared legally dead.
Years of patient police work eventually led to a major development in the cold case. In 1999, detectives were able to seize the diamond from one of Wynn's relatives in Texas. This key piece of evidence, combined with Wynn's conflicting stories, allowed prosecutors to build a circumstantial case against him. In February 2009, Myron Wynn was arrested in Texas and charged with the first-degree murder of Robert Wykel. Though his first trial in 2010 ended with a hung jury, a second trial in April 2011 resulted in a conviction. Wynn was sentenced to 20 years in prison. The case that began as a missing person report had evolved over 15 years into a murder conviction, all without the discovery of Robert Wykel's body, which has never been found. The investigation stands as a testament to the persistence of law enforcement in seeking justice for a man whose passion for classic cars may have tragically led to his demise.Last Seen: Feb 21, 1996
