In the autumn of 2012, a sense of unease began to surround 70-year-old Dennis M. Roberts of Kihei, Hawaii. His girlfriend, Kim Wolten, noticed a change in his behavior; he seemed to be acting abnormally and appeared depressed in the days leading up to his disappearance. This concerning shift in his demeanor caused her to worry about his well-being. On the morning of October 23, 2012, Roberts was dropped off at the Matson shipping company in Kahului Harbor around 10:00 a.m.
The purpose of his visit was to pick up his 2012 white Jeep Wrangler, which had recently been shipped from Seattle, Washington. After collecting his vehicle, he seemingly set out for a drive around the island. As the day progressed with no word from him, concern mounted. When he failed to return home that evening, his girlfriend officially reported him as a missing person to the Maui police at 8:38 p.m.
The search for Dennis Roberts began, and attention soon focused on the remote stretches of Maui's coastline. The day after he was last seen, on October 24, 2012, his new Jeep Wrangler was discovered abandoned but intact around noon. The vehicle was parked on the side of the Piilani Highway in the secluded Kahikinui area, near mile marker 27.5. This particular stretch of road is known for its dramatic cliffs that stand approximately 100 to 150 feet above the ocean, adding a layer of foreboding to the discovery of the empty vehicle. The location of his Jeep prompted an intensified search of the immediate and surrounding areas, as authorities and loved ones feared for his safety.
A short time after the discovery of his Jeep, the search came to a tragic conclusion. At approximately 1:30 p.m. on October 24, fire rescue crews conducting an aerial search of the coastline made a heartbreaking discovery. They located Roberts' body floating in the ocean, about 300 yards offshore, in the vicinity of mile marker 24, not far from where his vehicle had been left. Authorities reported that he appeared to have sustained severe head injuries, and an autopsy was scheduled to determine the official cause of death.
The case of Dennis Roberts, a 70-year-old man who went missing after picking up his newly arrived vehicle, concluded with a somber discovery. Initially reported missing after his girlfriend grew concerned about his recent depressed state and failure to return from a drive, the investigation quickly uncovered his abandoned Jeep along a remote and rugged highway. The subsequent discovery of his body in the nearby ocean confirmed the worst fears of his loved ones. The circumstances surrounding his final hours, marked by his reported change in mood and the location where he was found, paint a sorrowful picture, leaving a community to mourn the sudden and tragic loss of one of its members.Last Seen: Oct 23, 2012
