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Robert Sparks Missing Person Case

Last seen in McAllen, Texas on Nov 19, 1972

Victim Details

Created

Apr 28, 2020

Case Added

Sep 11, 2023

Firstname

Robert

Lastname

Sparks

Current Age

Age At Disappearance

Height

70 inches

Weight

168 lbs

Ethnicity

White / Caucasian

Gender

Male

Last Seen

Nov 19, 1972

City

McAllen

State

Texas

County

Hidalgo County

Tribal Land

Agency ID

81682

Agency Name

Federal Bureau of Investigation - San Antonio Field Office

Agency City

San Antonio

Agency State

Texas

Agency County

Bexar County

Agency Zip Code

78249

Agency Contact

Agency Address

5740 University Heights Boulevard, Texas

Agency Phone

2102256741

Agency Jurisdiction

Federal

Agency Type

Law Enforcement

Agency Website

https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/sanantonio

Agency Case #

7-772

Primary Agency

Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office

CaseContributors

8965

Hair Color

Brown

Left Eye Color

Brown

Right Eye Color

Brown

Last Updated

08/22/2026

Area Last Seen:

Case Description

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Robert Douglas Sparks, a 45-year-old private pilot and retired Air Force officer, went missing on November 19, 1972, after departing from McAllen, Texas. He had been hired by a man named Lonnie D. Shaw to fly around the lower Rio Grande Valley for a photography trip. The two left McAllen in a 1970 Piper Cherokee aircraft that Sparks had rented for the flight. At around 1:50 PM, Sparks contacted the FAA, stating they were en route to Tampico, Mexico, even though he lacked the required papers to e ...

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Last Seen: Nov 19, 1972

Links to Additional Sources (4)

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3318DMTX - Robert Douglas Sparks - Doe Network

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Robert Sparks Missing Person Case

Last seen in McAllen, Texas on Nov 19, 1972

Victim Details

Case Description

Continue reading the complete case summary

Links to Additional Sources (4)

Unlock 2 additional sources

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