GA-Soldier missing

[Oceanbreeze]

SAVANNAH, Ga. - When his father called looking for him, Spc. Robert Hornbeck answered his cell phone and spoke just a few words before the connection went dead: "Dad, I'm on the stairs."

Outside the downtown DeSoto Hilton hotel, Eric Hornbeck called back but got no answer. This was the spot he'd been given to pick up his son and an Army buddy after a night of bar-hopping.




http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12494679/?GT1=7938

[A.Wood]

Im really mad about how my city is treating this. I feel like nothing is being done. The police department is not good at all in my opinion. Last night they did a search.....but waited 9 DAYS??? I dont understand why the boys friend called the father instead of the boy. There were not in the best area at 3 in the morning so if he was mugged or shot at...it would have been known days ago. From following missing persons I would think that the only reason a body would be hidden is if it was NOT just some random crime. NOW ive seen 2 different versions of where he was, either at the desoto or city market. Now if he was at city market and happened to venture off he could have headed to river street....and could have feel in the river. But he would still have to walk a ways....and down some steep steps with cobble stones and if he was that drunk I dont see how he would have made it all the way to the river. But I do believe they were staying at the desoto...if they were staying there then I dont see why they would need have called the father to get them....because they were already where they needed to be. I just hope they have checked all the hospitals and even shelters....never know if someone has a head injury and doesnt remember who they are....When I signed on today I saw the story on the front.....so im so excited that it is actually getting some attention....there isnt enough attention going on in Savannah.

[jodierenee]

that is an odd story...

i wonder how the friend and him got separated at the end of the night? I usually latch on to my friends when i've been drinking and it gets late, but then again, i'm a girl.

I hope he didn't "snap" and just take off (doubtful) or hurt himself (no indication of that)

That leaves foul play..maybe he got robbed or a hit and run happened.

Hope his family finds answers soon.

[Sniffy38]

I can't help but wonder about the "friend". He was the last one to see him. Something doesn't quite sound right here. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Catherine Crier talked about it on her show today.

[MagicRose99]

The Dad was with the friend when he called his son the first time and his son answered...

<SNIP from link in first post above>

"....Eric Hornbeck arrived at the hotel about 7 minutes later, he said. He found Stone, who said he'd lost sight of Robert Hornbeck just minutes earlier. Then Eric Hornbeck called his son's cell phone.
"He answered the phone and said something about, `Dad, I'm on the stairs,'" he said. "I can't say if it went dead or he hung up. But that was the end of the conversation...."


I can't help but wonder about the "friend". He was the last one to see him. Something doesn't quite sound right here. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Catherine Crier talked about it on her show today.

[Mellen]

Im really mad about how my city is treating this. I feel like nothing is being done. The police department is not good at all in my opinion. Last night they did a search.....but waited 9 DAYS??? I dont understand why the boys friend called the father instead of the boy. There were not in the best area at 3 in the morning so if he was mugged or shot at...it would have been known days ago. From following missing persons I would think that the only reason a body would be hidden is if it was NOT just some random crime. NOW ive seen 2 different versions of where he was, either at the desoto or city market. Now if he was at city market and happened to venture off he could have headed to river street....and could have feel in the river. But he would still have to walk a ways....and down some steep steps with cobble stones and if he was that drunk I dont see how he would have made it all the way to the river. But I do believe they were staying at the desoto...if they were staying there then I dont see why they would need have called the father to get them....because they were already where they needed to be. I just hope they have checked all the hospitals and even shelters....never know if someone has a head injury and doesnt remember who they are....When I signed on today I saw the story on the front.....so im so excited that it is actually getting some attention....there isnt enough attention going on in Savannah.They weren't staying at the hotel. The article says they were staying with relatives. The friend used Robert's cell phone to call Robert's Dad at 3:00 am. He told Robert's Dad that they were lost and asked if he could pick them up at the hotel. The article also says that Robert was mad at the friend for calling his Dad because he didn't want to be "rescued." Sounds like the friend stayed put because he wanted a ride and Robert got mad at the friend and took off and then something happened to him.

[christine2448]

Report: Missing Soldier Spotted
There are reports this morning that a soldier who has been missing for 11 days has been spotted in Georgia.


The Savannah Morning News says several witnesses told police they saw Spec. Robert Hornbeck in Statesboro, west of Savannah.

More Here (http://www.wsbtv.com/news/9006976/detail.html)



Dad Searches for Missing Soldier Son

SNIPS
[/url]
Entire Article Here (http://www.ajc.com/search/content/shared-gen/ap/National/Missing_Soldier.html)

"For three days, I checked garbage bins, alleys. I even chased some homeless people out of abandoned buildings," the soldier's father said Tuesday. "You can speculate until you're blue in the face. And, Lord knows, I have."

More than 70 volunteers turned out Tuesday evening to help search for Hornbeck. They walked along streets and alleys peering into bushes, looking in garbage bins and handing out fliers.

A private search and rescue crew used dogs to pick up Hornbeck's scent in the hotel parking garage but did not find him, said his stepmother, Beth Hornbeck. She said a hotel maintenance worker told her that he thought he saw Hornbeck in the garage the night he went missing.

Police checks of Robert Hornbeck's cell phone, credit card and bank account records show none have been used since he went missing, said Lt. Mike Wilkins, spokesman for Savannah-Chatham County police.

[url="http://www.wsbtv.com/news/9006976/detail.html"]

[gardenmom]

Another run away "bride"? I hope not, but better than the alternative.

[Oceanbreeze]

Maybe post traumatic stress?

[concernedperson]

They weren't staying at the hotel. The article says they were staying with relatives. The friend used Robert's cell phone to call Robert's Dad at 3:00 am. He told Robert's Dad that they were lost and asked if he could pick them up at the hotel. The article also says that Robert was mad at the friend for calling his Dad because he didn't want to be "rescued." Sounds like the friend stayed put because he wanted a ride and Robert got mad at the friend and took off and then something happened to him.

It is sounding like Robert took a "time out" from his life.Especially if he was spotted in Statesboro. He had a lot on his plate...returning from Iraq, getting married and going back to school. The way he said he didn't want to "rescued" resounded to me. As if to say...."I can figure all this out by myself". At least, I truly hope this is the scenario.

[Bobbisangel]

I've been wondering if he didn't just take off the moment his friend's back was turned. He was angry at his friend and when his friend spotted the uncle outside of the hotel and went to let him know where they were...Robert might have taken off to show his friend and family that he could get home by himself. Sounds like he had been drinking so maybe he wasn't thinking to straight.

I've heard now that 3 different people say they saw him in different places on the freeway or highway. I wonder if that is the route to Robert's home?
I just hope he didn't accept a ride from the wrong people and something happened. Hope he shows up soon.

[fourboys]

Body Found at Savannah Hotel

Posted: 04/28/06

Savannah-Chatham police are on the scene investigating after a body was found on the property of the DeSoto Hilton on Liberty Street. The body has not been identified at this point.

That hotel was the last known location of missing Third ID soldier Robert Hornbeck, who disappeared on Easter Sunday. Hornbeck has since reportedly been sighted alive in other places, including Statesboro, however none of those reports have been confirmed.

WTOC has crews on the scene and will have more as it becomes available.

http://www.wtoctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4832949&nav=0qq6

[jodierenee]

oh no...

prayers for his family

and his fiancee.

(i guess there is a slight chance it isn't him, but i'm guessing it is.)

[Mellen]

I wonder where the body was found. I'm appalled -- it doesn't seem like LE was doing a very good job of searching. I can't believe it's been 12 days and the body is found right where they started! He said he was on the stairs when the Dad called. I wonder if he fell or something (although you'd think that they might have heard that rather than just getting cut off). Such a mystery, and so very sad.

[ceceley]

And then his cell phone rang well into the next day. No one heard a cell phone ringing? All very odd. My heart goes out to his family.

[A.Wood]

The police in savannah are the worst (hey, so are the schools!) Anyhow, they just reported that people staying in the desoto noticed a smell lasting a few days. Why didnt anyone mention that before the body was found??!! I would hope all the tourist would know what was going on around them! They found him this morning near some sort of air conditioner thing in the building....I think it was a janitor type who found him. His personal belongings were with him so it is really him. Im wondering if maybe he was too intoxicated and became ill suddenly...like alcohol poisoining? or was it a suicide..did he snap while intoxicated?...HOPEFULLY we will get answers...but in this town your lucky if you get anything. The police from the beginning would only say, "he probably just doesnt want to be found". He was in a different state, intoxicated....in a bad area late late at night/early morning....I think they should of shown a lot more concern. With all the tourist we have, I would hope that they would want to be visiting a city where if something happens to them or a love one....that the police department would be supportive somehow....:confused:

[bykerladi]

http://www.wsav.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSAV/MGArticle/SAV_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137835657164&path=!frontpage

Savannah-Chatham Police say the family has confirmed that the body discovered at the Desoto Hotel is missing solder, Robert Hornbeck.
The unidentified body was discovered around 11:45 Friday morning.


The body was located in an air-conditioning exchange handler. Detectives are investigating to determine a time-line of the death. Although the location in which the body was found is unusual, investigators have not found any signs of foul play.

[christine2448]

http://www.wsav.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSAV/MGArticle/SAV_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137835657164&path=!frontpage

Savannah-Chatham Police say the family has confirmed that the body discovered at the Desoto Hotel is missing solder, Robert Hornbeck.
The unidentified body was discovered around 11:45 Friday morning.


The body was located in an air-conditioning exchange handler. Detectives are investigating to determine a time-line of the death. Although the location in which the body was found is unusual, investigators have not found any signs of foul play.
Heard this on local news, how very sad...I wonder what the circumstances are....nothing on either local websites yet. Prayers for all involved.

[A.Wood]

First I heard he was on the roof, but the news is now saying the second story in an air conditioner exchange. I wonder how this happened and how it took this long to find him.

[Bobbisangel]

His dad was on Nancy Grace tonight. He said that he believes this was a tragic accident. He feels that somehow Robert ended up in that room which was pitch black with no light. He injured his arm...it must have been hurt bad because Robert tried to make a tourniquet out of a piece of his own clothing. He said that he thinks Robert was trying to find his way back out of the room but couldn't in the dark. It sounds like he bled to death due to the arm injury.

I don't understand why he didn't go out to meet his uncle and dad along with his friend. Why did he leave that area when he knew his dad was there to get him. The only thing that I can figure is he had drank to much and wasn't thinking with a clear mind. Such a sad situation. This young man had so much to look forward to. Prayers for his family and his future wife.

[Jean]

Nancy Grace discussed this case tonight. I missed the show, but wanted to post the transcript. My heart goes out to Robert's family and loved ones, especially his fiancee. She was on Nancy's show last night and I was just plain impressed with her--she really loved Robert, I could tell.

Transcript from Nancy Grace--CNN Headline News

American Hero Found Dead 4/28/2006

Tonight, breaking news. Twenty-three-year-old American hero, Army specialist Robert Hornbeck, took fire in Iraq and he made it home in one piece only to go missing on the streets of Savannah, George, Ft. Benning. Wednesday night, we put out the all-points bulletin. Tonight, his family confirms a body found at the same upscale Savannah hotel where he was last seen alive is Hornbeck. And now, mystery surrounding what happened to this American hero intensifies. (More at link)

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/28/ng.01.html

[kazzbar]

This is really very sad. What a truly awful thing to happen to poor Robert. Why did he go in the room if it was not foul play? He must have been well and truly drunk and disorientated. Maybe he wanted tpo sleep and just passed out. I wonder how severe the injury ti his arm was? This is such an awful end to this case. What kind of crap searches were going on to not have found him ,especially as people were complaining of an odour! :confused:

[dark_shadows]

This was on Foxnews (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,193662,00.html)

He died after being struck by a large, spinning blower wheel, said Lt. Mike Wilkins, a spokesman for Savannah-Chatham County police.

"At this point, it appears to be an accident," he said.

An autopsy Saturday confirmed the identity of Spc. Robert Hornbeck (javascript:siteSearch('Robert Hornbeck');), 23, of Lapeer, Mich., who was last scene outside the hotel April 16 after a late night of bar-hopping with an Army (javascript:siteSearch('Army');) buddy. He answered his cell phone briefly after his father arrived just after 3 a.m. to give him a ride. He said, "Dad, I'm on the stairs," then the connection went dead.


"At least we have closure and we can get him home and do the proper things to honor him," said Kirk Hornbeck, the soldier's uncle in Savannah.
Police had not determined how Hornbeck got into the hotel maintenance area or what he was doing there. He was not a guest at the hotel. Blood toxicology tests were also being performed. Hornbeck's father had previously said he suspects his son was intoxicated.

"I think maybe he'd in fact had too much to drink," Kirk Hornbeck said. "He might've thought he was going out the right door to the outside and got turned around inside the building and ended up in the wrong spot."

[gardenmom]

Very sad. I am sorry, I was very wrong about this one. I should have known better.