Deceased/Not Found FL - Robert Wiles, 26, Lakeland, 1 April 2008 *T. Holt guilty*

New Posts

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2009-03-03/news/ransom03_1_robert-wiles
'snipped'
Now, nearly a year after Wiles disappeared, federal investigators feel "very confident" they are close to sealing up the case against the abductors -- and they are asking the public for help.
Investigators have identified a key suspect and a "few individuals of interest" who have ties to Orlando, Melbourne and Lakeland, either by living or working in the cities, FBI Special Agent Dave Couvertier said Monday.
Agents aren't ready to publicly name their prime suspect or the others. Instead, they are asking people to come forward if they have ever heard anyone talk about Wiles in a jealous or negative way, or if they know someone who seems to be obsessed with Wiles or his family.
"We are asking that if they have any information, even if it's a hunch, a gut feeling, to please contact the FBI," Couvertier said.
Note demanded money
Pamela and Thomas Wiles, who live in Ohio, didn't realize their son had disappeared last year until they found the ransom note.
Robert Wiles was at work the morning of April 1, but what unfolded that afternoon and early evening is unclear. His car was found at the business. He failed to catch a flight out of Orlando to Dallas the next morning.
Investigators won't say how the parents found the ransom message, or disclose details about the demand, but Couvertier said it was "signed in a specific and unique way."
"The family did the best they could to adhere to it. They were very cooperative back then. They were willing to do whatever they could to secure his return," Couvertier said.

..more at link...

This was written in 3/2009, and no updates since.
I wonder what happened.
 
http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2009/3/3/fbi_new_break_in_case_of_missing_polk_co_pilot.html
'snipped' from 3/3/2009 article.
FBI agents have developed a prime suspect and persons of interest who they think live in Central Florida, but they need more information.
The family is offering a $250,000 reward.
If you have information on the kidnapping of Robert Wiles, call the FBI's Tampa office at (866) 838-1153 or 813-253-1000.
Anonymous tips also can be mailed to the FBI at: 5525 W. Gray St., Tampa FL 33609. Or you can ask someone from the clergy or an attorney to contact the agency on your behalf; the FBI says it is will honor confidentiality.
The family also has an e-mail available for information. Send any leads to them at missing@nationalflight.com

more at link
 
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/12/18/florida.missing.pilot/index.html

Authorities arrested Stobert "Tobie" Holt Jr., 42, Friday in Orlando, Florida, after he arrived from Colombia, where he was on a business trip, according to Tampa-based FBI spokesman David Couvertier.

Holt faces state charges of first degree murder, kidnapping, extortion, and intent to inflict death or serious bodily harm, the spokesman said. The arrest was made by police from Lakeland, Florida, the Polk County Sheriff's Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, who were accompanied by FBI agents, he said.

Though authorities now believe Wiles was killed, they don't know where his body is, he said.
 
There are two threads for him, so I posted on both:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/12/18/florida.missing.pilot/index.html

Authorities arrested Stobert "Tobie" Holt Jr., 42, Friday in Orlando, Florida, after he arrived from Colombia, where he was on a business trip, according to Tampa-based FBI spokesman David Couvertier.

Holt faces state charges of first degree murder, kidnapping, extortion, and intent to inflict death or serious bodily harm, the spokesman said. The arrest was made by police from Lakeland, Florida, the Polk County Sheriff's Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, who were accompanied by FBI agents, he said.

Though authorities now believe Wiles was killed, they don't know where his body is, he said.
 
angelmom said:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/12/18/florida.missing.pilot/index.html

Authorities arrested Stobert "Tobie" Holt Jr., 42, Friday in Orlando, Florida, after he arrived from Colombia, where he was on a business trip, according to Tampa-based FBI spokesman David Couvertier..
Click to expand...

This is such a weird case...thanks for posting, angelmom. I've been curious about this case for awhile - how sad for the family. There's really been very little coverage of it, which is really surprising.
 
I'm new to websleuths and wanted to express my sorrow to this family. It did not look good for some time but this pretty much confirms their worst fears.
 
http://www.theledger.com/article/20...ents-Released-in-Case-of-Missing-Lakeland-Man

By Jason Geary
THE LEDGER


Published: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 3:50 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 3:50 p.m.


Newly released documents in the case of Robert Arthur Wiles, a Lakeland man reported missing in 2008, give clues to the prosecution’s case against Stobert “Toby” Holt Jr., who is accused of killing Wiles.

The documents detail an anonymous call, a demand for ransom and the threat of violence if the demand was not met.

So begins the complex case that reads like a plot for a Hollywood thriller. Prosecutors have released more than 800 pages of documents with thousands more to go.
Click to expand...
 
UPDATE:

BARTOW | Prosecutors have released more than 800 pages of documents, with thousands more to go, in the complex murder and kidnapping case involving a Lakeland man who disappeared in 2008. The records read like a plot for a Hollywood thriller with an e-mail being sent to a rich businessman, Tom Wiles, demanding $750,000 or his son would be killed.

Stobert "Toby" Holt Jr., 42, of Melbourne, is accused of killing Wiles' son, Robert Arthur Wiles, whose body has never been found, and being behind the ransom plot.

A grand jury indicted Holt in December on charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, extortion and writing threats to kill or do bodily harm. He remains in the Polk County Jail without bail, but has a hearing scheduled for Friday to argue that a judge should set bail.

http://www.theledger.com/article/20100210/NEWS/2105059

Outlines the state's case. Though circumstantial, it appears pretty solid:

http://www.theledger.com/article/20100212/news/2125056
 
Bizarre Murder Trial Involving Missing Lakeland Man Draws National Spotlight

The trial of a bizarre and complex murder case involving a missing Lakeland man began Monday and has drawn national media attention.

The television program "48 Hours" has installed cameras to record footage of Stobert "Toby" Holt's trial, according to court officials.

Holt, who worked for an aircraft repair company at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, is accused of kidnapping his boss' son, devising a failed $750,000 ransom plot, killing the son, and making the body disappear.

The trial is estimated to last about three weeks.

More: http://www.theledger.com/article/20120109/NEWS/120109368
 
Christi said:
I'm not sure if this is the place to post this but, they found some human bones in a container not far from the airport where he went missing.

http://www.theledger.com/article/20130919/NEWS/130919009?tc=cr
Click to expand...

I hope they check and see if those remains could be his. I would imagine they would, considering it was such a high profile case (I am watching a rerun of his episode of 48 Hours on ID now - so heartbreaking) in the area. I am in the Tampa Bay area, and I have vague memories of hearing about this when it happened. The guy they convicted looked so slimy - I hope that he allows the family to have some peace and just tell them where their son is. The family looks so desperate, so broken over this, and they said they have no interest in more charges - they just want answers. They deserve them. This case is so, so sad...
 
Added to Namus on 9/27/2013 for a black female found in Polk County on 9/17/2013. Nothing is noted about the plastic container though. But I don't think two were found that day so I think its the same find and if so, not Robert.
https://identifyus.org/en/cases/11635

Robert has been missing for 6 years now.
 
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