MI MI - Robert Dale, 33, Sault Ste Marie, 18 May 1996

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Bob Dale has been missing for 20 years now. His family continues searching for answers.

NamUs

Doe Network

Find Bob Dale Facebook Page

Charley Project

Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance
• Missing Since: May 18, 1996 from Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan
• Classification: Endangered Missing
• Date of Birth: November 3, 1962
• Age: 33 years old
• Height and Weight: 5'7, 170 pounds
• Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian male. Black hair, brown eyes. Dale's nickname is Bob. He has dimples and a mustache.
• Clothing/Jewelry Description: A bright yellow polo shirt, black dress pants or black jeans, and deck shoes, possibly with lug soles.

Details of Disappearance
Dale was last seen in Saulte Sainte Marie, Michigan between 11:30 p.m. and midnight on May 18, 1996. He attended a social gathering with friends at the Downtowner, a local bar, the evening of his disappearance. He got into an argument with his wife and afterwards left the establishment, supposedly to wait in the car. He was last seen walking westward down a paved road, Moloney's Alley. He has never been heard from again. Dale's wife stated the argument they had was a normal disagreement and not serious.

Dale was employed as a carpenter at Chi-Chuk Construction at the time of his disappearance, and has three sons. He is described as a dedicated family man who would not have abandoned his relatives. He was reported missing at 4:44 a.m. on May 20. Dale had little money and no credit cards with him at the time he went missing, and there is no evidence that he attempted to hitchhike or take a taxicab out of the area. Authorities do not believe he left of his own accord, and his family suspects foul play was involved in his disappearance. His case remains unsolved.


1996 disappearance of Bob Dale remains a mystery

“We just want to know where he is at,” said younger brother Scott Dale who long ago accepted the most likely outcome. “He has a burial spot already (next to his parents). He has a place to go. We just need to find him and get him there.”

For Scott, the passage of the years has not diminished his need for answers and he continues, along with his wife Kathy, to attempt to solve this mystery from their home in Lower Michigan long after departing from the Sault.

Scott wholeheartedly believes that he has figured out what happened on the day his brother went missing, but there are a few puzzle pieces that he needs help with to get them to fit.

“It’s going to take a little time,” he said, “or one or two people to come forward.”

Questions remain in 1996 disappearance of Bob Dale - May 2011

 

[Akweks]

I lived in the Soo when this occurred. I didn't know him personally. Heard small town rumors and speculation. I hope he is found some day.

 

[Canadian4]

He went to sit in the car and then was last seen walking westward. Who saw him walking? Did him and his wife both have a set of keys or was the car left open?

 

[riles]

Reddit gives a little more detail. I recently forwarded the story to podcast being from SSM myself. I hope they will cover it.

 

[kathy51370]

What is Reddit?

 

[Midge Montana]

Bumping for Robert Dale.

 

[Midge Montana]

Reddit gives a little more detail. I recently forwarded the story to podcast being from SSM myself. I hope they will cover it.

Was a podcast episode ever made for this case?

 

[alb1on]

It does sound as though this one is solved but without the evidence to get it to court at present http://www.sooeveningnews.com/news/...ng-closure-in-disappearance-of-robert-dale-jr . Of course, it still leaves the issue of recovering the body, but it does sound as though they now know he was murdered and by who.

 

[kathy51370]

I lived in the Soo when this occurred. I didn't know him personally. Heard small town rumors and speculation. I hope he is found some day.

can you message me please?

 

[Angelo2000]

Last seen with his wife Kristi Dale traveling northbound 6 mile on the Mackinac Trail until a second vehicle turn onto 6 mile.
Bob Dale stood 5'7 and weighed 170lbs. Notable features include dark hair and a mustache.
Places to get information on the case is the Sault Sainte Marie Police Department and the Find Bob Dale Facebook page.

 

[bykerladi]

Bob Dale has been missing since 1996....
Family of missing Sault Ste. Marie man still looking for answers 25 years later (upmatters.com)
(20+) Find Bob Dale | Facebook

 

[steff13]

Namus page:

Missing Person Case (namus.gov)

Last seen 5/18/96.

 

[Sonny Crockett]

Recently heard about this RD case from 1996. Very puzzling case - as are all MP cases where no trace of the person has ever been found and there's no evidence than anything other than a disappearance occurred, etc.

My first thought is this: By all accounts, RD was intoxicated when he vanished - so, he may have just wandered off from the bar/party where he was last seen - and someone ended up accidentally drowning in one of the many bodies of water that were in that area. Since this happened late at night & given his inebriated state, I find this explanation plausible - maybe. As to why he has never been located - it's possible the body got swept away & or sunk to the bottom of the body of water, etc. - and was never located because of this.

This seems the most likely explanation given the area, etc.

Side-note: In looking up this case, it's not surprising that RD is sometimes confused with the late Bob Dole, who ran for president in the same year RD went missing (1996).

 

[Pennysmom1]

May 31, 2023

Family of Sault Ste. Marie man who vanished following a 1996 wedding still searching for clues

Bob Dale, a 33-year-old father of three, has been missing since May 18, 1996

www.nbcnews.com

Find Bob Dale

Find Bob Dale. 3,574 likes · 18 talking about this. Robert Dale Missing May 18th, 1996 Contact Sault Ste Marie Police Department 906-632-5744

www.facebook.com

Robert Allen Dale Jr. – The Charley Project

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Dale, circa 1996

 

[Nina Michigan]

 

[JSolt1210]

Recently heard about this RD case from 1996. Very puzzling case - as are all MP cases where no trace of the person has ever been found and there's no evidence than anything other than a disappearance occurred, etc.

My first thought is this: By all accounts, RD was intoxicated when he vanished - so, he may have just wandered off from the bar/party where he was last seen - and someone ended up accidentally drowning in one of the many bodies of water that were in that area. Since this happened late at night & given his inebriated state, I find this explanation plausible - maybe. As to why he has never been located - it's possible the body got swept away & or sunk to the bottom of the body of water, etc. - and was never located because of this.

This seems the most likely explanation given the area, etc.

Side-note: In looking up this case, it's not surprising that RD is sometimes confused with the late Bob Dole, who ran for president in the same year RD went missing (1996).

I agree that this is the simplest explanation.

From the NBC article posted above, Kristi and Bob left the wedding party around 10:45pm, and by that time he was already so drunk that “Kristi was assisted by the people attending the party to get Bob into the passenger seat.”

From there, Kristi (also drunk) drove herself and a passed-out Bob to The Downtowner Bar because she wanted to continue the party. "She left Bob passed out in the car while she went into the bar to have a few drinks with her friends" at approximately 11:15–11:30pm, as per the Charley Project.

Now it's true that "witnesses who saw Bob leaving the reception told authorities based on his state, 'It’s hard to imagine that he would have made it very far [on his own].'” But the article says Kristi got home around 1am, meaning she was at the bar for about an hour. Bob could've sobered up enough by then to get out of the car, maybe looking for a private place to relieve himself. St. Mary's River is literally a 4-minute straight-shot walk from the bar.

Yes, the river is fenced off, but how secure and maintained was this fence back in 1996? Could Bob have climbed it? Wedged himself between it? Was there an opening? Intoxicated people can surprise us with their irrational actions, like we all recently saw with Riley Strain—tripping over himself one moment, "jogging" the next.

 

[Nina Michigan]

I agree that this is the simplest explanation.

From the NBC article posted above, Kristi and Bob left the wedding party around 10:45pm, and by that time he was already so drunk that “Kristi was assisted by the people attending the party to get Bob into the passenger seat.”

From there, Kristi (also drunk) drove herself and a passed-out Bob to The Downtowner Bar because she wanted to continue the party. "She left Bob passed out in the car while she went into the bar to have a few drinks with her friends" at approximately 11:15–11:30pm, as per the Charley Project.

Now it's true that "witnesses who saw Bob leaving the reception told authorities based on his state, 'It’s hard to imagine that he would have made it very far [on his own].'” But the article says Kristi got home around 1am, meaning she was at the bar for about an hour. Bob could've sobered up enough by then to get out of the car, maybe looking for a private place to relieve himself. St. Mary's River is literally a 4-minute straight-shot walk from the bar.

Yes, the river is fenced off, but how secure and maintained was this fence back in 1996? Could Bob have climbed it? Wedged himself between it? Was there an opening? Intoxicated people can surprise us with their irrational actions, like we all recently saw with Riley Strain—tripping over himself one moment, "jogging" the next.

the catch with this theory (IMO) is that no one saw Bob downtown.

We don't know that he actually made it into town.

Meaning he could be anywhere.

Again, JMO