Five years after Daniel Robinson disappeared from a remote worksite in Buckeye, Arizona, his family continues searching for answers as his whereabouts remain unknown.

Robinson, a 24-year-old geologist from Columbia, South Carolina, was last seen on June 23, 2021, after leaving a jobsite near Sun Valley Parkway and Cactus Road shortly after 9 a.m. Buckeye Police confirmed that Robinson had not told coworkers where he was going before leaving the site. The department continues to list him as a missing person, and the case remains open.

Daniel Robinson Disappearance

An extensive search began after Robinson was reported missing. Buckeye Police and outside agencies conducted ground and aerial searches around the desert area, but investigators initially found no sign of Robinson or his vehicle. Police later reported that more than 70 square miles had been searched using ground teams, UTVs, aircraft, drones and search dogs.

On July 19, 2021, nearly four weeks after Robinson disappeared, his 2017 Jeep Renegade was discovered in a ravine less than three miles from the jobsite. The vehicle had rolled and landed on its side, with its airbags deployed. Investigators also found personal belongings, including clothing, a cellphone, wallet and keys. Despite additional searches around the vehicle and surrounding desert, Robinson was not located.

What Investigators Found

An independent review of crash data commissioned by Buckeye Police concluded that the Jeep had been involved in a rollover crash. Investigators found that the vehicle’s speed increased immediately before impact, which could indicate an attempt to drive up the opposite side of the ravine.

The vehicle also recorded more than 40 ignition cycles after the crash. Investigators said it was unclear how many of those cycles occurred during attempts to restart or operate the vehicle and how many may have been recorded during its recovery and subsequent investigation.

Police have not publicly established that the crash was the result of foul play. In its current case overview, Buckeye Police states that the disappearance remains under investigation and that foul play is not currently suspected.

David Robinson Continues Search for His Son

Daniel’s father, David Robinson, has continued searching for his son and publicly advocating for answers. Five years after the disappearance, FOX 10 Phoenix featured David in a June 23, 2026 report documenting his continued efforts to understand what happened to Daniel.

The passage of time has not ended the family’s search. David has continued working to keep Daniel’s case in the public eye while seeking additional information that could explain what happened after his son left the worksite.

The case has also attracted national attention because of the unusual circumstances surrounding Robinson’s disappearance, the discovery of his damaged Jeep and the fact that he has never been located.

Daniel Robinson Remains Missing

Five years later, there is still no confirmed explanation for what happened to Daniel Robinson after he left the Buckeye worksite.

Buckeye Police continue to ask anyone with information about Robinson’s whereabouts or disappearance to contact investigators. The department’s current missing-person information lists the case as open.

For Daniel’s family, the central question remains unanswered: where is Daniel Robinson, and what happened after he left that Arizona jobsite on June 23, 2021?

Five years later, his father continues to search for answers and remains committed to finding his son.