Robert Wiles: Missing since April 1, 2008

[MissKitty11]

[size=12pt]Orlando Leads Checked After Ransom Note Sent To Family[/size]

POLK COUNTY, Fla. -- FBI agents are investigating leads in Orlando and Brevard County in the disappearance of a Polk County man after his family received a ransom note, according to reports.

Robert Wiles, 26, was last seen at his job at National Flight Services at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport on April 1, according to a FBI representative.

FBI agents said the family received a ransom note.

They complied with the note's demands, but no one has seen Robert Wiles since.

They are offering a $10,000 reward for tips, and pleaded Friday with the kidnappers to contact them again.

Tom and Pamela Wiles choked back tears during a Friday news conference in Tampa, saying their son is a pilot, diver and businessman.

The investigation has generated leads in several cities, including Lakeland, Miami, Key West and Tampa. The search has also led detectives to Ohio, Tennessee, Kentucky and Thailand, the newspaper reported.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this developing story.

http://www.local6.com/news/15995391/detail.html

I think this is his myspace, although it's private. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid =13301896
I just saw this story on the news and the picture they showed looks like him in the default pic. on his myspace. His place of residence also matches up and his last log-in is 3/28...a couple days before he disappeared.

[merdeath]

TAMPA, Florida (CNN) -- Growing more anxious with each passing day, the parents of a suspected kidnap victim in Florida are increasing the reward for their son's return from $10,000 to $250,000.

Robert Wiles, 26, was last seen April 1 and is believed to be kidnapped.

"We want him back. We love him. We miss him," Thomas Wiles said of his son, weeping.

Robert Wiles, 26, of Lakeland, Florida, disappeared April 1. He was last seen at National Flight Services at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, where he worked for his family's flight maintenance company as a business development manager.

Two days later, his father received a ransom note demanding money. The FBI won't say how much, nor will it release the name on the note because it doesn't want to spark copycats. The bureau only describes the name as unique and specific.

"It threatened Robert with harm if the terms were not complied with exactly as they say," said Thomas Wiles. "I think when I first looked at it, I felt it wasn't for real, but then subsequently I realized it was for real, and I'd best comply with the terms."  Watch the distraught parents express their concern »

The FBI will say only that the family tried to follow instructions but heard nothing more -- and that the case is unusual.

"These types of kidnappings [of adults for ransom] are extremely rare," said Steve Ibison, Tampa FBI special agent in charge. He said he had no statistics.

"We have some individuals of interest, we'll call them at this point, that we are aggressively pursuing," Ibison added.

Don't Miss
FBI investigates possible kidnapping for ransom
The FBI is tracking leads in several states and outside the U.S., Ibison said.

By offering $50,000 for their son's safe return and another $200,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible, Wiles' parents said they're hoping to spark leads.

"We're willing to work with them and do anything to get him back. We just want Robert back," Thomas Wiles said.

The Wiles own plane-maintenance companies in Ohio, Florida, Texas, Missouri and Canada.

Robert Wiles is a pilot who sometimes would fly a company plane to meetings throughout the U.S. and Caribbean.

Co-workers at the Florida airport facility said they're baffled by the kidnapping. They said they can't think of a reason for kidnapping the young man.

"It's very, very upsetting to myself and other staffers here," said Chad Mountcastle. "We want Robert to get back to work and be safe."

Co-worker Gerry Grieff said, "Robert didn't make enemies. I don't know of any enemies he made in the business."

His mother, Pam Wiles, said there is "no way" her son was involved in anything illegal.

His friends and family said Wiles wouldn't simply run away. They also said Wiles, who is not married, would never abandon his family.

The FBI offered a message to those who might be holding Wiles.

"They should come forward because the idea is to bring Robert back home safely," Ibison said. "It's gonna be a lot better on whoever is involved if he comes back safely and soon."

Wiles' father put it simply: "Please let him loose."

http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/05/01/florida.kidnapping/index.html

[odonata_68]

This case seems really strange, who would kidnap a grown man?  Seems like there are a lot of other people with some serious cash that would be more worthwhile to hold for ransom.  Has to be someone who has it out for the family.

[Hayalet]

Abducted Son Still Missing Weeks After Ransom Paid

April 28, 2008
The FBI is investigating the alleged kidnapping for ransom of a 26-year-old Florida private pilot who has been missing since April 1, a spokesman.

The bureau identified the man as Robert Arthur Wiles of Lakeland, Florida. He runs his family's aircraft maintenance business, National Flight Services, at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport.

Wiles' parents suspected something was wrong when they couldn't reach their son, whom they had visited a few days before he was reported missing, said Dave Couvertier, spokesman for the FBI in Tampa, Florida.

"They were sent a ransom note," he said. "A threat was made. His parents were told to follow directions, but they heard nothing back."

The bureau won't elaborate on exactly what the note said or how much money was demanded -- only that the note was signed in a "unique" way, Couvertier said. It is not clear why Wiles would have been targeted, he said.

Agents believe that revealing specifics might compromise the investigation, he said.

Couvertier said that although the bureau has no evidence to indicate that the kidnapping could have been staged, "we're exploring every lead, every possibility." But, he added, "We're treating this as the real thing."

Investigators won't explain why they waited so long to go public with the case except to say the parents hope that talking about it now might generate new leads, he said.

the complete article-
http://ktla.trb.com/news/ktla-ransom,0,3083073.story

[Eternally Solo]

[size=12pt]FBI closing in on suspect in case of pilot thought kidnapped - http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/02/26/fla.missing.pilot/index.html

updated 9:38 p.m. EST, Thu February 26, 2009 | From Susan Candiotti CNN National Correspondent


(CNN) -- After almost 10 months, the FBI has zeroed in on a suspect in the case of missing Florida pilot Robert Wiles, who may have been kidnapped for ransom.

"We're close to solving the case," said FBI special agent David Couvertier. He would not elaborate.

Agents also would not identify the suspect, and they said the person is not in custody. Investigators would only reveal that the "key suspect" is in Florida, either in Orlando, Lakeland or Melbourne.

"They're holding that back in hopes of getting additional information," said Couvertier.

The FBI says it's also looking at several persons of interest in those same three Florida cities.

Wiles, 27, was last seen in the family's aircraft maintenance business, National Flight Services, at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport on April 1, 2008.

The day Wiles disappeared, he left behind his bags, his computer, and even his car. His father says the next day, Wiles was supposed to be on a flight out of Orlando. He never showed up.

Two days after he vanished, Wiles' father, Thomas, received a ransom note. It demanded money and threatened to harm Robert Wiles if the terms weren't met.

Wiles' parents said they tried to comply but heard nothing back.

Nearly a year later, the FBI says their investigation shows that those involved "were very familiar with Robert's work, Robert's personal information and had knowledge of his parent's personal affairs."

Agents say they've tracked down leads in nine U.S. cities and as far away as Thailand where National Flight Services also does business. The Ohio-based company services aircraft in 50 countries and has been in business since 1972.

Investigators are reaching out to the public in hopes of sparking any additional information about Wiles to "close the loop," Couvertier said.

Investigators want to talk with "people who knew about his work routine, who might know someone who was obsessed with him, who was upset or jealous of him, or complained about him, anything that might be helpful," said Couvertier.

Wiles' parents told CNN they hope their son Robert is still alive.

"That is our hope until proven otherwise, ' said his mother, Pamela. "We don't know what happened to him. We don't know where he is. We just hope somebody will call and tell us what their needs are," she added.

"Sometimes, I stay up late and get up early and try to come up with any scenarios to make sense of this," said Wiles' father.

"I have my very low moments when I think I'll never see him again, " he added.

Occasionally, Wiles' mother says she plays back a voicemail message her son left her shortly before he disappeared. It said "Hey, mom. It's Robert. I just wanted to call and thank you for sending that stuff down to me. And I hope you have a good weekend, ... and I'll talk to you later."

"I still listen to it, and it breaks my heart," said Pamela Wiles.

The Wiles are still offering a $250,000 reward for information about their son and arrest of those responsible for his disappearance.

"But Tom and I don't think you can put a dollar on his head," said Pamela Wiles. "We want to provide them with security and a new life, if that's what they need," she added.

His father doesn't think whoever is responsible is working alone. He says his son is too strong to have left willingly or without knowing who his alleged captors are.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the FBI.

Wiles' parents have a message for the FBI's unidentified suspect.

"I would say to him 'come forward and tell the truth and we hold no personal animosity,'" said Pamela Wiles.

"Someone made a bad mistake. It's up to God to forgive him."

[Hayalet]

Lakeland, Dec 21 (THAINDIAN NEWS) The investigators have said that they have arrested one person named Stobert Lindell Holt, in the case of the missing pilot Robert Wiles. The twenty-six year old Robert was kidnapped in 2008 when he was on work at the National Flight Service in Lakeland.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation said that the forty-two year old Stobert Lindell Holt was arrested on Friday afternoon at the Orlando International Airport and charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, extortion and for making written threats to kill or do bodily harm. “It’s a sense of accomplishment for the investigators, I’m sure,” said FBI Tampa spokesman David Couvertier. “On the other side, it’s a sad reality.”

David also said the investigators were waiting for Stobert Lindell Holt to return back from a business trip to Columbia. A Polk County grand jury indicted him this week.

The FBI said that while Robert Wiles’ body has not been yet found, though an investigation has revealed he was killed. “Mr. Holt was responsible for that disappearance,” Couvertier said.” At this point, Robert is determined to be deceased.”

Stobert Holt was employed as the Lakeland NFS operations manager and lived in Apollo Beach at the time of Robert Wiles’ disappearance. And after his disappearance his family got a ransom note, after 2 days. Even though the family agreed to the ransom demands, yet they did not hear from either the kidnappers nor from Robert Wiles.

More at : One arrested in the kidnapped pilot Robert Wiles case http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world/one-arrested-in-the-kidnapped-pilot-robert-wiles-case_100292783.html#ixzz0dvCQdvi5





Robert Wiles was kidnapped from his office at the Lakeland Airport in April 2008.

His parents received a ransom note.  They followed the demands, but have not heard from their son since.

Just last month, FBI agents arrested Stobert Holt.  Holt is a former co-worker of Wiles.

Documents released Tuesday night to News 13 indicate that within the first two weeks of the FBI's investigation into the disappearance of Wiles, 26, agents seemed to be focusing their investigation around a different suspect.

Less than 100 pages of information were released Tuesday.  The documents summarize FBI agents meetings with friends and co-workers of Wiles within the first two weeks after his disappearance.
   
A key focus of FBI agents is a former employee who was fired from Wiles' company.
   
News 13 will not release the name of the former employee because he hasn’t been charged in connection with the case.

However, employees described the man as a "drunken low-life."  One even said he's the only person they think would harm Wiles.
   
According to the FBI, even the suspect's wife was told by Holt “that the only person who may have something to do with Wiles’ disappearance was a former employee."

Holt's wife described Holt's relationship with Wiles as "rocky."     
   
Fellow employees at Wiles' workplace had plenty to say about Holt, who held a management position with the company.
   
They characterized Holt as a “self-proclaimed playboy that often talked openly about extramarital trysts."

From very early on, the FBI agents in this case said they were likely looking for someone with a grudge against Wiles or his family.
   
According to the FBI, one employee stated several other employees were upset with Wiles. They say "Wiles is the owner's son and was placed in a position he was not ready for."

There’s still no evidence that was made public that would show why the FBI believes Holt was behind the alleged kidnapping and murder of Wiles, but the State Attorney's Office says more documents should be coming soon.

Holt has been in jail since he was indicted in mid-December.  Jail officials say he's only had six to seven scheduled visitations.  His only visitor has been his wife.

http://cfnews13.com/News/Local/2010/1/19/did_drunken_lowlife_harm_missing_lakeland_pilot.ht ml

[Aznii]

http://www.theledger.com/article/20100212/NEWS/2125056/1410?Title=Bail-Set-for-Toby-Holt-in-Complex-Murder-Kidnapping-of-Robert-Wiles

Bail Set for Toby Holt in Complex Murder, Kidnapping of Robert Wiles


Stobert "Toby" Holt in court for a bond hearing in Bartow, Fl on Friday February 12, 2010.
SCOTT WHEELER | THE LEDGER

By Jason Geary
THE LEDGER

Published: Friday, February 12, 2010 at 10:38 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, February 12, 2010 at 10:38 p.m.

BARTOW | Stobert "Toby" Holt, accused of being behind a complex murder and kidnapping plot, must post $300,000 bail if he wishes to get out of the Polk County Jail.

Prosecutors say Holt killed his co-worker, Robert Arthur Wiles, a Lakeland man missing since 2008.

Circuit Judge J. Michael Hunter made the decision to set bail for Holt after a daylong hearing Friday.

He described the evidence presented against Holt as being an "extremely strong circumstantial case."

Assistant State Attorney Cass Castillo urged Hunter to deny Holt's request for bail.

But the judge said he could only deny bail if the evidence against Holt showed the "proof of guilt is evident and presumption is great" - a standard even higher than the "beyond a reasonable doubt" necessary to convict a person of a crime.

Holt's lawyer, Howardene Garrett, an assistant public defender, said her client has no criminal history and is willing to relocate to Polk County so he could be supervised until his trial.

Other conditions of Holt's release would include that he wear a monitoring device on his ankle, surrender his passport and firearms, and not leave his home except for employment, attending medical appointments and consulting with his lawyers.

Castillo requested that if Holt can post bail that a hearing be held first to determine the source of the money.

Holt, 42, of Cocoa Beach, faces charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, extortion and writing threats to kill or do bodily harm.

James Bucenell, an agent with the FBI, spent most of the day using a multimedia slide show to outline evidence against Holt.

Investigators first had to prove that Wiles - a clean-cut, sociable man who loved boating, fishing and flying - is dead.

Since his disappearance, Wiles' financial records show no sign of activity. He was close to family and friends, but hasn't contacted any of them. He didn't take any of his personal items, including his passport.

Wiles was 26 when he disappeared April 1, 2008. He had been working at his family's aircraft maintenance business, National Flight Services, at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport.

At the time, Holt, employed by NFS as the company's operation manager, was the last person to have reported seeing him alive, about 6 or 6:30 p.m.

Holt claimed that after work he went to Hooters on South Florida Avenue and drank some beer. But investigators say Holt can't be seen entering or exiting on surveillance footage from the restaurant.

Holt claimed he drove near two other establishments to see whether there were any women around, but there weren't so he ate dinner at an Outback Steakhouse. Holt said he paid for his meal with a credit card, but no financial record confirms this.

Phone records indicate Holt called Home Depot on South Florida Avenue shortly before the store closed at 9 p.m.

Prosecutors suggested Holt called the store to see whether it was still open so he could pick up some items to dispose of a body: a box of plastic sheeting and two rolls of duct tape. A receipt showing cash was paid for these items at 8:54 p.m. was found in the store's records, but no surveillance footage existed to show Holt was the one who paid for it.

An e-mail demanding $750,000 and signed by "Group X" was sent to Wiles' father, Tom, on April 2, 2008, using Robert Wiles' cellular phone. The money was to be put in a package and placed inside Robert Wiles' office inside the NFS building at the airport. Holt's office was right next door.

Investigators thought this was an odd choice for a drop location, considering that the building was secure - complete with an alarm system.

But no one ever picked up the money.

Telephone records are a critical part of the case.

Holt told investigators that he went to see one of his mistresses on the evening of April 3, 2008.

Robert Wiles' phone was being used on that evening. Whoever was using the phone was checking its voicemail and trying to contact Robert Wiles' father.

Records showed that Holt's cell phone and Robert Wiles' cell phone were using cell towers on a nearly identical path.

Surveillance video captured Holt's car passing through toll stations, and his SunPass transponder provided other useful data for comparison.

In one piece of footage, Holt's hand is near his ear as if he is using a cellular phone.

But records show Holt's phone wasn't being used at that time. However, Robert Wiles' phone was being used.

During an interview after the disappearance, Holt denied having or using Robert Wiles' cell phone or knowing what happened to him.

He told investigators he didn't have any weapons in his 2002 BMW convertible.

But investigators found a .40-caliber Sig Sauer handgun under the hood of his car. Investigators did not seize the firearm at the interview April 11, 2008. They later found evidence suggesting Holt might have taken steps to change the characteristics of the gun's barrel.

A receipt was discovered at a Tampa gun store showing Holt spent $200 in cash for a replacement barrel for the pistol, which he picked up April 25, 2008.

[ Jason Geary can be reached at jason.geary@theledger.com or 863-802-7536. ]




Judge J. Michael Hunter watches a presentation during a bail hearing for Stobert "Toby" Holt in court in Bartow on Friday.
SCOTT WHEELER | THE LEDGER


Assistant State Attorney Cass Castillo listens as FBI Special Agent Jimmt Buceneli changes screens on a presentation at a bail hearing for Stobert "Toby" Holt in Bartow on Friday.
SCOTT WHEELER | THE LEDGER


Judge J. Michael Hunter listens as public defender Howardene Garrett asks questions of Tom Wiles at a hearing for Stobert "Toby" Holt.
SCOTT WHEELER | THE LEDGER
[hr]
http://blinkoncrime.com/2010/02/12/r...cloud-reserve/

Posted by Blink | Kidnapping, Murdered, Robert Wiles, Toby Holt | Friday 12 February 2010 12:01 pm

Melbourne, FL– Exactly two days after prosecutors released files in the case against former Wiles employee, Stobert  “Toby” Holt, unidentified remains have been found off Crabtree Road in the St. Cloud Wildlife Preserve in Melbourne, Fl, Osceola County. Mr. Holt was also scheduled for a bail hearing today.

robert-wiles

The completely skeletonized body was recovered and taken to the medical examiners office yesterday.

Although the remains have not been identified officially, a source inside the investigation speaking to blinkoncrime.com has confirmed there was a search team in place with cadaver k9’s, based on information provided by an individual.

Robert Wiles, a multi-instrument rated pilot worked in his families Aviation business out of the Lakeland Linder Airport is believed to have been kidnapped on April 1st, 2008.

A ransome note was received from Robert’s own cell phone on April 3rd, 2008 by Robert’s Father Tom. FBI cell phone ping reports that both Holt and Robert’s cell phones were in the same location at the time.

It demanded $750K, for Robert’s safe return;  The exact dollar figure his Father purchased for kidnap insurance in 2006, which Holt was aware of.

Stobert “Toby” Holt was arrested at the Orlando airport following a business trip in Columbia on December 19, 2009 after an indictment was returned by the grand jury.

Read the incident report and FBI reports Here.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/26689796/S...nd-FBI-Records

[hr]

This is such a sad outcome but being that the kidnapper was known to the victim then I guess it is no surprise. I am still looking for an official confirmation that the remains were those of Robert Wiles.

[Olivia]

Robert Wiles, 26, is the heir-apparent at his father's business, National Flight Service, an Ohio-based company servicing privately owned aircraft.

"Robert was a very level-headed young man who seemed to be very much in tune to the future," said former deputy Florida state's attorney Cass Castillo.

But Robert prefers working at the company's Lakeland, Florida branch, where the sun always shines and the fishing is good.

"The father, Tom Wiles, wanted him to know the business from the ground up, so he was there in the sales position and trying to understand and to prepare himself for it," said Castillo.

But prosecutor Cass Castillo, who's handled this case from the beginning, says there is some friction in Florida.

"He did not have a lot of business experience," said Castillo. "So you had these different camps within the employees, and that created a level of friction between them and Robert."

And Robert's father back in Ohio, CEO Tom Wiles, has other problems to deal with in Lakeland: Namely, his top mechanic, Steve Lindsey.

"I think that Tom Wiles said that he was one of the best mechanics he's ever had work for him," said Castillo.

But Castillo says Tom Wiles fired Steve Lindsey for being intoxicated at work. Now Lindsey wants his job back.

"Steve Lindsey became very aggravating and agitated with Mr. Wiles and at some point even threatened him and made some rather overt threats toward Tom Wiles," said Castillo.

About a month later, a bombshell email arrives that will change the lives of the Wiles family forever. It's a ransom note from someone calling themselves "Group X."

"'We have Robert,'" said Castillo, quoting the note. "'If you hope to see him alive again, you must follow our instructions without deviation. Obtain an item of luggage of the appropriate size and place in it $750,000 in small unmarked untraceable bills. You should instruct someone that you trust to place the box unopened in your son's office. Remember we are watching everything. And if you think you can outsmart us, it will cost your son his life. Signed, Group X.'"
Robert Wiles had been scheduled to fly to Dallas for a trade show only days earlier. Now his family discovers that he never got on the plane, and has in fact disappeared.

"Tom Wiles immediately calls the FBI in Toledo," said Castillo.

And Tom Wiles says he will pay the ransom. FBI agents plan to leave the package in Robert's office per the demand.

"They were also very suspicious that it was bogus because of the instructions they were given and the location of where the money was going to be placed," said Castillo. "It wasn't the type of environment that gave very many options of escape."

But instead of $750,000 cash, they fill a box with coffee equal to the weight of the bills and place it on the desk in view of hidden cameras in the room. And at a nearby location they have a SWAT team ready to move at a moment's notice.

Tom Wiles also enlists his most trusted employee, Lakeland operations manager Toby Holt, to help out with the plan.

"Toby was absolutely aware of everything that was going on, as a matter of fact was helping the FBI by changing the tapes in there when he would come in in the morning."

But the box in Robert's office is never picked up. Still, the FBI keeps up the search for Robert, and they talk to his co-workers, including former employee Steve Lindsey, but with no luck, and no suspect.

The FBI determines that ransom note was sent from Robert's cellphone, which makes sense because anybody who has him would not use their own device, in order to avoid being traced.

But there's one thing the kidnappers didn't count on: The movement of Robert's phone can be traced through cellphone towers whenever it is switched on.

"As we tracked Robert's phone, we saw the path that it took," said Castillo. "Robert's phone got on the Polk Parkway, which is a toll road, which has a booth. We knew the time that the call was made and we know the time that it went through the booth."

And then, pay dirt. The agents identify a car carrying Robert's phone going through that booth two days after he goes missing. It belongs to someone who works at National Flight Service in Lakeland.

But it is not the disgruntled mechanic Steve Lindsey. The Wiles are shocked. It's someone they never would have suspected -- one of their most trusted employees: Toby Holt.

"You see Toby Holt holding a phone to his ear as he's driving through the toll booth," said Castillo.

Stunned agents now check the records for Toby's personal phone.

"When they start looking at Toby Holt's phone they realize that the phones are traveling together everywhere," said Castillo. "Many of the calls that were being generated were Toby Holt accessing Robert Wiles' voicemail."

Now agents dig into the past work relationship between Robert and Toby. And after talking to other employees, what they find is pure poison.

"Robert was very exasperated with his dealings with Toby and was just saying 'I can't take this much longer, he won't give me a chance, he won't listen to any of my ideas,'" said Castillo.

Investigators also learn that Toby was the last one in the building alone with Robert on the night he disappeared.

"We knew Robert was still there because of the emails that were being made, so we knew Robert was still at the facility, and Toby was there with him alone," said Castillo.

And Toby's phone also shows that he made a call that night to a nearby Home Depot only minutes before it closed. Shortly after that someone paid cash at the store for a hundred yards of plastic sheeting and two rolls of duct tape.

Investigators could not recover surveillance footage at the store because it had already been taped over. But they did track Toby's phone leaving the Home Depot right after it closed.

The FBI says there is a window of about three hours where they cannot account for Toby's whereabouts that night. He later says he went to a bar and restaurant and paid cash. But there are no receipts or witnesses at those places. And Castillo says that Holt, a married man, rarely pays with cash.

"During one of the nights he was going to go see a girlfriend he charged seven dollars of condoms at a drug store," said Castillo. "He charged everything. So for him not to be charging his dinner, that was out of character."

FBI agents arrest Toby Holt and charge him with kidnapping, extortion and murder.

It's one heck of a tough job for prosecutor Cass Castillo.

"There's really no evidence in the case about what happened to Robert Wiles," said Castillo. "It was indeed almost the perfect crime."


https://crimewatchdaily.com/2017/06/...-robert-wiles/