Robert Spurlock was 19 and newly assigned to Schofield Barracks, Wheeler Army Air Field, when he vanished in late 1981. After basic training he spent two weeks with family, flew to Hawaii in November, and on November 28 called home sounding troubled and asked to speak with his mother. His stepfather advised him to see the Army chaplain; that was the last family contact.

On December 2, 1981, Robert was last seen at about 6:30 a.m. at the airfield wearing a brown checkered button-up shirt, blue jeans and Nike athletic shoes, carrying a camera. The next day his captain told his mother he was absent without leave; the family was initially told his possessions were missing, then later told they had been found in his quarters. The mother says no formal missing person report was filed with civilian or military authorities until eight months later.

Leads have been sparse and uncorroborated. In 1983 someone reported Robert’s Social Security number had been used in Akron, Ohio. In 2000 a tip said he may have been seen in Hawaii soon after his disappearance dressed as a Hare Krishna devotee. Robert was described as quiet, introverted and religious, with blond hair, blue eyes and noticeable freckles.

Did anyone who served at Schofield Barracks in late 1981 or knew Robert reach out with information about his movements or about the tips linking him to Ohio or the Hare Krishna community?