NV NV - James Ezra, 38, & Nancy Lorraine Robinson, 24, Washoe Valley, 6 March 1982

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Case Classification: Endangered Missing
Missing Since: March 6, 1982
Location Last Seen: Washoe Valley, Nevada


James and Nancy disappeared from Winters Creek Equestrial Ranch in Washoe Valley, Nevada in 1982. The ranch was located on southbound US Highway 395 in Washoe Valley. The couple had been employed at the ranch for several months prior to their disappearances. Their disappearances were discovered during the morning of March 8. A construction worker who had been employed on the ranch arrived to find a broken window and blood on the front steps of the ranch's living quarters. Large pools of blood were discovered inside the Robinson's' residence, along with signs of a struggle. The Robinson's' truck was discovered abandoned with a flat tire on Highway 50, later in the day. Blood was found inside the vehicle as well. Tests conducted in 1982 were unable to determine the blood type.

The Robinson's truck was found abandoned with a flat tire on Highway 50, en route to Lake Tahoe, on March 8. Blood was found in the vehicle, along with some valuables that had been missing from their home.

The main house at the ranch burned down three months before the couple vanished. They disappeared right before they were scheduled to take polygraph tests to determine if they were involved. Arson is the suspected cause of the blaze. No one has been charged with the fire or the couple's disappearances. There has not been any activity on Social Security numbers for either employment or tax filing on either of them.



Doe Network - http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/294dmnv.html

Charley Project - http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/r/robinson_james_ezra.html

 

[Atombudd]

James Ezra Robinson

• 

James, circa 1982

• Missing Since 03/06/1982
• Missing From Washoe Valley, Nevada
• Classification Endangered Missing
• Sex Male
• Race White
• Date of Birth 03/24/1943 (78)
• Age 38 years old
• Height and Weight 6'1, 210 pounds
• Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian male. Brown hair, hazel eyes.

Nancy Lorraine Robinson

• 

Nancy, circa 1982

• Missing Since 03/06/1982
• Missing From Washoe Valley, Nevada
• Classification Endangered Missing
• Sex Female
• Race White
• Date of Birth 06/09/1957 (63)
• Age 24 years old
• Height and Weight 5'6, 135 pounds
• Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian female. Brown hair, brown eyes.

Details of Disappearance
James was a caretaker of Winters Creek Equestrial Ranch in Washoe Valley, Nevada in 1982 along with his wife, Nancy. The ranch was located on southbound U.S. Highway 395 in Washoe Valley. The couple had been employed at the ranch for several months prior to their disappearances and appeared to be happy.

They were last seen on the property on March 6, 1982 by customers who rented horses for the day. The family was unable to take the animals on a full ride, so the Robinsons asked them to return the following morning and complete their trips at no charge.

The customers arrived on March 7 to discover that the property was locked and departed. A construction worker who had been employed on the ranch arrived during the morning of March 8 and noticed a broken window and blood on the front steps of the ranch's living quarters.

Authorities were summoned and large pools of blood were discovered inside the Robinsons' residence, along with signs of a struggle. The home was not in disarray, but several expensive saddles and pieces of jewelry were missing. Other valuables were present, however.

The Robinsons' truck was discovered abandoned with a flat tire on Highway 50, which is en route to Lake Tahoe, later on March 8, 1982. Blood was found inside the vehicle, along with a few of the missing saddles and jewelry pieces. Tests conducted in 1982 were unable to determine the blood type(s) found inside the living quarters and the vehicle.

Guns located inside the residence and the truck had not been fired at the time the Robinsons disappeared. The ranch's owners told authorities that they spoke to the Robinsons via phone on March 6, the night of their disappearances. The owners stated that the couple gave no indication of anything amiss at that time.

The main house at the Winters Creek Equestrial Ranch burned down three months before the couple vanished. Both Nancy and James were scheduled to take polygraphs about the fire, but disappeared before they could meet their appointments. Arson is the suspected cause of the blaze, but no one was charged in connection with the fire or the couple's disappearances.

Neither of the Robinsons have been been seen again. Foul play is suspected in their cases.
James Ezra Robinson – The Charley Project
Nancy Lorraine Robinson – The Charley Project
The Washoe County Sheriffs Office website incorrectly states Nancy was last seen May 9, 1983. Missing Persons

I really thought I would find some articles or media since a couple that were caretakers went missing together and considering the blood in the house and truck but I came up empty.

 

[CastlesBurning]

Bumping for James and Nancy - it's now been over 39 years.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Does anyone have a theory on this case?
You could really come up with a lot of questions.

- Why were they suspected of starting the fire; what would have been their motive? For how many months did they work there before the fire?
- Who was disgruntled with them (any "enemies?")
- Did LE ever have a POI?
-Did LE do a grid search near their abandoned vehicle?
- What do their relatives think happened to them?
- What do the then-owners of the ranch think happened?

I wonder what old case files about this case would reveal...

 

[YaYa_521]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
NamUs #MP29479
Nancy Lorraine Robinson
Date of Last Contact March 6, 1982
NamUs Case Created July 16, 2015
Missing From Washoe Valley, Nevada
Missing Age 24 Years
Height 5' 6" (66 Inches)
Weight 135 lbs
Race/Ethnicity White / Caucasian
Hair Color Brown
Eye Color Brown

Circumstances of Disappearance - Nancy L. Robinson was last seen on March 6, 1982.

 

[annpats]

It's a long time for no social security or tax returns. Can you work for cash for nearly 40 years?

If whoever blamed them for starting the main ranch fire had people abduct and kill them, then that person would had to have driven them in their own vehicle.

But when that broke down with a flat tire, if someone stopped to help, the fact that one or more people were covered in blood would have looked hinky.

I hope LE searched the land/woods/mountains/lakes nearby for clues back then.

My other potential theory is James assaulted, abducted and killed Nancy and he was the one who drive the truck. No-one else was involved.

MOO.

 

[heartanium]

December 11, 2000, The Reno Gazette-Journal, pg 12

 

[heartanium]

Submitted James into Namus but couldn't find an agency case number for the Washoe County sheriff's office.

 

[spartanx]

I have the impression that the day before they disappeared, some unforeseen visitor or a debt collector arrived and apart from the fact that perhaps he kept the money that the Robinsons had, he gave them a lesson...probably they were shot inside their house, being unprepared, they were ambushed...what I do not understand is why they found their truck on a lonely road with a flat tire...I don't think they escaped wounded or shot or it could also be that the murderer wanted to mislead by leaving it there...
either way
rest in peace

 

[John/Jane Doe]

James Ezra Robinson – The Charley Project

Nancy Lorraine Robinson – The Charley Project