CA CA - Robin Graham, 18, Los Angeles, 14 Nov 1970

[Szabo]

I assume the off-ramp was not that far from a pay phone and she walked to make the call to her parents to tell them she had run out of gas. I do not see anything about the parents having arrived to her destination to help her. I wonder how long after they got the call that they did arrive and discovered she was gone? An off-ramp on a highway is usually very busy and assuming this took place during the day, I wonder how nobody witnessed her getting into this guy's car. Would she go willingly with him even knowing her parents were on their way and after she had already turned down the highway patrol officer for help? If it wasn't willingly and he forced her, it would seem almost impossible that the scene was not witnessed by at least one passerby.

Robin placed the call home to her parents at 02.04 a.m and her father arrived at the scene around 02.30 a.m, by which time Robin had already disappeared. The CHP officers drove past her a few times to keep an eye on her and after one such trip pushed her car farther up the shoulder as it was slightly into the No. 4 lane.

All of this information was taken from a newspaper story regarding Robin's disappearance titled "Why Missing Coed Was Left on Freeway."

I've often theorized that whoever took Robin may have pretended to be a cop (on or off-duty) who promised to either take her home or perhaps to the station where it'd be warmer and safer for her.

 

[STANDREID]

I see that CharleyNet says the Corvette was 57-60 but DoeNet says 58-60. The latter would make more sense because 58-60 had 4 headlights and looked very much alike, however the 57 only had 2 headlights. A 57 looked a lot more like a 56 than a 58. All 5 years had a similar tail so if the car was only viewed from the rear, maybe the investigation should include Corvettes 56-60. The 58-62 had a similar front end so if the car was only seen from the front then maybe that's the span that should be looked at.

 

[SMartian]

Robin placed the call home to her parents at 02.04 a.m and her father arrived at the scene around 02.30 a.m, by which time Robin had already disappeared. The CHP officers drove past her a few times to keep an eye on her and after one such trip pushed her car farther up the shoulder as it was slightly into the No. 4 lane.

All of this information was taken from a newspaper story regarding Robin's disappearance titled "Why Missing Coed Was Left on Freeway."

I've often theorized that whoever took Robin may have pretended to be a cop (on or off-duty) who promised to either take her home or perhaps to the station where it'd be warmer and safer for her.

Well the time of night does make quite a difference in how busy the highway was. This guy must have been a smooth talker if we are to believe she willingly went with him and her having already turned down the help of the highway patrol (who happened to be in official uniform, driving a patrol car) and knowing her parents were to arrive at any minute. I am more inclined to think that the guy pulled a weapon on her and demanded she get into his car after he made sure there was nobody around. This could have taken just seconds and seems more likely since if she went willingly with him, how would she get word to her dad where she was?

 

[Szabo]

The only help the highway patrol offered Robin that night was to either call a tow truck which Robin didn't want to do, or be directed to a phone, which is what she did do. The third option which was meant to be offered but wasn't was to drive Robin somewhere to get some gas but it would've meant Robin would have had to walk back to her car by herself.

You also have to remember when Robin originally phoned home her parents were out, so she left a message with her sister for her parents to pick her up.

 

[dogperson]

Maybe she knew the person in the Corvette and felt safe with him? Or had seen him around someplace and thought he was ok? Since her parents were out when she called, maybe she thought this guy could get her home before they even got the message to pick her up.

I wonder where her parents were at 2am in the morning? Of course, I'm coming from a family who thought being out past 10pm was being out "in the middle of the night" haha.

Having such a distinctive car, I wonder if the guy hurriedly painted it or traded it in after the abduction.

 

[amber1]

There are also many other girls who authorities think may have been taken by the same person who took Robin. There names are listed with links on Robin's Charley Project page. There was a lot of crimes during that time and area in California where perps targeted vulnerable women with car trouble or who were hitch hiking. I've always wondered if any of them were connected. I also have believed these girls didn't personally know who took them, most likely a serial killer on the lose. The question of if Robin was a victim of the Zodiac Killer is also up in the air, but I've disagreed with that theory. Still, who knows.

 

[Markybug]

Well the time of night does make quite a difference in how busy the highway was. This guy must have been a smooth talker if we are to believe she willingly went with him and her having already turned down the help of the highway patrol (who happened to be in official uniform, driving a patrol car) and knowing her parents were to arrive at any minute. I am more inclined to think that the guy pulled a weapon on her and demanded she get into his car after he made sure there was nobody around. This could have taken just seconds and seems more likely since if she went willingly with him, how would she get word to her dad where she was?

Yes this does seem strange , knowing your dad is coming out at that hour , why would you leave with someone else?

Was the breakdown near her house? Maybe she thought she could be ran home before the message was passed from her sister to her dad and her dad could take her back for the car?

Nothing suspicious re robins car trouble? Ie tampered with or drained of petrol etc?

Mark

 

[Szabo]

The reason why I hypothesized Robin was taken by someone impersonating to be law enforcement is because shortly after her disappearance Robin's parents were contacted by a young woman who had found herself in a similar position to Robin, where she claims she had been approached by a man claiming to be an officer, but she refused his help, and so he drove off.

According to old articles Robin resided at 2227 Lemoyne Street, LA. I don't know if newspapers would get away disclosing such infomation today.

 

[Markybug]

The reason why I hypothesized Robin was taken by someone impersonating to be law enforcement is because shortly after her disappearance Robin's parents were contacted by a young woman who had found herself in a similar position to Robin, where she claims she had been approached by a man claiming to be an officer, but she refused his help, and so he drove off.

I recall reading something about that , did the police not have a name/suspect for that incident?


Mark.

 

[STANDREID]

I wonder where her parents were at 2am in the morning? Of course, I'm coming from a family who thought being out past 10pm was being out "in the middle of the night" haha.

If you're a clubber around here, you're not cool if you go out before 11:30 PM (even on weeknights) but I can't see a middle-aged married couple being in that circle. Anything is possible though.

 

[Szabo]

I recall reading something about that , did the police not have a name/suspect for that incident?

Not that I can remember reading.

Edit: it seems the woman identified the man as Bruce Davis according to http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/g/graham_robin.html

 

[Markybug]

Is it correct that the corvette driver got robin's car started but she left in his anyhow?? Also the name Bruce Davis comes up and he drove a vette but I can't find its age.

Mark.

 

[scriptgirl]

I have a bad feeling, Robin is buried somewhere in remote part of the hollywood hills.

 

[Markybug]

Bump for robin. Out there somewhere , patiently waiting to be found :-/

 

[scriptgirl]

I am so obsessed with this case. Where is she? Have the police ever reopened it?

 

[Markybug]

I am so obsessed with this case. Where is she? Have the police ever reopened it?

Me too. First cold case that i started following.

 

[STANDREID]

The main thing that draws me to this case is that, unlike a large percentage of cases where 18 year olds vanish, there is almost no chance that this disappearance was voluntary.

 

[scriptgirl]

Absolutely not. I am so shocked it is not more widely known. Does she have any living family at all?

 

[Lavender Moon]

Absolutely not. I am so shocked it is not more widely known. Does she have any living family at all?

In 2005, Robin's sister posted three times on the first page of this thread. Apparently her parents were living at that time because another poster named Howard stated that he/she knew Robin's parents. Hope this helps.
I too am intrigued by this case.

 

[Markybug]

What was the car robin was driving ? I'm sure i read it was a ex- black and white cop car?? Don't know if any relevance.