WI WI - Robert Christian, 18, Madison, 16 Sept 1977

[Keiri]

Many car jacks are slow to use, and if the land was uneven they don't work well.
My guess is they used a lever of some sort. I don't know what may have been around, but a large block or stack of blocks and a lever like a longer sturdy board could work pretty well.

My husband said he can think of at least three ways to remove a tire without a jack and all of them suck to do. I wonder if the jack didn't come with the car or if it was a weapon.

 

[Keiri]

One last thing… I now think the tire thieves were the killers.
this thief was able to remove four tires and smoke a small box of cigars, leaving just the ashes, and not get caught. Kinda leisurely for someone not knowing when the owner was coming back.

 

[Keiri]

8 hours ago Sauk law enforcement posted an amazing set of photos I had never seen before and a summary of the case. As you guys know I’m kinda obsessed with this case and had contacted law enforcement about testing the evidence in storage. I emailed a few times with LE. I’m really hoping this leads to a solution. This post was like another Christmas present to me, but hopefully that isn’t in bad taste to say.

Those of you who are familiar with it, note they left the back plate on but there is a spot for the front plate which they theoretically took. But why? And this shows how the Christians found it, all four wheels gone and on the ground.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1020201770150030&id=100064806485501 here’s the link to the post

Text here too explaining the case. Look closely at the picture with Mr. Christian and the others looking at the car. What’s the round thing to the left over the car? [edit: figured it out. It’s a hole punch]

 

[Valiant]

From that picture you can see why they didn't use the factory jack for the car. it would have just sunk into the ground rather than raising the car.
It is possible that a front plate was not always used by Wisconsin back then. Some vintage license plate dealers sell pairs (front and back) while others are only selling the rear plate.

 

[dotr]

Jan 7 2025

Sauk County Sheriff's Office seeks new tips on 1977 cold case

SAUK COUNTY, Wis. (WKOW) -- The Sauk County Sheriff's Office is seeking new tips as it reexamines the 1977 disappearance of Robert Christian.

www.wkow.com

''On September 16, 1977, Christian left his home in Madison and went to the Baraboo area to meet a friend to bow hunt, according to the Sheriff's Office. When he didn't show up at his friend's house, relatives started searching for him.''

Christian's car, a 1977 AMC Hornet, was found abandoned at a radio tower site with its wheels and battery missing. Authorities say the car was unlocked and most of his hunting gear and personal belongings were gone.''
''You can learn more about the case by CLICKING HERE.''

 

[Quoththeraven]

The Sauk County Sheriff's Office says a witness came forward and said that on the night Christian disappeared, she was visiting a friend near Durward's Glen Retreat Center and encountered a car in her friend's driveway. The car matched the description of the AMC Hornet and had the same license plate.

Christian's car, a 1977 AMC Hornet, was found abandoned at a radio tower site with its wheels and battery missing. Authorities say the car was unlocked and most of his hunting gear and personal belongings were gone.

Durward's Glen Retreat Center W11876 McLeisch Rd, Baraboo, WI or the radio tower should be changed to the last place he went missing from. If he left his vehicle on foot then he may have had car problems.

The Sheriff’s Department brought in a bloodhound that followed Robert’s trail a short distance from where he car was found, then lost the scent at Tower Road.

Robert Louis Christian

Louis ChristianMissing since September 16, 1977 from Madison, WisconsinClassification: MissingVital Statistics * Age at Time of Disappearance: 18 years old * Distinguishin…

justicebeserved.wordpress.com

 

[Keiri]

Durward's Glen Retreat Center W11876 McLeisch Rd, Baraboo, WI or the radio tower should be changed to the last place he went missing from. If he left his vehicle on foot then he may have had car problems.

Robert Louis Christian

Louis ChristianMissing since September 16, 1977 from Madison, WisconsinClassification: MissingVital Statistics * Age at Time of Disappearance: 18 years old * Distinguishin…

justicebeserved.wordpress.com

It's never been verified it was him at Durward's glen. And nobody saw him at the radio tower except the possible killers.

 

[Quoththeraven]

I'm not suggesting that any of these unsolved cases are connected, other than they occured in the same general area, but, there's always the possibility.

James Yoblonski, a 13-year-old boy from Sauk County, Wisconsin, has been missing since Monday, June 12, 2023. His vehicle was found on Highway 12, near Devil's Lake State Park, just north of the Badger Army Ammunition Plant, which is located in North Freedom.

Just after Columbus Day weekend, on Wednesday, October 14, 2020, Wauwatosa resident, John Craig Schmutzer, was hiking alone through Devil’s Lake State Park when he was stabbed and subsequently died of his wounds.

Eric Boll, a man from Madison, Wisconsin, is missing after leaving his home on his e-bike on August 24, 2024. A search for him was done at Devil's Lake State Park, a place where he went often.

Wisconsin Missing Persons | Clearinghouse for Missing & Exploited Children & Adults

www.missingpersons.doj.wi.gov

 

[Keiri]

I'm not suggesting that any of these unsolved cases are connected, other than they occured in the same general area, but, there's always the possibility.

James Yoblonski, a 13-year-old boy from Sauk County, Wisconsin, has been missing since Monday, June 12, 2023. His vehicle was found on Highway 12, near Devil's Lake State Park, just north of the Badger Army Ammunition Plant, which is located in North Freedom.

Just after Columbus Day weekend, on Wednesday, October 14, 2020, Wauwatosa resident, John Craig Schmutzer, was hiking alone through Devil’s Lake State Park when he was stabbed and subsequently died of his wounds.

Eric Boll, a man from Madison, Wisconsin, is missing after leaving his home on his e-bike on August 24, 2024. A search for him was done at Devil's Lake State Park, a place where he went often.

Wisconsin Missing Persons | Clearinghouse for Missing & Exploited Children & Adults

www.missingpersons.doj.wi.gov

View attachment 556392

I really don't think they are connected except that for James Yoblonski and Eric Boll, they both felt they were special places for them. They just... really liked the park. Christian, I believe there was foul play. But I always like the maps you do.

 

[Quoththeraven]

It's never been verified it was him at Durward's glen. And nobody saw him at the radio tower except the possible killers.

True, nor has the supposition been verified that he was killed by someone.

 

[Keiri]

True, nor has the supposition been verified that he was killed by someone.

Correct, I should have said that.

 

[Quoththeraven]

I really don't think they are connected except that for James Yoblonski and Eric Boll, they both felt they were special places for them. They just... really liked the park. Christian, I believe there was foul play. But I always like the maps you do.

A map puts everything in perspective. Something law enforcement should be doing from the get go.

 

[Quoththeraven]

Correct, I should have said that.

The Sheriff’s Department brought in a bloodhound that followed Robert’s trail a short distance from where he car was found, then lost the scent at Tower Road.

One would assume he was picked up by another vehicle if the scent started at the radio tower and ended on Tower Road. I would also be nice to know whether his keys were found in the vehicle and whether they determined that the vehicle did or didn't have car problems. I don't think he parked his vehicle there and decided to go hunting by himself, taking his hunting gear and personal belongings and leaving the vehicle unlocked.

 

[Keiri]

One would assume he was picked up by another vehicle if the scent started at the radio tower and ended on Tower Road. I would also be nice to know whether his keys were found in the vehicle and whether they determined that the vehicle did or didn't have car problems. I don't think he parked his vehicle there and decided to go hunting by himself, taking his hunting gear and personal belongings and leaving the vehicle unlocked.

I read in one of the many articles that it was fine other than wheels and battery missing. The keys were in the ignition.

 

[Gsparkie]

I read in one of the many articles that it was fine other than wheels and battery missing. The keys were in the ignition.

I worked on equipment at that radio tower site from 1982 on. The site was abandoned around 2005 due to failed negotiations with the land owner for updates to the tower.

 

[Quoththeraven]

Articles about the murder of Robert Christian's sister, Catherine Louise Christian, on March 7, 1983 by members of the Ghost Rider's gang, Al Hegge, national president of the Ghost Rider's, and his sister, Geraldine Contreras. Geraldine Contreras ran Rosa's Cantina, a tavern near Stoughton, where the fire occured.​

Sources: Wisconsin State Journal Sun, Apr 29, 1990 Page 54 and The Spokesman-Review Mon, Jan 14, 1985 Page 14. (Newspapers.com)​

 

[Jenp7707]

Ok so I pulled up the hunting maps from the Wisconsin DNR and here's a small map, the x is where the relay is. Look at all that nice hunting space south of it. Hopefully we can get some hunters in there.

View attachment 543451

Interesting. Is there public access from Tower Rd to that land? From Google maps it doesn't really look like it. The state would only lease/own the very small section that the tower is actually occupying. The surrounding land is likely to be privately owned.

 

[Sweetluv]

Interesting that the Sauk Co. Sheriff's Office has just announced they are re examining this case. I'm glad they are, but I wonder what prompted this after all this time?

 

[Keiri]

Interesting that the Sauk Co. Sheriff's Office has just announced they are re examining this case. I'm glad they are, but I wonder what prompted this after all this time?

Honestly? I think it was me.

I emailed them twice about whether they had the evidence still that they could enter into national databases. I heard nothing, went to the sheriff and got this back: “I shared your information with Detective Pointon who inherited this cold case. He is looking into the information you brought up in the email.”

Detective Pointon and I emailed back and forth during December. He was incredibly receptive and decent. He’s really aware of this cases odd details.
Well, he answered about the evidence questions I had. “The fingerprints recovered from this case have been entered into the Wisconsin Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) and since 2017, the FBI’s Next Generation Identification (NGI) system. Additionally, DNA samples taken from immediate family members have been entered since 2013 to match against near hits on unidentified persons and dental records/xrays from Mr. Christian have been entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NAMUS)”

It felt incredibly good to hear and I’m extremely impressed they posted about it again. I generally try to avoid bothering law enforcement, but I wanted to know if that fingerprint was tested recently, etc.

When families are gone or never were there in the first place, it’s up to us to try to get the cases worked again. Luckily Sauk really did a nice job.

 

[Keiri]

Interesting. Is there public access from Tower Rd to that land? From Google maps it doesn't really look like it. The state would only lease/own the very small section that the tower is actually occupying. The surrounding land is likely to be privately owned.

I have tried to find out, I don’t have the private property app some do to check it. It seems if the site was abandoned by sheriffs (which someone said above) it would revert to the landowner. Who that is, I can’t tell. Someone with a property hunting app could.