Detour investigates: Searching for Daniel Robinson

David Robinson was different. From the moment we met, I saw myself in his story. And I hurt for him and his family. Starting Tuesday, two years after his 24-year old son Daniel’s mysterious disappearance, DETOUR and Missouri School of Journalism follows David’s search for his geologist son across the vast, eerie Sonoran desert, some 60 miles outside Phoenix. I hope our “Lost in Buckeye” investigation inspires all parents, especially Black fathers whose commitment to our children is so often overlooked.

Since the start of my career, I’ve always tried to keep my feelings separate from my work. This is tough, but I’ve learned through the years it’s best in my profession to put some emotional distance between yourself and your subject.

David Robinson was different. from the moment we met, I saw myself in his story, as a Black man and father. And I feel for him. Just watch him in our short documentary, “Lost in Buckeye,” as he moves through the vast, desolate Sonoran desert, looking for Daniel, his 24-year-old geologist son who mysteriously disappeared exactly two years ago today. I hope the story of David’s search inspires all parents, especially dads.

David’s struggle reflects a history of Black veterans at odds with the very system they once served. David, who served two tours of duty in Afghanistan, has spent the past two years uncertain about whether the Buckeye Police Department has even seriously looked for his son—which is why he has taken matters into his own hands. It doesn’t help either that Buckeye, an hour outside Phoenix, is a known “sundown town” - meaning Black people enter the area, especially at night, at their own risk.

An admission: A couple months ago, as we were wrapping our field reporting for Lost in Buckeye, I broke my no-photo rule, which goes like this: no matter how enamored I am with my subject, resist asking to be photographed with them. The rule has resulted in a slender scrapbook, but I’ve proudly lived by it after interviews with myriad heroes, from Oprah to Serena to Trevor to Spike. My only record of our contact is the story itself, as it probably should be.

David Robinson, again, was different. As our reporting team wrapped up our desert field reporting a couple months ago, David rode by me on his ATV. I waved at him to come over, and asked whether he’d please take a picture with me. He hopped off his vehicle, and there we were, a couple of Black dads standing side by side, as brothers. Here’s the photo, and David’s story. Thank you for reading. And Happy Father’s Day!

Ron Stodghill, founder of DETOUR, is a professor at the Missouri School of Journalism and an award-winning journalist who has previously worked for the New York Times, Time, Business Week, and numerous other publications. Email: ron@detourxp.com

This story was produced by the following team members from the Lost in Buckeye investigation:

Taylor Schmitt - Video Producer. Taylor has spent the last few years developing skills in digital journalism and video production. She began her career with Chicago Today for WMAQ, then she worked for EU Reporter in Brussels for a few months before transitioning to New York to work for Weekend Today at NBC. She is currently finishing her degrees at the University of Missouri and is excited to take the next steps of her journey!

Rylee Fels - Video Editor. Rylee is originally from Carlsbad, CA. During her time at The University of Missouri, she studied broadcast journalism and minored in business. Rylee is passionate about using storytelling to create engaging and informative content. Whether it’s through writing, filming, or editing, she is dedicated to bringing stories to life in a creative and compelling way.

Lucy Caile - Video producer. Lucy graduated from the University of Missouri in May 2023. She studied broadcast journalism and worked as a reporter for the NBC affiliate KOMU 8 News for two years. Lucy will continue working as a TV news reporter at WCAX in Burlington, Vermont starting in June. When not reporting, Lucy enjoys running, hiking and just being outdoors.

This story was originally published June 17, 2023 at 10:29 PM.