A Fresno County man disappeared in the mountains. His family hopes for closure
Robert Willis V, or “Robbie” to his loved ones, was 12 years old when his father vanished in 2008 while hunting near Dinkey Creek. For years, Willis didn’t know the full story surrounding his father’s disappearance.
Now 29 with two sons, Robbie Willis hopes to gain closure with the release of an episode about Robert Wills IV’s disappearance on “Park Predators,” the popular true crime podcast.
Willis has yet to be found, and a spokesperson for the Fresno County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office said the investigation into his disappearance remains ongoing. But several of Robert Willis’ loved ones hope the podcast episode, which releases Tuesday, can lead them toward answers if listeners come forward with new information.
“Robert is so much more than a case number or a true crime podcast,” Madison Willis said. “He was everything to my husband’s family, everything to my husband.”
Robbie Willis told The Bee in a statement that his father “always made the effort to show up,” including by coaching his T-ball team. He continues to root for the Las Vegas Raiders, his father’s favorite football team, and his father would often make time to watch games on TV or toss a football with him and his brother, Colton.
Robbie said he strives to follow that example with his own children.
“I want to teach them through everyday moments, the same way he taught me — to never take time together for granted,” he said.
Robert Willis’ family declared him missing on Nov. 3, 2008, several days after he was set to return to his home in Caruthers from a deer hunting trip. The family found his Nissan Frontier pickup on McKinley Grove Road, east of Dinkey Creek and Camp Fresno. Robert Willis carried food and camping equipment, and he was familiar with the wilderness, a sheriff’s spokesperson said at the time.
Over 13 days, the sheriff’s office deployed over 30 people, five horseback riders and a helicopter to find Robert Willis. The office has periodically launched search operations for him, and the most recent search occurred late last year, according to the sheriff’s spokesperson.
Robert Willis’ family had to wait seven years to obtain a death certificate, though they could never hold a proper funeral or burial ceremony for him, Madison said. Robbie Willis said the process of grieving and searching continues every day.
“We hope this episode brings attention back to (Robert’s) story so that maybe, one day, we can finally find him and lay him to rest with the honor and dignity he deserves,” he said.
This story was originally published July 19, 2025 at 8:00 AM.
