Robert Joseph Fritz

Age Progressed image (to age 27) on right

Classification: Nonfamily Abduction
Date of Birth: August 5, 1977
Date Missing: May 14, 1983
From City/State: Campbellsport, WI
Age at Time of Disapperance: 5
Gender: Male
Race: White
Height: 46 inches
Weight: 48 pounds
Hair Color: Blonde
Eye Color: Blue
Complexion: Medium
Glasses/Contacts Description: N/A

Identifying Characteristics: Strawberry birthmark 2" x 3" on left outer thigh, just above the knee; has trouble pronouncing the letters "T", "K", and "R."
Clothing: Multi colored Red, blue, and gray shirt, blue pants and boots.
Jewelry: N/A

Circumstances of Disappearance: Unknown. Last seen a block from his home playing with his siblings between 2:30-4:30pm. He told his sister he was hungry and headed home, but never arrived.

Investigative Agency: Fond Du Lac Sheriff's Office
Phone: (920) 929-3370
Website: http://www.co.fond-du-lac.wi.us/Dept...f/Sheriff.html

Print a poster: http://www.missingkids.com/missingki...archLang=en_US

Family website: http://www.geocities.com/anna_1992/For_Bobby_Joe.html


Details of Disappearance

Robert was last seen playing in an empty lot in his family's Campbellsport, Wisconsin neighborhood on May 14, 1983. The lot was beside the Mill Pond/Milwaukee River in the area where the Campbellsport Firehouse now stands. He was with his sister and friends approximately one-half block from the family's residence when he was last seen. He told his sister he was hungry and was going to walk home between 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. Robert never arrived home and has never been heard from again.

After Robert's disappearance, an extensive search was made of the Milwaukee River, but no trace of him was ever found. He lived with his mother and six siblings at the time of his disappearance; his father and some other siblings lived in Illinois. Robert's father has since died and his mother has moved away from the Campbellsport area. Authorities eventually concluded that he must have been abducted. His case remains unsolved.

Robert closely resembled his brother, Tony, in childhood and may look like him as an adult. A photograph of Tony is posted below this case summary.


Above: Tony Fritz


http://www.fdlreporter.com/article/20090222/FON0101/902220511/1985/FON04
Cold Cases: Out of sight, but never out of mind
By Russell Plummer • The Reporter 
February 22, 2009 

Cold cases sit not only in law enforcement file cabinets, but also in the back of every detective's mind.

The recent arrest of Thomas C. Niesen, 53, of Ashwaubenon, in connection with the murder of Kathleen Leichtman, 19, of Milwaukee, proves a murder older than three decades can turn hot with one DNA sample, confession or tip.

While city detectives are gathering additional evidence before Niesen's preliminary hearing March 6, other investigators continue to think about seven unresolved murders/disappearances and keep the case of "Jane Doe" warm.

"(Cold cases) are not something we look at on a daily basis," Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Department Lt. Bill Flood said. "The trail has gone cold or there's a set of extenuating circumstances that leaves the case cold that you can't control.

"Every once in a while they're revisited — whether it be during discussion amongst detectives, an actual probing of the old case or we could have someone call claiming they heard something."

Among those apparent victims who still await justice:

Bobby Joe Fritz
May 14, 2008, marked the 25th year since the disappearance of the blond-haired, blue-eyed Campbellsport boy.

Fritz, 5, was last seen donning a pair of cowboy boots as he played near his home. Authorities found his toy gun, but never his body.

Flood, who was a patrol officer May 14, 1983 and assisted with searching for the boy in the Mill Pond, still has a file containing a photo of Fritz stored in a cabinet near his desk.

"For all we know, the person responsible for Bobby Joe's disappearance is still alive and he or she is in our area," Flood said. "Who knows if someone at some point in time might have a crisis of conscience? They might have a terminal illness and want to clear their conscience.

"I'm not naïve to think that's going to happen, but it certainly remains a possibility."

Flood said the search for Fritz moved to Sheboygan County in 1994 when Michael S. Menzer, who killed two of his children after setting his home on fire and had a past of sexually assaulting children, was sentenced.

Detectives went to Menzer's home to dig for any ties to Fritz.

"I'm not talking hand shovels, I'm talking heavy equipment," Flood said. "We were looking for clothing he was wearing, especially the cowboy boots."

He noted some sexual offenders keep souvenirs from their crimes. Nothing that could be connected to Fritz was found.

Story continues at http://www.fdlreporter.com/article/20090222/FON0101/902220511/1985/FON04