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Post by Scumhunter on Sept 16, 2014 8:35:26 GMT -5
(Pictured: Above: Top: Van Wisse, circa 1983. Bottom: Age-progressed photo to unspecified year/age Photo Credits: FBI.Gov) Fugitive Profile as of September 16th, 2014 (based on FBI.Gov wanted poster, Top Ten press release): Aliases: Francisco Salas, Roberto Francisco Salas, Robert F. Vanwisse, Robert Wisse, Robert F. Van Wisse, Robert Francis Van Wisse, Robert Francis Vanwise, Robert Vanwisse. Place of Birth: Guadalajara, Mexico Hair: Brown Eyes: Brown Height: 5'6" Weight: 180 pounds Sex: Male Race: Hispanic Occupation: Van Wisse was previously employed as an English teacher in Mexico. He may possibly be employed in the medical field, or he could be working on a coconut and banana plantation in Mexico. Languages : Van Wisse speaks English and Spanish. Remarks: Van Wisse has ties to Austin, Texas. Through investigation, it has been reported that Van Wisse may have lived in South America, and he may be residing in Mexico or the United States under an assumed name. Who to call if you've seen him: FBI's toll free tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI or contact your local FBI office or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate. Tips can also be submitted electronically to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov From the AMW archives: Crime Of OpportunityCops say Robert Vanwisse and Laurie Stout had never met before Sept. 19, 1983, but when the night was over, police say Vanwisse was a killer and Laurie was dead. However, coming to that conclusion would take a long, long time. The accounts of that night live in a dusty case file. Along with her husband, Laurie owned a janitorial service business in Austin, Texas. She would often roll up her sleeves and clean the businesses where they had contracts. On that September night, she did just that and did it alone. At 8:30 the next morning, people showed up for work and found Laurie dead in the second-floor men's bathroom. She'd been sexually assaulted and murdered. Austin homicide detectives quickly rounded up everyone who'd been seen in the building, including 19-year-old Robert Vanwisse. He'd been in the building, registering for a class. They took his prints, his DNA and let him go. They compared DNA – which, at the time, was nowhere near as advanced as it is today – and came to the conclusion that he was not the killer. Nine Years ColdThe case lay cold until 1992, when a dedicated investigator took another swing at the murder. What she found would change everything. An error in the DNA test revealed that Robert Vanwisse very well could have been the murderer -- his DNA sample had been discounted because of outdated methodology. They found his prints at the crime scene, giving investigators probable cause to file charges on Vanwisse. Of course, he was now gone. Border IssuesVanwisse had contacts in Mexico and Guatemala and is probably in one of those countries. Cops realized they had a real uphill climb in this case for a number of reasons. The first challenge that faced police was red tape. Vanwisse had been charged with capital murder, a crime that could result in the death penalty. Since Mexican authorities will not extradite anyone facing the death penalty, U.S. authorities were forced to drop those charges and re-file a first degree murder charge. Now if Vanwisse is found in Mexico, he will be allowed to return to the States to face justice. Of course, investigators have to find him first, and that’s Detective Angel Hernandez’s job. New to the Cold Case Squad, she has pegged this case as the one she really wants closed. Thoughts? Vanwisse was last aired as a full-profile on AMW on Fox back on April 24th, 2010. Those of us who used to post on AMW.com's message board agreed that despite the oldness of this case, he likely wasn't aired in the 90's since we couldn't find anything to suggest he was. Unfortunately, all we have are grainy pictures of him and he probably did flee to Mexico or Guatemala. But it's never too late for justice and Detective Hernandez I'm sure will never give up. web.archive.org/web/20100428052527/http://www.amw.com/fugitives/brief.cfm?id=72310#case *********************UPDATE*********************
On Tuesday, December 13th, 2016, Robert Francis Van Wisse was added to the FBI's Top 10 list: www.fbi.gov/wanted/topten/robert-francis-van-wisse *********************UPDATE*********************Admin Note: If you have any news-related updated information on this case, please contact us here: amwfans.com/thread/1662/website-contact-form
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Post by HeadMarshal on Sept 16, 2014 11:01:05 GMT -5
I believe I read somewhere that investigators started to ask the public for tips on Vanwisse starting in 1996, so I doubt he was aired on AMW in the 90s. My concern with Vanwisse is with him being a 19-year old sex killer at the time, who knows how many more victims he probably murdered in Latin America after killing Laurie Stout.
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Post by justiceforlaurie on Nov 26, 2014 13:06:05 GMT -5
I believe I read somewhere that investigators started to ask the public for tips on Vanwisse starting in 1996, so I doubt he was aired on AMW in the 90s. My concern with Vanwisse is with him being a 19-year old sex killer at the time, who knows how many more victims he probably murdered in Latin America after killing Laurie Stout.
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Post by justiceforlaurie on Nov 26, 2014 13:44:01 GMT -5
I am the sister of Laurie and I am so grateful to see that someone still cares enough to keep this monsters face out there! It has been 31 years since her rape and murder and there is not a day that goes by I don't think about her. I also think about this monster still out there somewhere and still free! His family knows what he has done and I can only hope that one day they too will feel the same horrible pain that my family has endured for 31 years from losing our loved one when he is brought to justice and they lose their loved one! Our Mom once said many years ago "You can run Robert Vanwisse, but you can't hide forever!" My Family still prays for closure and Justice for Laurie!
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Post by Scumhunter on Nov 26, 2014 13:52:31 GMT -5
Hi justiceforlaurie,
Thank you for joining. It's rather ironic I was watching a tv program today about a man who was finally convicted in a 20-year old murder case (ironically it was a case with a known suspect proven with another look at DNA), and a Prosecutor on the show said it was "justice delayed, but not justice denied."
I hope this will be the case for Vanwisse as well.
You family has waited way too long, but I really hope Vanwisse is caught and punished very soon.
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Post by justiceforlaurie on Nov 26, 2014 13:56:37 GMT -5
Fugitive Profile as of September 16th, 2014 (based on 2010 AMW archived profile): Aliases: Francis Salas, Roberto Salas, Robert-Priaz-Salas, Francisco Salas, Robert Wisse Race: Hispanic Current Age: 48-50 Height: 5'6" Weight: 165 lbs. Hair (Color, Description, Facial Hair): Brown Eyes: Brown Traits and Habits: Was a student at the University of Texas- Austin Last Seen: Austin , TX Other Possible Locations: Mexico, Guatemala Who to call if you've seen him: Capital Area Crime Stoppers Toll Free 1-800-893-TIPS or submit a web tip by clicking on the following link: www.tipsubmit.com/WebTips.aspx?AgencyID=103&HR=http://www.tipsoft.com/index.aspx?p=webtips Crime Of OpportunityCops say Robert Vanwisse and Laurie Stout had never met before Sept. 19, 1983, but when the night was over, police say Vanwisse was a killer and Laurie was dead. However, coming to that conclusion would take a long, long time. The accounts of that night live in a dusty case file. Along with her husband, Laurie owned a janitorial service business in Austin, Texas. She would often roll up her sleeves and clean the businesses where they had contracts. On that September night, she did just that and did it alone. At 8:30 the next morning, people showed up for work and found Laurie dead in the second-floor men's bathroom. She'd been sexually assaulted and murdered. Austin homicide detectives quickly rounded up everyone who'd been seen in the building, including 19-year-old Robert Vanwisse. He'd been in the building, registering for a class. They took his prints, his DNA and let him go. They compared DNA – which, at the time, was nowhere near as advanced as it is today – and came to the conclusion that he was not the killer. Nine Years ColdThe case lay cold until 1992, when a dedicated investigator took another swing at the murder. What she found would change everything. An error in the DNA test revealed that Robert Vanwisse very well could have been the murderer -- his DNA sample had been discounted because of outdated methodology. They found his prints at the crime scene, giving investigators probable cause to file charges on Vanwisse. Of course, he was now gone. Border IssuesVanwisse had contacts in Mexico and Guatemala and is probably in one of those countries. Cops realized they had a real uphill climb in this case for a number of reasons. The first challenge that faced police was red tape. Vanwisse had been charged with capital murder, a crime that could result in the death penalty. Since Mexican authorities will not extradite anyone facing the death penalty, U.S. authorities were forced to drop those charges and re-file a first degree murder charge. Now if Vanwisse is found in Mexico, he will be allowed to return to the States to face justice. Of course, investigators have to find him first, and that’s Detective Angel Hernandez’s job. New to the Cold Case Squad, she has pegged this case as the one she really wants closed. Thoughts? Vanwisse was last aired as a full-profile on AMW on Fox back on April 24th, 2010. Those of us who used to post on AMW.com's message board agreed that despite the oldness of this case, he likely wasn't aired in the 90's since we couldn't find anything to suggest he was. Unfortunately, all we have are grainy pictures of him and he probably did flee to Mexico or Guatemala. But it's never too late for justice and Detective Hernandez I'm sure will never give up. web.archive.org/web/20100428052527/http://www.amw.com/fugitives/brief.cfm?id=72310#case
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Post by Scumhunter on May 13, 2015 14:30:31 GMT -5
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Post by HeadMarshal on May 15, 2015 12:11:19 GMT -5
Apparently Vanwisse's family in the Austin region have not been cooperative. In fugitive terms, we all know that usually means they're aiding his flight from justice.
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Post by sondra on Jun 15, 2015 2:19:23 GMT -5
Since his Mother and Adoptive Stepfather are Doctors, they would certainly have had the means to aid and abet. His Mother and Stepfather are now in Colima, Mexico. She was as well as some of his brothers, educated in Guatemala. Another possibility is that his his stepfather came from the Netherlands and maybe he has been there all along. Curious to know what his birth Fathers name was. There were a total of 10 children, 4 each before marriage and two together. Seem to be a close knit fsmily so it seems unlikely, they dont know where he is.
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Post by Scumhunter on Jun 15, 2015 13:17:41 GMT -5
Hi Sondra, welcome to the forum! Those are some great observations. It never even registered to me how he has a dutch last name but is Hispanic. (It went right over my head). So that explains a lot and the Netherlands could be a possibility as well
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Post by HeadMarshal on Oct 27, 2016 10:00:04 GMT -5
Robert Vanwisse is now on the FBI's website with some new information! - Robert Vanwisse was born in Guadalajara, Mexico. - He was previously known to have worked as an English teacher in Mexico. - He may currently be working in the Medical field or on a coconut and banana plantation field. - For a time he may have also lived in South America. www.fbi.gov/wanted/murders/-robert-francis-van-wisse
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Post by justiceforlaurie on Oct 27, 2016 13:54:58 GMT -5
Robert Vanwisse is now on the FBI's website with some new information! - Robert Vanwisse was born in Guadalajara, Mexico. - He was previously known to have worked as an English teacher in Mexico. - He may currently be working in the Medical field or on a coconut and banana plantation field. - For a time he may have also lived in South America. www.fbi.gov/wanted/murders/-robert-francis-van-wisseI am the sister of Laurie who Robert Vanwisse murdered. I can not thank you enough for the updating and continued interest on this story. One day he will be caught and brought to justice. Someone, or even a family member like his Mother knows where he is hiding. Think of my mother having to die without knowing exactly what happened to her daughter!!
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Post by Scumhunter on Oct 27, 2016 15:04:02 GMT -5
Robert Vanwisse is now on the FBI's website with some new information! - Robert Vanwisse was born in Guadalajara, Mexico. - He was previously known to have worked as an English teacher in Mexico. - He may currently be working in the Medical field or on a coconut and banana plantation field. - For a time he may have also lived in South America. www.fbi.gov/wanted/murders/-robert-francis-van-wisseI've updated the fugitive profile to include the more recent FBI information.
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Post by eal22 on Oct 27, 2016 23:23:42 GMT -5
This is another one of those cases where I wish the whole family could be put in jail until one of them reveals where the suspect is. Never going to happen of course, but I still wish it in cases where families are obviously aiding fugitives.
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Post by Scumhunter on Dec 13, 2016 14:07:00 GMT -5
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