Sauk Co. officials reviewing 1977 cold case of man’s disappearance

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – The Sauk County Sheriff’s Office is hoping to shed light on the disappearance of a man nearly 50 years ago.

The Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post Tuesday that it is reexamining the case of Robert Christian, who was 18 years old at the time he went missing. The post did not detail why crews are looking into the case now.

Christian went missing the evening of Sept. 16, 1977, as he was heading from his home in Madison to the Baraboo area to bow hunt with a friend. Sauk Co. officials explained that he never arrived at his friend’s home, so his family members searched for him in the Township of Greenfield, along Tower Road between Bluff Road and the Sauk/Columbia County Line. Officials said this area was known to be an area he hunted in often.

Sauk Co. Sheriff’s Office is reexamining the disappearance of Robert Christian, who went missing on Sept. 16, 1977.(Sauk County Sheriff’s Office)

The 1977 AMC Hornet he was driving was found unlocked, empty and with its wheels and battery missing, near an abandoned radio tower site. Most of Christian’s hunting gear and belongings were also gone.

Search crews scoured the ground looking for him, with the help of bloodhounds and an Army National Guard helicopter to survey from the air.

The Sauk County Sheriff’s Office is reexamining the disappearance of Robert Christian that occurred on September 16th, 1977.(Sauk County Sheriff’s Office)

The Sauk Co. Sheriff’s Office explained they received a tip about a week later that led them to a quarry south of the Badger Army Ammunition Plant and north of Prairie du Sac. Officials found four old tires and hubcaps from an AMC Hornet, which matched the hubcaps on Christian’s vehicle.

The agency said it is unclear if the stripping of Christian’s vehicle had anything to do with his disappearance.

The Sauk County Sheriff’s Office is reexamining the disappearance of Robert Christian that occurred on September 16th, 1977.(Sauk County Sheriff’s Office)

Sauk Co. officials continued, saying a witness told them she was visiting a friend around 8 p.m. the night of the disappearance near the Durward’s Glen Retreat center. She saw a car in her friend’s driveway, which matched the description of the AMC Hornet and had the same license plate.

The agency recounted that she said the driver of the car was a young man who matched Christian’s disappearance, and told her that “I’m looking for my friend. I’m supposed to meet my friend.” He said that he must be in the wrong place and then drove east, toward Durward Glen Road, according to officials. This man was never positively identified as Christian.

Anyone with information was encouraged to call Detective Tyler Pointon with the Sheriff’s Office at 608-355-3205, or Sauk County Crime Stoppers at 1-888-847-7285.

The Sauk County Sheriff’s Office is reexamining the disappearance of Robert Christian that occurred on September 16th, 1977.(Sauk County Sheriff’s Office)