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Disappearance and presumed death of Robert Arthur Wiles

ONGOING2008Lakeland, Florida, United States3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

Robert Arthur Wiles was 26 and worked for his family's aircraft-maintenance company at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Florida. He was last seen at work on April 1, 2008. Two days later, his parents received a demand for $750,000. They followed the instructions, but Robert was not returned, and his remains have never been recovered.

Investigators from the FBI and Florida agencies examined communications, telephone records, travel records, and toll-road images. Their inquiry focused on Stobert “Toby” Holt, an operations manager at the family business. Holt denied responsibility. He was arrested in December 2009 and prosecuted on first-degree murder, kidnapping, extortion, and a written-threat count.

The jury did not convict Holt of first-degree murder and acquitted him of kidnapping. It instead found him guilty of manslaughter, extortion, and communicating a written threat. The trial court later vacated the written-threat conviction on double-jeopardy grounds and imposed a combined 30-year prison term for manslaughter and extortion. A later federal habeas order recounts those dispositions.

The record is titled as a disappearance and presumed death because no murder conviction exists and Robert has not been recovered. Holt's manslaughter conviction is stated precisely and is not converted into a kidnapping or murder adjudication. The case is classified as ongoing because the FBI continues to solicit information about Robert's disappearance and location.

Key facts

Victims
Robert Arthur Wiles
Date
2008
Location
Lakeland, Florida, United States
Case status
ongoing

Case timeline

  1. 2008-04-01

    Robert Arthur Wiles was last seen at his workplace at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport.

  2. 2008-04-03

    His parents received a $750,000 ransom demand, but Robert was not returned.

  3. 2009-12-18

    Authorities arrested Stobert Holt.

  4. 2012-03-12

    Holt was sentenced to a combined 30 years for manslaughter and extortion after being acquitted of kidnapping.

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People

  • Stobert “Toby” Holt

    CONVICTED

    Convicted of manslaughter and extortion and sentenced to 30 years; acquitted of kidnapping and not convicted of murder.

  • Robert Arthur Wiles

    VICTIM

    Twenty-six-year-old aircraft-company employee who disappeared in April 2008 and has not been recovered.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

Lakeland, Florida, United States

28.0144, -81.9511

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Common questions

What happened to Robert?
Robert Arthur Wiles disappeared from his Lakeland, Florida, workplace in April 2008 and has not been recovered; Stobert Holt was convicted of manslaughter and extortion but acquitted of kidnapping, and the FBI continues to seek information.
Where did the disappearance happen?
Lakeland, Florida, United States.
Who was convicted?
Stobert “Toby” Holt (Convicted of manslaughter and extortion and sentenced to 30 years; acquitted of kidnapping and not convicted of murder.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: ongoing.
More cases in Florida

Sources

  1. OFFICIAL / AGENCYRobert Arthur Wiles — Seeking InformationFederal Bureau of Investigation · 2026-07-13
  2. COURT RECORDHolt v. Secretary, Department of CorrectionsU.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida via Justia · 2026-07-13
  3. PRESS‘We have Robert,’ warns $750,000 ransom noteCBS News · 2026-07-13

Record history

First published
JUL 13, 2026