Robert Lee Vendrick,71,Phoenix man goes missing on SoCal business trip,msg 2-16-08

[starling]

http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_8315639?nclick_check=1
(some snips)
A 71-year-old Phoenix man who traveled to Orange County to seal a $1 million deal on what he was told was a promising computer program venture has gone missing, authorities said Wednesday.Sheriff's deputies began searching for Robert Lee Vendrick after he failed to return home to Phoenix on Monday as planned. They found his rental car parked near a dock in this beachfront city... his clothes, suitcase and medicine still at his hotel...In Long Beach..authorities found a 23-foot sailboat Vendrick had bought with his investment partner, Gary Shawkey. Authorities also found Shawkey in Long Beach... Shawkey, who was interviewed by homicide investigators, is considered a person of interest in the case but not a suspect....Meanwhile, investigators were waiting for a warrant to search the boat...While it is not clear how the two men met, Vendrick invested more than $1 million in the deal....Promises of a handsome contract with the federal government persuaded Vendrick to ask his brother Fred Vendrick to wire him $40,000 more after he arrived in California...Vendrick left his wife in Phoenix and flew to Long Beach, where he rented the car and drove to Dana Point. He called his wife on Saturday and told her he was preparing for a boat trip to San Clemente Island to close the deal........

:(

[starling]

Mr. Vendrick & Mr. Shawkey's photos at link:
http://www.presstelegram.com/ci_8319710
"He is missing under highly suspicious circumstances," said Jim Amormino of the
Vendrick Orange County Sheriff's Department.........
Vendrick and his investment partner, Gary Shawkey, bought a boat together and apparently intended to go to San Clemente Island - which is controlled by the U.S. military - purportedly to meet with "highly placed" government officials about the supposed $1-million-plus investment, Amormino said....
Shawkey sailed the boat to Long Beach late Monday or early Tuesday, Amormino said. He contacted authorities from a pay phone near the Aquarium of the Pacific after he heard that detectives were looking for him. Shawkey allegedly told authorities that he and Vendrick had sailed in the boat over the weekend but he had not seen his business partner since.....The boat was towed to the Long Beach Police Marine Bureau in Alamitos Bay where it was investigated by O.C. sheriff's authorities ... Sheriff's deputies plan to raise the boat today and take it back to their lab in Orange County for further investigation........

[ruby]

:rose: hope he's okay :(

[Breazy]

It sounds like Mr. Vendrick has been swindled and possibly met with foul play by Mr. Shawkey. I pray I'm wrong.

[starling]

more info on POI

video:
http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=4226712&cl=6526178&src=news

[starling]

:( google the POI's name on the web....

Get the whole truth about Gary _____
Gary _____ Blacklisted
Come read about the alarming facts on the Gary ____ investigation
Rip Off Report: Gary _____, Childrens Camp ripoff, Internet Fraud, Misrepresentation, nonpayment
Gary ____ and Fraud

(and that's the first page!)

[ruby]

Originally posted by starling
:( google the POI's name on the web....

Get the whole truth about Gary _____
Gary _____ Blacklisted
Come read about the alarming facts on the Gary ____ investigation
Rip Off Report: Gary _____, Childrens Camp ripoff, Internet Fraud, Misrepresentation, nonpayment
Gary ____ and Fraud

(and that's the first page!) [/*]

oh man...:(

[omsk99]

~ snip
DANA POINT – A million-dollar investment in a dream has turned into a nightmare for the family of a 71-year-old Phoenix man, who mysteriously vanished during a weekend trip to Orange County to seal the deal on a computer program venture with his business partner. Authorities believe Robert Lee Vendrick may have been lured into a trip to sea out of Dana Point Harbor by his investment partner, a Virginia man with a reputation for duping older victims out of millions of dollars.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23254599/



:eek:

[Lyndilu1]

Originally posted by starling
:( google the POI's name on the web....

Get the whole truth about Gary _____
Gary _____ Blacklisted
Come read about the alarming facts on the Gary ____ investigation
Rip Off Report: Gary _____, Childrens Camp ripoff, Internet Fraud, Misrepresentation, nonpayment
Gary ____ and Fraud

(and that's the first page!) [/*]

Gary sounds like quite the character. I hope this man is found safe. Doesn't look good.

[starling]

Thursday update~
The POI was re-interviewed
The divers are searching 5 different places in Dana Point Harbor
Video shows Vendrick & Shawkey shopping at a Target prior to their boat trip

Video:
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local&id=5973421

[starling]

Friday article~
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-missing22feb22,1,5439527.story

[starling]

So Gary Shawkey is now free to go home :shrug:
http://www.myfoxla.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=5850440&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1
He was questioned again last night and was staying in the area, but is free to leave, although, "hopefully he'll stick around until our investigation
is completed," Amormino said.

[starling]

http://www.insidebayarea.com/sanmateocountytimes/localnews/ci_8333675
It was Shawkey who lured Vendrick to California with promises of a cut of a federal government contract and fortune, according to Vendrick's younger brother Fred. But to secure the contract and convince the "government people" that the venture was viable, Vendrick needed to have $100,000 in an account at a Laguna Niguel Wells Fargo Bank.
Bob Vendrick wired $60,000 to the bank and persuaded his brother to wire $40,000 to the same bank. Fred Vendrick sent the money.
"It was stupid, I know, but I did it," Fred Vendrick said.

The account where the money was deposited, authorities said, belongs to Shawkey.

[starling]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23306870/
Person of interest says he returned partner to Dana harbor
A motivational speaker from Virginia told investigators he took his business partner back to Dana Point Harbor after the 71-year-old Phoenix man had a change of heart during a boat trip to cash in on a get-rich-scheme.
Gary A. Shawkey said he continued on alone, sailing the 23-foot sailboat to Long Beach, unaware of the fate of his partner, Robert Lee Vendrick.........
Sheriff's investigators believe Vendrick and Shawkey sailed out of Dana Point between 6:30 and 8:30 a.m. Feb. 16, said sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino.......Vendrick had no sailing experience but was listed on the sailboat's purchase receipt.



HALF truths IMO,MOO,JMO ...and more bad news to come no doubt.
Change of heart? I want to know about that $100,000. Is it still sitting in Mr. Shawkey's account ? Can LE freeze that money until they find out where is poor Mr. Vendrick is...? This is horrible.

[shelkobe]

So has LE spoken to whomever Shawkey says he was meeting? This stinks to high heaven. I'm surprised Vendrick and his brother fell for such a scam, though. All Vendrick had to do was google Shawkey's name and several unsavory things come up. But anyway, surely LE sees what went on here and will be able to put the pieces together.

[starling]

someone over at WS listed the police call on Vendrick:
______________________________
I found the actual police call You have to read the narrative from the bottom up.
Narrative:
[2/18/2008 10:43:39 PM : MCFADDENGC] PER 436, INF NOTIFIED 920A REPT TAKEN AND SUBJ & VEH ENTERED INTO SYSTEM.
[2/18/2008 22:23:33 : WEIKUMBH] [Cleared with unit 438] [2/18/2008 9:54:43 PM : MCFADDENGC]
PER USMC CAMP PENDLETON, SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND IS NOT INHABITED, NO DOCKS AND IS USED FOR ARTILLERY FIRE AT TIMES.
[2/18/2008 21:45:43 : WEIKUMBH] Unit : 436 438 10-6 [2/18/2008 9:25:47 PM : MCFADDENGC] PER INF, NO PH# CAN BE FOUND AT RESD .
ALL CONTACT WAS DONE THRU E-MAIL & WIFE CANNOT FIND PASSWORD.
WIFE MENTIONED ON FRIDAY THAT HUSB SAID THAT HUSBAND HAD BOUGHT A BOAT & THEY WERE GOING OUT TO SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND WHERE GARY WAS STAYING TO MEET W/GOV`T OFFICIALS & GET $.
[2/18/2008 21:10:49 : WEIKUMBH] Unit : 438 C4 10-6 [2/18/2008 8:37:25 PM : MCFADDENGC] PER US AIRWAYS, SUBJ DID NOT SHOW UP FOR THE FLIGHT AND NO ATTEMPT HAS BEEN MADE TO RESCHEDULE. [2/18/2008 8:11:28 PM : MCFADDENGC]
Landmark Comment: DANA POINT MARINA INN
Landmark: DANA POINT MARINA INN Cross streets: ISLAND WY//CASITAS PL NBH: 971H7 92629 33.4621837961538,-117.6972841211 +++++HAVE UNIT CALL FOR CIRCS++++ SGT ADVISED-SEND 438 & 436 ATC 71 YO MW.
SUBJ MISSED FLIGHT (US AIRWAYS FLT# 2824 800 428-4322) BACK TO PHOENIX TODAY & RENTAL CAR NOT RETURNED.
SUBJ IS DIABETIC & NEEDS INJECTIONS 2 TIMES DAILY.
SUBJ CAME TO FINISH BUSN DEAL IN WHICH A SUBJ OWED HUSBAND A LRG SUM OF $ FROM AN INTERNET DEAL.
SUBJ ARRIVED FRIDAY & HOTEL CLERK STS ANOTHER MALE WAS W/HUSBAND AT CHECK IN BUT NOT LISTED ON THE ROOM.
BLU PT CRUISER LI#6BHH293 RENTED FROM AVIS LONG BCH AIRPORT WAS DUE TO BE RETURNED TODAY AT 0900 HRS & NOT RETURNED.
SUBJ MISSED FLIGHT- UNITED AIRWAYS FLT#2824.
CHECK ROOM & LOOK IN PLOT FOR VEH. ADV DISPO.
SUBJ UTL FROM ALL LOCAL HOSP & SAN DIEGO AS WELL.
___________________________________


~I hope by checking Vendrick's computer back home, they will have enough evidence in case they do not find poor Mr Vendrick :(
"""ALL CONTACT WAS DONE THRU E-MAIL & WIFE CANNOT FIND PASSWORD. """
~S

[starling]

TODAY UPDATE - 'Someone' replaced the boat's engine after the trip :(

http://www.knbc.com/news/15415548/detail.html?rss=la&psp=news
February 26, 2008

LOS ANGELES -- There is a new development in the search for a missing Arizona businessman who disappeared in Orange County about a week ago.
Investigators are now searching for a missing boat engine in connection with the case.
Robert Vendrick, a businessman from Phoenix, Ariz., disappeared after going on a boat with business partner Gary Shawkey, investigators said.
Investigators said someone replaced the engine on that boat after the trip. The original motor is missing, according to police........

:rose: for swift justice

[starling]

This article says the boat's anchor is missing:

An investigation into the disappearance of Phoenix businessman Robert Lee Vendrick revealed that Vendrick's business associate and person of interest in the case, Gary Shawkey, replaced the engine of the sailboat that the two had recently purchased.
The boat's anchor and several feet of chain were not on the 23-foot sailboat either, police said. The two had bought the boat shortly before Vendrick was declared missing..................
The two apparently bought the boat to sail out to San Clemente Island, which is controlled by the US Navy.
Shawkey told police that the engine had not been working properly, and he had replaced it, said Jim Amormino, of the Orange County Sheriffs Department, on Tuesday.
"We have a missing engine, and a missing person," Amormino said. Amormino has called the circumstances surrounding the case "highly suspicious."
A dive-team found an anchor outside of Dana Point Harbor, but police could not confirm whether it was the anchor in question..............
Police called the business deal "highly secretive" and said it was to involve high-ranking government officials, although no officials have been identified in the case............

[starling]

video update~
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local&id=5983939

[starling]

http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_8386980
Authorities are now trying to determine if an old anchor, discovered by divers in a Dana Point mooring, belonged to the Odyssey, he said.
Shawkey also told authorities that he replaced the boat's four-stroke, 1983 Honda outboard engine after it died the first day he took the boat out on Feb. 15.
He reportedly left the old engine sitting on a fueling dock in Dana Point.
*Authorities are now searching for the engine and are asking for the public's help. Amormino said the engine is a key part of the investigation.

[starling]

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0303abrk-vendrickupdate0303-ON.html

[cteall]

I am new to this board, this is my first post, please forgive me if I am not doing something properly. I have been following this case and now I am completely baffled. He had not been heard from since Feb 16 and even had a fire still burning in his fireplace in his hotel room in California. It was documented by US Airways that he did not get on his return flight home to Phoenix on Feb 18. Now LE thinks he was at the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport having dinner on February 19th. Something is really wrong here, it really seems that it would be against his will since his family or wife have not heard from him.

[starling]

Hi cteall, welcome
I thought that bizarre also...maybe the news source has the date wrong?
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0303abrk-vendrickupdate0303-ON.html
The Orange County Sheriff's Department is looking for anyone who might have seen Vendrick, his business partner Gary Shawkey, and possibly a third man having dinner at a hotel or restaurant near Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport between 6 and 10 p.m. Feb. 19, spokesman for the Sheriff's Department Jim Amormino said.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23306870/
Person of interest says he returned partner to Dana harbor
........told investigators he took his business partner back to Dana Point Harbor after the 71-year-old Phoenix man had a change of heart during a boat trip to cash in on a get-rich-scheme. Gary A. Shawkey said he continued on alone, sailing the 23-foot sailboat to Long Beach, unaware of the fate of his partner, Robert Lee Vendrick.........


re: the fireplace burning
Possibly the perp staged the room after getting rid of poor Mr Vendrick?JMO.
~S

[cteall]

Hi starling, thanks for the welcome! I have put together some dates and there are definitely a few discrepancies. Not sure if Mr. Vendrick arrived in CA on the 15th or the 16th, but that doesn't appear to be significant either way.

One article stated that he called his wife on Saturday 2/16 and told her he was preparing for a boat trip. Apparently this was the first his family had heard anything about a boat trip associated with this "investment deal."

He was supposed to return home on Monday 2/18. When I looked up US Airways flight number 2824 it was supposed to leave Long Beach at 12:55PM and arrive into Phoenix at 3:17PM. It is very clear he did not get on that flight. It was stated that his wife called LE after he did not return home as scheduled. She probably called late afternoon or early evening on Monday 2/18. Sometime on Monday his hotel room was checked, that is when the fire was in the fireplace, his clothes were neatly folded and his diebetic medication was found. Since the wife didn't call until well after 3:30 in AZ which is 2:30 in CA it was sometime well after that when the hotel room was checked.

Now where it starts to get confusing is on Tuesday. "Weird" things were happening Tueday night:

"Boat recovered Tuesday night in Long Beach"

"8:00PM Gary Shawkey called deputies from a phone booth in Long Beach."

And now......he was possibly in Phoenix between 6:00PM - 10:00PM on Tuesday with Gary??

Since Phoenix is a 4 - 5 hour drive from Long Beach, it would not be possible for GS to be in both places. But, could they have possibly meant that they may have had dinner in Phoenix on Monday night? Since he didn't get on his flight as planned late Monday, Phoenix would be the last place they would be looking for him when his wife called LE. Did they leave the hotel on Monday and drive to Phoenix?

Does anyone else have any additional information or possible scenarios on this?

[cteall]

Okay, this seems a lot more logical, apparently there was a mistake of the date that Mr. Vendrick may have had dinner with Mr Shawkey in Phoenix.

The Orange County Sheriff's Department is looking for anyone who might have seen Vendrick, his business partner Gary Shawkey, and possibly a third man having dinner at a hotel or restaurant near Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport between 6 and 10 p.m. Feb. 9, spokesman for the Sheriff's Department Jim Amormino said.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0303abrk-vendrickupdate0303-ON.html

[cteall]

Here's the latest information from the newspaper yesterday. I don't know why this case has not received much attention. I believe Mr. Vendrick has met foul play and they are letting the one that might know something leave the state and move on with his life.

http://www.ocregister.com/news/shawkey-vendrick-feb-1995130-investigators-engine

[shelkobe]

So wouldn't the police want to interview whomever Shawkey met with that day? There seems to be no reference to that in any of the newspaper articles. Surely this would shed light on a few things here. (Like if there really were people over on that island for an investor meeting.)

[starling]

Originally posted by cteall
Here's the latest information from the newspaper yesterday. I don't know why this case has not received much attention. I believe Mr. Vendrick has met foul play and they are letting the one that might know something leave the state and move on with his life.

http://www.ocregister.com/news/shawkey-vendrick-feb-1995130-investigators-engine [/*]

Person of interest in missing investor case leaves state

Shawkey told investigators a few days ago that he was headed to Daytona Beach, Fla., to attend an annual motorcycle rider pilgrimage, and that he planned to search for his missing partner at the event, said Sheriff's Department spokesman Jim Amormino. The week, known for wild parties and big motorcycle rides, runs from Feb. 29 to March 9. After that, Shawkey planned to return to his home in Virginia, where he lives with his wife and two teenage sons, Amormino said
http://www.ocregister.com/news/shawk...igators-engine



:confused: He plans to search at a motorcycle event in Florida for Mr Vendrick?

I do wonder why Mrs. Vendrick or the brother have not been on Nancy or Greta
lately.You don't even see the POI's photo flashed on the news. I'm extremely puzzled.
JMO

[sheltiemom]

Originally posted by shelkobe
So wouldn't the police want to interview whomever Shawkey met with that day? There seems to be no reference to that in any of the newspaper articles. Surely this would shed light on a few things here. (Like if there really were people over on that island for an investor meeting.) [/*]

I also find it curious that there is no mention that the LE followed up with the other end of this "business deal". If San Clemente Island is under control of the US Navy, there should surely be some record of whether Gary and his boat ever docked there for a "business Meeting."

I pray gary does not prey on others while in Fla for bikers week.-----------------------------

From Starling's post of 2/26:

PER USMC CAMP PENDLETON, SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND IS NOT INHABITED, NO DOCKS AND IS USED FOR ARTILLERY FIRE AT TIMES.

Does not sound like a meeting was possible there. Does anyone know?

[starling]

Doesn't look like it's something you can do when you feel like it ...
There are some Q & As on this re: visiting San Clemente Island
http://www.scisland.org/forum/articles.php?vtopicid=14
Boating to the Island

[Brooke]

Dont know why there is not much news on this man. Mr. Vendrick has been missing exactly one month today!

http://www.thelog.com/news/logNewsArticle.aspx?x=5474


:rose: Praying for answers...

[starling]

Gary Shawkey said he went to Mexico earlier this week and met with Vendrick but Vendrick jumped on a bus to Mazatlan..:rolleyes:


http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_9258332
The key figure in the February disappearance of an Arizona businessman was apprehended Wednesday after vanishing earlier this week. Gary Shawkey, 44, was apprehended by Border Patrol officials as he crossed from Mexico into Nogales, Ariz., said sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino. Shawkey is on a bus back to Santa Ana, where he will be interviewed by homicide investigators, Amormino said.....
....Shawkey left a voicemail Sunday telling a sheriff's homicide investigator that he was heading to Mexico to pick up the missing man, Robert Lee Vendrick, 71, of Phoenix, who has been missing since February. Shawkey told Arizona law enforcement that he had gone to Tijuana and met Vendrick and "had every intention of turning him over to Border Patrol, but Vendrick jumped on a bus to Mazatlan instead," said Amormino.




This is really sad ...& a sad attempt at saving his own you know what! JMO

[starling]

more details~
http://ktla.trb.com/news/ktla-shawkey-vendrick,0,1107224.story

Him staging his own motel room....only points to him staging Vendrick's room IMO

[Heidi J.]

Originally posted by starling
more details~
http://ktla.trb.com/news/ktla-shawkey-vendrick,0,1107224.story

Him staging his own motel room....only points to him staging Vendrick's room IMO [/*]

I am surprised he didn't say aliens got him:rolleyes:

That has got to be so frustrating to the police.. to wait on evidence/slip up.

[starling]

he looks different now:
http://www.thelog.com/news/logNewsArticle.aspx?x=6921


before:
http://ktla.trb.com/news/ktla-shawkey-vendrick,0,1107224.story
video image
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local&id=5973421

[starling]

It's been one year this month
This case really surprized me.....thought for sure there would be an arrest!
I hope no one else goes 'missing' while the perp is cruising through life.
Feel very sorry for poor Mrs. Vendrick!


JMO

[starling]

Timeline of Robert Vendrick’s Disappearance

Thursday, February 14: Gary Shawkey, 44, of Virginia buys the Odyssey, a 23-foot sailboat, from a San Clemente boat owner. Robert Vendrick’s name is included on the sales receipt, although he is not present at the time of purchase.

Friday, February 15: Vendrick flies from Phoenix to Long Beach, rents a car and drives to Dana Point. He checks in to the Dana Point Marina Inn around 4:30 p.m. and later meets Shawkey for a meal. Shawkey also buys a new outboard engine for the Odyssey and later claims he abandoned the old motor at a fueling dock at Dana Point Harbor after the station closed for the night. The old motor has not been found.

Saturday, February 16: Vendrick meets Shawkey for a trip aboard the Odyssey. The two head out to sea around 7 a.m. or 8 a.m. Vendrick is never seen again. What happened aboard the Odyssey is in dispute. The Vendrick family told authorities that the two were headed to San Clemente Island to meet with highly placed government officials to complete a deal worth more than $1 million.

“Shawkey’s statement is different than the story the family has told us,” says Orange County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Mike Thompson. “They are in conflict with each other.” While the Vendricks don’t know how the sailing trip ended, Shawkey gave his own version. “He said he came back in and dropped him off. [Vendrick] walked away and [Shawkey] never saw him again,” says Thompson. Thompson has not been able to verify Shawkey’s story.

Monday, February 18: Vendrick isn’t on his scheduled flight home to Phoenix and his wife reports him missing. Deputies search his room at the Dana Point Marina Inn and discover his clothes, suitcase and diabetes medicine. They later find his rental car parked in a Harbor parking lot.

Meanwhile, Shawkey buys a new anchor and chain for the Odyssey. He later tells investigators that he lost the original anchor and chain at sea. Investigators have since recovered what they believe to be the anchor and chain, although they admit it’s impossible to be sure if they are the originals.

Shawkey contacts authorities from Long Beach and gives his statement on what happened the morning of the boat trip. Based on the interview and evidence gathered, he remains only a person of interest and is not arrested or charged with any crime. He later returns to the East Coast.

The Latest: Vendrick is still missing, and Shawkey remains a person of interest. “At this point we haven’t run out of leads and we’ll continue working on it,” says Thompson. “We are still looking for any witnesses who have seen Mr. Vendrick or Mr. Shawkey in the Dana Point Harbor.”

http://www.danapointtimes.com/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,print,0&cntnt01articleid=169&cntnt01showtemplate=false&cntnt01returnid=51

[cteall]

Hi Starling, is good to see some renewed interest in Mr. Vendrick. Is so hard to believe that scumbag just walked away a free man. I have checked both Orange Country and Phoenix newspapers multiple times during the past several months. This poor man just vanished off the face of the earth and it appears that nothing is being done about it. Has anyone heard anything at all about this?

[awareness]

I live in Orange County, yet had never heard of this case until I read this thread today. Interesting. How bizarre for some super secret deal on San Clemente island too.... JMO but that makes ZERO sense.

As far as why this isnt more in the news... well other crimes happen, take priority. Still you'd think there would be an update of some kind in the news seeing its a year later. I'll keep my ears/eyes peeled for any local updates.

If a boat is involved... alls I have to say is the Pacific is endless when you look out towards the horizon. Someone could have easily killed and dumped a body overboard w/the old anchor.

Reminds me of the Hawks story. Chilling.

JMO/IMO