The Disappearance of James Martin Roberts
For this case I watched an episode of Disappeared. It’s season 9 episode 11, titled ‘Breaking Away.’
A college student disappears a few months after returning to school.
Background
James Martin Roberts, or Martin as he was called, was born on August 19, 1996, and is from Kernersville, North Carolina. He was a natural athlete, and played many sports throughout his life. He focused on soccer in high school, and was even named captain. He was also described as funny, popular and smart.
His parents John and Kimberly were divorced, but Martin remained close to both of them. He was also close to his step-mom Abbie, and his half sister Nikki.
James ‘Martin’ Roberts
Disappearance Timeline
On Tuesday, April 19, 2016, Martin attended a popular Appalachian State hangout called the Klondike Cafe. It was a busy night, and Martin attended a trivia night with his fraternity brother.
On Wednesday, April 20, John was expecting a call from Martin. They were planning to talk about Martin’s classes for the next semester, as well as a paycheck Martin was going to get from his restaurant job.
John didn’t reserve a call from Martin on Wednesday. He wasn’t too worried, but became more nervous when he didn’t hear anything by the next day. Martin’s roommates said they saw him in passing on Thursday, April 21. He told them that he was going to the library, took a backpack and water bottle, and left.
Around lunch time, Martin ran into his cousin, who also attended Appalachian State. He walked with her to the bus stop, she got on, and he walked away towards a busy intersection. He had told her that he was going to his fraternity house.
By 4pm, Martin wasn’t home. His friends stopped over to see him, but he wasn’t in his room. He wasn’t responded to any of his friends or family.
Martin was reported missing on April 21, 2016. His roommate knocked on his door, but there was no answer. He found a note in the room, and contacted the police. The roommate also called John, and read him the note. The note is very personal, and Martin’s family has only released some of what was written.
The DWI
Not only did Martin leave behind a note, he left behind his laptop, iPad, cell phone and wallet.
In the note, Martin spoke about several opportunities that his family had given him that he didn’t take advantage of. He never said where he was going or that he was going to hurt himself.
John and Abbie, Martin’s dad and step-mother, said that this wasn’t the first time Martin expressed disappointment in himself. During the first week of his sophomore year, Martin had been at a party, where he was drinking with his friends. He then got into his vehicle, and pulled out in front of a campus police officer. He got a DWI, and was taken into custody.
That night, Martin called his high school girlfriend Kayla, and asked her to pick him up. She lived about two hours away, and was kind of upset that he didn’t call anyone that lived closer. When she got there, Martin had already been released. She said that she and Martin got into an argument, and broke up that night.
Strange Behavior
It took Martin about 24 hours to tell his parents about the DWI. Martin told them that he wanted to come home. They picked him up, and thought he was only going to stay for a day, maybe the weekend. However, he surprised them by saying he was going to take the semester off.
After taking the semester off, Martin went back to Boone, North Carolina. He told his family that he was going to attend Appalachian State again, but they later found out he had enrolled in Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute.
Martin’s friends and roommates said that before he disappeared, he was very secretive. He would return home, they’d asked him where he was and he’d always say he was with his cousin. She later said that they didn’t have the type of relationship where they hangout.
A friend of Martin’s came forward, and said he had picked Martin up for a haircut two days before he went missing. He also took Martin to the bank, and to get groceries. Martin had a mini fridge in his room, but when the police searched the apartment, the fridge was basically empty.
Martin had left a high school group chat, as well as his fraternity group chat just days before he disappeared. He told his high school girlfriend that no one could help him. She was confused about his statements, and said he had never said anything like that to her before.
Possible Sightings
The police received a tip from a young woman who knew Martin. She said on the day that Martin walked away from the bus stop, she saw him walking towards Trout Lake. Trout Lake was a popular spot for college student, and it had water activities, hiking and walking trails.
One possible theory was that Martin had packed food, and decided to go on a hike. Maybe something had happened while he was hiking. A nighttime helicopter search didn’t capture anything with the sensors.
There were two more sightings of Martin in this area, during the time that the woman said she saw Martin. The police thought it was possible, but the tip didn’t lead to anything.
There were also sightings of Martin in coastal North and South Carolina. His family suggested he could have gone to the beach. The family had been on several vacations near Myrtle Beach. The men believed to have been Martin, weren’t actually him.
The Theories
Theory #1: Martin was miserable and depressed.
In Martin’s note, he referenced that he was tired of keeping up a false narrative of his life. He had told his family that he was back at Appalachian State, when really he was doing online classes at the community college. His dad said his grades were fine, but that he hadn’t logged into class for about a month before he disappeared.
The police also found antidepressants in the apartment. Martin wasn’t prescribed to any medication, and the police don’t know where the pills came from.
The police spoke to the counseling center at the school. There was no proof that Martin ever got any mental health counseling.
Theory #2: Martin committed suicide.
Martin didn’t have his license at the time he disappeared. The police checked records for any bus or cab that he might have taken, but there were no records. Martin was also seen several times on foot on the day he walked away from the bus stop.
He was seen walking towards Trout Lake and Winklers Creek Road. The theory is that Martin walked to the lake, and maybe died in the water. However, there have been dive teams, sonar equipment and cadaver dogs that have searched the water. Nothing was been found.
Theory #3: Martin started a new life.
Martin walked away from the bus stop before he disappeared. But, where did he go on foot? His family said that Martin was athletic, but didn’t like to sweat. The police also released a grainy video of Martin walking away from the bus, and he wasn’t exactly dressed for a long walk to start a new life.
Theory #4: Foul play
It’s very possible that someone in Martin’s life hurt him or that he had someone in his life that his family didn’t know about. Maybe Martin hitchhiked somewhere, and that person hurt him.
Martin’s missing poster with an age progression photo
Other
About four months after Martin disappeared, a coroner reached out to the Boone police. They said that they were investigating some human remains that were found. The remains were a leg and foot, that still had a gray New Balance sneaker attached. The sneakers were the same brand that Martin was wearing the day he disappeared. However, the shoe was a size and a half larger than the size that Martin wore.
The police did a parental DNA test, and it was not a match to Martin.
At the time that the Disappeared episode aired, there was a $10,000 reward out for any information about Martin’s case.
Martin’s family has also created a ‘Help Find Martin Roberts’ Facebook page.
Martin has two tattoos. One on his forearm of mountains, representing the mountains of Boone. The second one is lyrics to a Bob Marley song on his ribcage.
If you have any information, you can contact the Boone Police Department at 828-268-6900.
John and Martin
FINAL THOUGHTS
I truly don’t know which theory I believe. I’m leaning towards Martin wanting to escape his old life. I don’t think I believe he committed suicide. There has never been proof of that. You would think that Martin’s remains or any of his personal items would’ve been found.
I think Martin was afraid to reach out to anyone for help, and thought he could get through it on his own. His parents, sister, friends, etc., seemed to really care about. They all said they don’t care where he went or what he did, they just want him back or want some answers. I hope one day there will be some answers.
Sources
https://thecinemaholic.com/is-martin-roberts-missing-or-found-is-he-dead-or-alive/
https://myfox8.com/news/kernersvilles-martin-roberts-still-missing-after-five-years/
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article250836279.html
https://www.facebook.com/groups/HelpFindMartinRoberts/
https://disappearedblog.com/james-martin-roberts/
https://charleyproject.org/case/james-martin-roberts
