CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Wednesday marked 15 years since Robert Lee Hourihan disappeared from Palmyra.

“And unfortunately, we just don’t have the pieces that we need to this puzzle,” said Maj. David Wells, chief deputy of the Fluvanna County Sheriff’s Office. “It might be a 200-piece puzzle. I’ve got 150 pieces, but I believe there are another 50 pieces to make a complete picture. And that’s what we need.”

On April 8, 2011, at approximately 8:00 a.m., the then 33-year-old father was seen at the E.W. Thomas Grocery Store, which Wells says he frequented before going to work in Richmond.

“He was seen as he usually was, getting his morning biscuit, then got into his 2004 Chevy Cavalier and hasn’t been seen or heard from since.”

The initial suspicion was that he was on his way to work when he was last seen. But five weeks later, his car was found abandoned in a Target parking lot in La Plata, Maryland. 

“An associate that we believe he was supposed to be meeting that day happens to be from La Plata, Maryland,” said Wells. “And the car was found close to where that associate’s from. So, there’s some suspicion as to what that associate’s role was in all this. It’s not by happenstance in my opinion, but unfortunately, we don’t have enough information to determine what actually happened on that day.”

Investigators have, however, talked with the associate.

“I have talked to several people and done a lot with that person,” Wells said, “But unfortunately nothing has panned out as far as interviewing associates and some other forensic stuff that we’ve done. And unfortunately, we just don’t have the pieces that we need to solve this puzzle.”

Security cameras in 2011 are far from what is used today. They work by using sensors, most commonly Passive Infrared (PRI), to detect heat signatures from people, animals, or vehicles moving within their range. Wells said audio cassette tapes are what was used, and they had been recorded over what happened when Hourihan’s car was dropped off.

“I’m still hopeful that somebody somewhere knows what happened,” he said. “You know, as time goes by, as people get older, maybe their consciences catch up with them and something they wouldn’t tell us five or ten years ago they may realize it’s time just to come clean.”

Wells said no matter what they have to offer, be it something small or even being able to guide investigators to the body, the tips will be kept anonymous, and there is a $20,000 cash reward available.

“You’re not going to be charged with obstruction if you didn’t tell us something because you were in fear for yourself,” he said. “I don’t care if you tape a note to the door of the sheriff’s office, just give us something.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact Investigator Jeremy Wood at 434-589-8211 or Crime Stoppers at 434-977-4000.