SIERRA VISTA, Arizona — The Sierra Vista Police Department is urgently searching for 81-year-old Robert Grabell, who went missing on April 9, 2025, after leaving the Sierra Vista Library around 11:30 a.m. Robert, a familiar face to many in the community, was last seen wearing a light grey sweater and grey sweatpants. At 5’8” tall and 150 pounds, with grey hair and hazel eyes, he’s a beloved grandfather whose disappearance has left his family and neighbors desperate for answers. The Sierra Vista community is coming together, hoping to bring him home safely.
Robert’s family last saw him that morning when he left for the library, a place he often visited to read and chat with friends. His routine was to spend a few hours there before heading home for lunch, but this time, he didn’t return. His daughter, waiting at home just a mile away, grew worried when he didn’t show up by early afternoon. She called the library, only to learn he’d left hours earlier. With no sign of him along his usual route through the quiet streets near Coronado Drive, the family contacted the Sierra Vista Police, fearing the worst for the 81-year-old, who may be vulnerable due to his age.
The news has shaken the tight-knit Sierra Vista community, where Robert is known for his warm smile and love of sharing stories about his days as a teacher. Neighbors describe him as a kind man who often walked to the library, waving to kids playing in the nearby park. “He’s like a grandpa to everyone here,” one neighbor said, her voice trembling. “We just want him back home.” The thought of Robert, possibly confused or lost in the chilly April weather, has sparked fear among residents. At 81, he may not be prepared for a night outside, especially with temperatures dropping into the 50s after sunset.
The Sierra Vista Police are working tirelessly to find him, combing through the area around the library and nearby parks. They’ve deployed officers and volunteers to search on foot, focusing on places Robert might have wandered, like the trails near Len Roberts Park, a spot he sometimes visited. The police are also reviewing security footage from the library and surrounding businesses, hoping for clues about which direction he went. They’re asking anyone who was near the Sierra Vista Library around 11:30 a.m. on April 9 to think back—did they see an elderly man in a grey sweater, perhaps looking lost or unsure?
Time is critical in cases like this, and the Sierra Vista Police are urging the public to help. If you have any information about Robert Grabell’s whereabouts, please call 911 immediately. Even the smallest detail could make a difference—like spotting a grey sweatpant leg near a park bench or hearing an elderly man asking for directions. The community’s eyes and ears are vital to bringing Robert home. His family is holding onto hope, leaning on the strength of Sierra Vista’s residents to help find their loved one before it’s too late.
