The Medical Examiner’s Office of the Western District confirmed the remains located in Danville belonged to Robert Isaac Hurt.
Danville Police began a death investigation after a crew of workers clearing trees along a power line right of way found human skeletal remains late in the afternoon of December 8, 2020.
Hurt’s family reported him missing in December of 2018. Family members found his truck unoccupied on Goodyear Boulevard after the large snowstorm that year. Multiple agencies were involved in the search and investigation into the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
Danville Police notified the Hurt family Thursday evening and worked with them to time this release. We also communicated this information with Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office being they were the lead agency in the missing person’s case.
We recognize that the missing person’s case being closed brings the family some relief, however the Danville Police Department will continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Hurt’s death. The remains showed no evidence of obvious trauma according to a preliminary report, but police are still awaiting results from the full autopsy.
We would like to recognize several agencies that participated in the initial search for Hurt in 2018 and the recovery of the remains. The agencies that supported this effort included Virginia State Police, Angel Search and Rescue, Danville Lifesaving Crew, Danville Fire Department, Caswell County Sheriff’s Office, Search and Rescue Tracking Institute, and Dogs-East.
We ask that that anyone with information in this case please contact us at 434-793-0000 or use our crime tips app CARE at https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=818#.