Robert was last seen on June 7, 2000 at approximately 7:00 p.m. in his hometown of Santa Fe, New Mexico. He was walking to his friend's home in the 2900 block of Bellemah Drive at the time, which was three blocks from Robert's family's residence. He never arrived and has not been heard from again.

Robert's family attempted to locate him by themselves for several hours after he was last seen. They summoned law enforcement when they failed to find any sign of the child. Authorities searched Robert's family's residence, their vehicles and their yard and tested the family's couch in an attempt to uncover evidence relating to his case, but nothing was found. Robert's loved ones have stated that they felt they were harassed by law enforcement officials, particularly after Robert's initial disappearance. Authorities have said that they believe Robert knew his possible abductor(s) or that the individual(s) involved may have known him.

Police are still searching for a man they say was in the neighborhood the week of Robert's disappearance. The man was riding a bicycle and had long hair tinged with gray. Police believe he may be a witness to whatever happened to Robert, and they would like to question him. The individual has never been identified or located.

Robert's older brother, Ronnie Romero, failed a polygraph exam shortly after Romero vanished in 2000. A photograph of Ronnie is posted below this case summary. He was twenty-two years old at the time of Robert's disappearance. He left an alcohol rehabilitation center twice, saying that he felt counselors questioned him too often about Robert's case. There have been no arrests in Robert's case and his loved ones have maintained they are not involved in his disappearance. All of them except Ronnie took polygraphs and passed. Robert's father died in October 2002, over two years after his son's disappearance.

Other members of Robert's family are suing the city of Santa Fe and its police department, alleging that their initial mishandling of the child's case may have resulted in his death. The family requested access to the police department's files on the case for their lawsuit, but a judge prohibited them from seeing the files because the investigation is still ongoing.

In late 2005, Robert's mother, Evelyn Romero, told reporters that authorities were seeking an indictment against Ronnie in Robert's disappearance. She stated she had been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury regarding her missing son's case, and her two minor children were taken from her custody temporarily. They have since been returned to her. Authorities would not confirm Evelyn's statements, saying they were not allowed to comment on grand jury investigations. Ronnie was, however, arrested on unrelated charges in January 2006.

A child's skull was discovered in California in January 2001, which matched the descriptions of both Romero and Xiana Fairchild, a girl who disappeared from California in December 1999. The remains were determined to be those of Fairchild, whose homicide remains unsolved. Another skeleton found in June 2002 was thought to be Robert's, but DNA testing ruled out that possibility.

In 2006, investigators announced they were seeking John David Martinez in Robert's case. A photograph of Martinez is posted below this case summary. Martinez is not being called a suspect in Robert's disappearance, but authorities want to question him about it. He has a warrant out for his arrest on unrelated charges of concealing his identity and failing to appear in court. Evelyn stated she does not know Martinez.

Robert's case is still under investigation. Authorities insinutated that an arrest made have been imminent in his disappearance during the summer of 2001, but no charges were filed. Investigators believe that foul play may have been involved in Robert's case and that he is somewhere in the vicinity of Santa Fe. He has no history of running away from home. His case is being investigated as a homicide.

Left: John David Martinez;
Right: Ronnie Romero