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Open caseUnsolved murder

The Disappearance of Robert Picard

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Status
Open case
Case type
Unsolved murder
Person involved
Robert Patrick Picard
Location
Bunnell, FloridaFlagler County
Date
Investigating agency
Flagler County Sheriff's Office
Case number
97-23163FCSO cold case
Last checked

The story

In short: An open murder case involving Robert Patrick Picard from Bunnell, Florida, September 1997. Flagler County Sheriff's Office is the investigating agency (case no. 97-23163). Tips: Flagler County Sheriff's Office, 386-313-4911.

Our summary of the public record. The small numbers show where each fact comes from. Tap one to see the source.

Robert Patrick Picard, 37, lived in a rented trailer on West County Road 2006 in the Mondex area west of Bunnell. In September 1997 he was reported missing after he had not been seen for several weeks. (FCSO's case page gives the report date as Sept. 20, 1997; its case card and 2014 news coverage give Sept. 30.)

When detectives went to his home, they found evidence that pointed to foul play, including a large amount of dried blood and signs that a body may have been moved out of the residence. The Flagler County Sheriff's Office lists the case as an unsolved homicide. Robert's body has never been found; FCSO notes long-running rumors that it may have been left in or around Dead Lake in western Flagler County.

Detectives reopened the case in December 2014 after receiving new information. At the time, the Sheriff's Office said someone may have had relevant information but been reluctant to come forward out of concern for their own safety, and asked that person to reach out so the Picard family could finally get answers.

Timeline

What happened, in order.

  1. Robert Picard is reported missing after not being seen for several weeks (FCSO's page says Sept. 20; its case card and 2014 coverage say Sept. 30).123

  2. Detectives find evidence of foul play inside his home on West County Road 2006.1

  3. FCSO reopens the case after new information and appeals for anyone who was afraid to come forward.23

  4. Still listed by FCSO as an unsolved homicide; his remains have never been found.14

Key facts

What is known for sure. Each one is checked against a source.

  • Detectives found a large amount of dried blood in his home and evidence suggesting a body may have been dragged from it.1
  • His body has never been found; FCSO notes rumors that it may have been disposed of in or around Dead Lake in western Flagler County.1
  • He was 37 when he disappeared.23
  • FCSO said in 2014 that someone may have been reluctant to come forward out of concern for their own safety.23

Still unanswered

What nobody knows yet.

  1. When was Robert Picard last seen alive in the late summer of 1997, and by whom?
  2. Where are his remains?

Photos & video

Official releases, public-domain and openly licensed files, credited. Tap a photo to see it larger.

View larger photo: Robert Picard, as pictured on the FCSO cold case file
Robert Picard, as pictured on the FCSO cold case filePhoto released by the Flagler County Sheriff's Office on its cold case page · Official release
View larger photo: FCSO Cold Case Unit case card for Robert Picard (case #97-23163)
FCSO Cold Case Unit case card for Robert Picard (case #97-23163)Flagler County Sheriff's Office · Official release

Sources

Everything on this page comes from these 6 public sources. News coverage is linked, never copied.

Official records

  1. 11997 Picard (Cold Case #97-23163)Flagler County Sheriff's Office, October 7, 2026
  2. 4Cold Case Unit (unsolved cases index)Flagler County Sheriff's Office, October 7, 2026
  3. 5Submit a Crime TipFlagler County Sheriff's Office, October 7, 2026
  4. 6Crime Tips (Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida, 1-888-277-TIPS, westopcrime.com)Volusia Sheriff's Office

News coverage

  1. 2Detectives seek help in '97 disappearanceNews4Jax, December 9, 2014
  2. 3Detectives reopen 1997 disappearance case, seek helpPalm Coast Observer, December 9, 2014

Community Discussion

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