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Iraq war vet disappears, car found burning with bullet casing nearby

Posted at 7:02 PM, Mar 14, 2013
and last updated 2013-03-15 06:18:10-04

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, Va. (WTVR) - Investigators in Northumberland and surrounding counties are searching for a man missing.

Marcus Robinson, 29, was last seen by friends and family on Saturday evening.

Around 11 a.m. Sunday, police found Robinson’s 2006 Lincoln Towncar burning on Butter Road, not far from his home on Georgetown Road.

Robinson’s family says they’ve spent the past three days combing the woods, looking for any clues into his disappearance.  They say they found a bullet casing not far from the car’s location.

Police from several jurisdictions are also searching for Robinson by air, on land and water.

Robinson's car was found burning not far from his home.

Robinson's car was found burning not far from his home.

Robinson is the father of a three-year-old daughter.  He served in the U.S. Army and finished a tour in Iraq in 2005.

“We’re thinking the worst, but trying not to,” says Robinson’s brother, Antione.

Northumberland County Sheriff Charles Wilkins says an accelerant was probably used to ignite the flames in Robinson’s car.

“Right now, we don’t have any proof positive that there was foul play but we’re treating it as a definite possibility,” Wilkins says.

While a projectile object, possibly a bullet, was shot out through the driver’s side door, Wilkins says they have little forensic evidence to go on in this investigation.

“It’s a situation where we’re waiting for any type of leads, somebody reporting something they may have seen,” Wilkins says.

Investigators from Lancaster and Richmond Counties are assisting in the investigation.  Virginia State Police and The National Guard have also been assisting with searches and the arson investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Northumberland County Sheriff’s office at (804)580-TIPS.