Satinsky mystery baffles searchers

Robin F. Satinsky, 89, resident of Sahuarita, went missing sometime during the end of October or early November.

The mystery of what happened is one the Sahuarita Police Department wants to solve more than four months after initial word of her disappearance.

The case remains active, with Detective Steve Bunting, among others, working the investigation. Stories from various friends and neighbors and personal information have been gathered. There are those who remember seeing an older, white-haired woman standing at the Interstate 19 and Sahuarita Road overpass, asking directions from passing motorists on how to get to Tucson.

“We have been working intensely with family, friends and all of the community to discover what happened to Robin Satinsky,” Bunting said. “We are requesting anyone who may have stopped to assist this person found on the northbound off-ramp on Oct. 31, to please contact the Sahuarita Police Department.”

This traffic incident began and ended between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Halloween morning. A passing off duty Border Patrol officer was among those that saw this woman, and decided to double back to see if he could help. By then, the woman was gone from the busy highway interchange. Could it have been Satinsky?

Robin Satinsky moved to Sahuarita in 1998, after her husband died. Robin and her daughter, Ruth Satinsky, are on the title of the home, which sits on a good-sized lot that backs up to the copper mine hills. Neighbors are close, but not that close.

The Satinskys were serious collectors of fine art and rare books. The rare book collection was so well-known that Robin was a continuing reference point for the University of Arizona library, helping them build their own collection, as well as offering her own rare pieces for various library exhibitions. It was the good friendship Satinsky had with a woman from the University of Arizona library that began this narrative that has not yet ended.

Statistics kept by the National Center for Missing Adults puts the number of adults missing at 100,000. These names are in their current database, and that number isn’t static. The NCMA was born back in the Clinton administration with Kristen’s Law. It was to be a national clearinghouse for missing adults in 2002.

However, during the last few years, the government monies for NCMA have been cut back to $148,000. By comparison, the Missing and Exploited Children, funded also by the government, receives over $35 million dollars per year to assist with missing children cases. During the year 2005, the National Center for Missing Adults handled 23,421 missing person reports. An adult is considered to be over 18 years.

The majority of those missing adults fall into the 18-24 year old group. The other largest group are adults endangered with mental problems, diminished mental capacity, early onset Alzheimer’s disease, or simply age. A sub-category is designated “a wanderer.” Those that wander have no clear point of reference. They can be completely lucid and function well or they become confused, disoriented and eventually may become missing.

On Nov. 5, the Sahuarita Police were asked to do a “welfare check” on Satinsky. There was no one at home. There was no sign of a forced entry. The first time the police went to check the home, they had to break into it. There was nothing missing. Her purse was still there. What as not there was her automobile — a gray, 1980s model Mercury station wagon with long ago dents on the driver’s side front door.

Two days later, the Tucson Police found the wagon in the Food City parking lot near 12th Avenue and Valencia. The car was impounded, checked for fingerprints, which were entered into the vast database of possible matches. Even small samples of DNA were taken. The car was then returned to the Sahuarita police for their inspection and additional testing for any sort of evidence.

By now, the Sahuarita investigation was in full swing. Whoever had any connection with Satinsky was questioned. Additional DNA samples were taken. The newspapers, radio and television stations picked up the story. It was time to get the word out to the public that anyone who had any information at all concerning the location or the health or welfare of the woman were asked to contact the police.

Satinsky had once been a competitive golfer and still loved to visit courses and putt. She was even known to give a lesson or two. Public golf course personnel were questioned. Some remembered her well.

”We are hoping to get some help from the community in Southern Arizona who may have seen her to contact us,” Sgt. Matt McGlone of the Sahuarita Police Department said, “people who may know or may have seen her vehicle in their area. We need them to give us a call. We would like to follow up on every possible lead that we have.”

Ruth Satinsky and her grandson came to Sahuarita, not only to help in the local search for her mother, but also to distribute fliers throughout both Green Valley and Sahuarita. They had some tough decisions to make, as well.

To leave the house unattended for an unknown period of time brought them to the decision to clear the home of its contents and ship all of it back to Satinksy’s home in Sweden. The art, the books, everything was cleared with the hopes that one day they might all be united again.

Robin Satinsky said: “The Police Department has made an extraordinary effort to find my mother, and that I am extremely grateful to Detective Steve Bunting and his colleagues.”

Sahuarita police are looking at all options.

McGlone said: “We haven’t ruled out foul play,” he said. “Anything is possible, and we’re just trying to look at every possible angle.”

Unlike the television crime programs that wrap things up in 60 minutes, this case is open, as new as it was back four months ago and will stay open because of the determination of the people who have been so impacted by this loss.

Sahuarita Mayor Lynne Skelton: “It is always especially heartbreaking to hear about a case like this one involving a senior citizen. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Satinsky family.

“I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the Sahuarita Police Department for their tireless efforts on this case. They really have gone above and beyond the call of duty to try to locate Mrs. Satinsky.”

Mary Ann Linforth is a freelance writer. Contact her at maryann146@aol.com. Comment on this story online at www.gvnews.com.