Police search former home of missing disabled woman, family seeks answers
UPDATE: ELKHART, Ind. -- The Elkhart Police Department says they were assisting with the execution of a search warrant at a home on Fieldhouse Avenue Wednesday night as part of an ongoing investigation.
ABC57 learned that the residence is the former home of 68-year-old Linda Faye Robinson, a missing disabled woman. She once lived there with her caretakers.
Investigators confirmed no arrests were made at the house overnight, but the caretakers who live there are already behind bars, facing multiple charges of fraud against Robinson.
Robinson was reported missing by her family and the Elkhart police in April and has not been seen or heard from since.
Robinson's nephew told ABC57 on Thursday that she has the mental capacity of a child, and the people who live in the home being searched last night were Robinson's longtime caretakers, who became court-appointed guardians for her in 2010.
Court documents state 66-year-old Loni Collins and his 67-year-old wife, Debra Collins, remain behind bars at the Elkhart County Jail since their arrest in late July.
Loni is charged with Felony Fraud and Theft for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars in Robinson's Social Security disability checks.
Debra is facing the same Fraud and Theft counts plus Battery, Intimidation, and Criminal Recklessness charges.
They both allegedly told police they hadn't seen Robinson in over a year.
Her family is convinced the couple knows more, and they want help finding out what really happened.
Tavarri Robinson, Linda's nephew, said, "We want police and everyone, if you have information about her whereabouts, if you know something, say something. And for the home that she was living in, we want those people as well to come forth and say something or do something, you know. We feel like this has gone too far along for someone with such a big bubbly personality to be silenced, and we have no clue what’s going on, what she’s doing, or where she’s at."
Tavarri and other family members staged a protest vigil outside the Collins' home Thursday evening, demanding answers on exactly what happened to Linda Faye Robinson, calling for justice.
Two of Faye Robinson’s sisters spoke to ABC57. They shared good memories and things they love about Faye.
Faye’s sister, Linda V. Robinson, says Faye loved riding her bike and walking when she was younger.
“She was kind of funny. She was also capacitated, but she had the ability to understand. We laughed, we joked, she always seemed to watch after me,” said Linda V. Robinson.
Another of Faye’s sisters, Catherin Cullens, said she has so many great memories with Faye.
“She kept me on the straight and narrow. And she honestly let me know how she felt about things,” said Cullens.
They also had a plea to anyone who may know something that could help them find her.
"If they know something, say something. If they know anything, that might be able to help us find her or find out what happened to her. You know, the last time they saw her, just say something. You know. Don't be afraid," said Cullens.
Faye's sister, Linda V. Robinson, says she hasn't spoken to her sister in about 2 years.
“I wake up every day wondering, ‘Where is she? Where is she? Where can you be? Faye, come back to me.’ So, I just don't know. I don't have any answers,” said Linda V. Robinson. “I'm looking for some answers, and if she is out here, wherever she's at, know that I'm looking for her, the family's looking for her, and we'll never give up looking for her.”
If you have any information, please call Detective Scott Hauser at 574-389-4797 or the Elkhart Police Department at 574-295-7070.
ORIGINAL STORY: ELKHART, Ind. -- The Elkhart Police Department says they were assisting with the execution of a search warrant at a home on Fieldhouse Avenue Wednesday night as part of an ongoing investigation.
ABC57 learned that residence is the former home of 68-year-old Linda Faye Robinson, a missing disabled woman. She once lived there with her caretakers.
Investigators confirmed no arrests were made at the house overnight, but the caretakers who live there are already behind bars facing multiple charges of fraud against Robinson.
Robinson was reported missing by her family and Elkhart police in April and has not been seen or heard from since.
Robinson's nephew told ABC57 Thursday that she has the mental capacity of a child and the people who live in the home being searched last night were Robinson's longtime caretakers who became court-appointed guardians for her in 2010.
Court documents state 66-year-old Loni Collins and his 67-year-old wife Debra Collins remain behind bars at the Elkhart County Jail since their arrest in late July.
Loni is charged with Felony Fraud and Theft for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars in Robinson's social security disability checks.
Debra is facing the same Fraud and Theft counts plus Battery, Intimidation, and Criminal Recklessness charges.
They both allegedly told police they hadn't seen Robinson in over a year.
Her family is convinced the couple knows more, and they want help finding out what really happened.
Tavarri Robinson, Linda's nephew, said, "We want police and everyone if you have information about what her whereabouts, if you know something say something and for the home that she was living, and we want those people as well to come forth and say something or do something you know. We feel like this is gone too far along for someone with such a big bubbly personality to be silenced and we have no clue what’s going on, what she’s doing, or where she’s at."
Tavarri and other family members are staged a protest vigil outside the Collins' home Thursday evening, demanding answers on exactly what happened to Linda Faye Robinson.