The Dakota County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help locating a 77-year-old man who disappeared near Prescott Island after his boat was found unoccupied.
Michael William Robinson was last seen during the evening of Tuesday, July 28, near the island. The sheriff’s office issued a missing person alert Friday, July 31, after extensive searches of the surrounding land and water failed to locate him.
Robinson is described as 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighing approximately 150 pounds. He has blue eyes and wears glasses, although investigators said he may not currently have the glasses with him.
He may have been wearing a yellow shirt when he was last seen. Robinson also wears a silver bracelet on his right wrist, a detail that authorities hope could help members of the public identify him.
The discovery of Robinson’s empty boat near Prescott Island prompted a search of the area. The sheriff’s office reported that extensive ground and water searches had been conducted, but Robinson had not been found as of the release of the alert.
Authorities have not released additional information about the type of boat, the exact location where it was found or the circumstances leading up to Robinson’s disappearance.
The missing person alert is intended to reach residents, boaters and others who may have been near Prescott Island during the evening of July 28. Even a brief sighting or a detail that initially seemed unimportant could help investigators better understand where Robinson may have gone after he was last seen.
The sheriff’s office is asking anyone who was in the area to think back to Tuesday evening and consider whether they saw Robinson, his boat or someone matching his description. Investigators are also seeking information from anyone who may know about Robinson’s plans that evening or his possible whereabouts.
Robinson’s yellow shirt may provide one of the most noticeable identifying details. His silver bracelet, worn on his right wrist, could also help distinguish him. Because he may not have his glasses, his appearance could differ slightly from how friends or acquaintances normally recognize him.
The search has included efforts both on land and in the water near the island. The sheriff’s office did not provide details about which agencies, equipment or personnel participated in those operations.
No update announcing that Robinson had been located had been released with the information available for this story.
Missing person investigations can depend heavily on information from people who were nearby before a disappearance was reported. A person who remembers seeing a boat, someone walking near the shoreline or activity around the island may have information that helps establish a timeline.
Authorities are not asking members of the public to conduct their own searches. Instead, anyone with possible information should contact law enforcement so investigators can evaluate and follow up on the report.
The sheriff’s office continues to seek information about Robinson and where he may have gone after he was last seen. The alert remains focused on finding anyone who had contact with him or observed activity near Prescott Island during the evening of July 28.
Anyone who has seen Michael William Robinson or has information that could help locate him is asked to call the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office at 651-322-2323.