FBI Special Agent in Charge of the San Antonio Field Office Christopher Combs; Acting United States Marshal David Sligh, United States Marshals Service (USMS), Western District of Texas; Chief of Police Brian Manley, Austin Police Department (APD); and Director Steven McCraw, Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), announced the addition of a suspect wanted for a murder in Austin to the FBI’s list of Ten Most Wanted Fugitives today. Fugitive Robert Van Wisse marks the 511th addition to the Top Ten list, which has been in existence since 1950. Van Wisse is being sought for his alleged involvement in the attack and murder of a young woman on September 20, 1983. He should be considered armed and dangerous.
At approximately 8:27 a.m., on September 20, 1983, the Austin Police Department responded to a deceased person call and located the body of Laurie Stout in an office building in Austin, Texas. Stout’s death was later ruled by the medical examiner a homicide due to strangulation and asphyxia. Stout had been working a late-night shift cleaning the building when she was murdered. At the time of her death, Stout was only 22 years of age. She was a daughter, sister, wife, and mother to a 19-month-old baby daughter.
On the night of the murder, Van Wisse, who was a student enrolled at the University of Texas-Austin at the time, was in the building registering for a course. Through investigation, it was determined that Van Wisse was one of the last persons seen in the building before the murder. It is believed that Van Wisse fled the Austin area when he learned he was being evaluated as a murder suspect.
Screenshot of FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitive poster for Robert Francis Van Wisse
On October 3, 1996, a state arrest warrant was issued for Van Wisse by the state of Texas, Travis County, after he was charged with murder. On March 6, 1997, Van Wisse was also charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, and a federal warrant was issued by the United States District Court, Western District of Texas, Austin.
“Van Wisse has been charged with a violent and brutal murder which took a young woman from her family and deprived a baby girl of her mother’s love forever,” said Christopher Combs, special agent in charge, of the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office. “While the FBI and our partner agencies have worked very hard on this case for many years, we are all deeply committed to pursuing every new lead and conducting a thorough investigation. We will never forget and will not rest until Robert Van Wisse is located, captured, and brought to justice.”
“I would like to thank all our partners that have kept this case active, with the attention it needed, so that justice can be attained for the victim, Laurie Stout, her family, and her friends,” said Chief Manley, APD. “I would especially like to acknowledge the Austin Police Department Cold Case Unit for the tireless efforts they have committed to this case and investigation. I look forward to the day when Robert Van Wisse is no longer a fugitive.”
“It is a tremendous injustice for the victims, their loved ones, and the entire community when a murder goes unsolved,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “The Texas Department of Public Safety remains committed to the search for Robert Van Wisse, along with any evidence that might bring resolution to this case. We are pleased to see him added to the FBI’s list of Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, and we urge anyone with information related to this horrific crime to come forward.”
“Robert Van Wisse has been on the run for more than 30 years, but those years have only made us more determined to bring his run to an end,” said Acting U.S. Marshal David Sligh. “The collaborative investigative efforts by these premier agencies will leave no stone unturned until Robert Van Wisse is arrested and held to account for this senseless crime that left a young child without a mother. Justice will be served in this case.”
“The Travis County District Attorney’s Office has been working with state and federal authorities to locate this fugitive and return him to Travis County, where he’s been indicted for the 1983 murder of Laurie Stout. We appreciate the diligent effort in continuing to investigate and pursue this defendant so that justice may be served for our community and the family of Laurie Stout,” stated Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg. During the course of this investigation, investigators received tips and leads indicating Van Wisse was in New York City, Washington, D.C., Central Texas, and Mexico. It was previously reported that Van Wisse was working on a coconut and banana plantation and as an English teacher in Mexico.
Van Wisse is known to have used a variety of aliases to include: Francisco Salas, Roberto Francisco Salas, Robert F. Vanwisse, Robert Wisse, Robert F. Van Wisse, Robert Francis Van Wisse, Robert Francis Vanwise, and Robert Vanwisse.
Van Wisse is further described as follows:
- Date of birth used: February 3, 1965
- Place of birth: Mexico
- Hair: Brown
- Eyes: Brown
- Height: 5’6”
- Weight: 180 pounds
- Race: White (Hispanic)
- Nationality: Mexican
- Languages: Fluent in Spanish and English
“The historical success of the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list is directly related to the assistance we receive from the people we serve,” said Stephen Richardson, assistant director of the Criminal Investigative Division at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. “I thank the public for their contributions and participation in this program. We continue to encourage communities to be the eyes and ears of the FBI as we seek to track and arrest criminals.”
Van Wisse replaces Fidel Urbina on the FBI’s Top Ten List. Urbina, who was wanted in Chicago, Illinois for murder and kidnapping and federally for UFAP, was arrested on a ranch in Mexico in September 2016. The FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list was established in March 1950. Since then, 479 fugitives have been apprehended or located; 159 of them as a result of citizen cooperation. Since its inception, there have been two fugitives wanted from San Antonio FBI placed on the list. In addition, four fugitives that have been placed on the list were arrested in the San Antonio FBI area of responsibility. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading directly to the arrest of Robert Van Wisse. Anyone with information concerning Robert Van Wisse should take no action themselves, but should immediately contact 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). Tips can also be submitted online. All information can remain anonymous and confidentiality is guaranteed. Individuals calling from outside of the United States should contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Additional information concerning Van Wisse, including his wanted poster and the FBI’s list of Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, can be found by visiting the FBI’s website.
The fugitive investigation is being conducted by FBI San Antonio’s Central Texas Violent Crimes Task Force, Austin Resident Agency Office; USMS; APD; DPS; and the Texas Rangers.
(News release from the FBI San Antonio Field Office)
