Son's disappearance a horrifying ordeal

LAKELAND, Fla - Pamela and Tom Wiles of Toledo, the parents of Robert Wiles who was been missing for the past year and a half, said Wednesday his disappearance has been a horrifying experience.

The Toledo native disappeared in April of 2008. He was last seen in Lakeland, Fla., near Tampa, flying for his parent's airline National Flight Service, which is headquartered in Swanton at Toledo Express Airport.

FBI agents in Florida arrested Stobert Lindell Holt, 42, Dec. 18 and are holding him in connection in Wiles' disappearance. Authorities recovered enough evidence to charge Holt with murder and kidnapping.

The year-and-a-half ordeal has had a devastating effect on the family, the Wiles said through an FBI statement issued by the FBI at their request.

"Daily, we carry the burden of the unknowing, heartache, trauma, and unease," said FBI Agent Dave Couvertier. "We resist tears in the hardest hours, we thrive on all the amazing love and support our family and Robert receives, we do not resist the sympathy and stimulation of social interaction, we take one day at a time."

The FBI the Wiles are "in seclusion and coping with the recent developments involving their son."

Wiles was 26 when he vanished April 1, 2008.

Holt, a former employee of National Flight Services in Lakeland, Fla., faces charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, extortion and written threats to kill or do bodily harm.

The Wiles said they hoped their son was alive. In late April 2008 his parents received a ransom note and offered a $250,000 reward for information leading to a conviction in the case.

Below is the statement in full from from Thomas and Pamela Wiles:

"The Federal Bureau of Investigation embraced Robert Wiles' case bringing us to this point in the investigation. Their tenacity and dedication has involved many thousands of hours to bring in the evidence necessary to arrest and charge this individual. We are assured that the investigation shall continue until a total resolution is achieved.

We thank the Lakeland Police Department, Polk County Sheriff's Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Office of the State Attorney, and all of the other agents and investigators who have brought the investigation to this point.

We ask the Media for their patience, indulgence, and empathy in dealing with our family.

This has been, and continues to be a horrifying experience which has, and continues to have, a devastating effect on our family life, business, and that of Robert's friends and associates.

Daily, we carry the burden of the unknowing, heartache, trauma, and unease. We resist tears in the hardest hours, we thrive on all the amazing love and support our family and Robert receives, we do not resist the sympathy and stimulation of social interaction, we take one day at a time, and we have great faith in the professionals working this investigation.

The world has lost a fine young man, citizen, and friend. The tremendous devotion from the public, friends, and family keeps us strong in the pressures we have to endure."