In January 1974, 27-year-old Robert A. Woods left his Bay City home to wash his new car before reporting to work at General Motors in Saginaw. He never made it to his shift. His car was later found near City Auto Parts on Broadway, parked in a place his wife said did not fit the man she knew. Robert left behind his wife, Carol, two young daughters, Shelly and Kristy, unanswered questions, and a family forced to live inside the silence.

If you have information about Robert A. Woods or any missing person in Michigan, contact your local law enforcement agency, the Michigan State Police Missing Persons Coordination Unit, or submit information through NamUs, the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System.

And if this episode moved you, please follow Malice in the Mitten wherever you listen. It helps more people discover Michigan’s forgotten stories — and it helps us keep saying the names that deserve to be remembered.

#MaliceInTheMitten #RobertWoods #BayCityMichigan #MichiganMissing #TrueCrimePodcast

Hoted and produced by Tracy Preston, featuring Christine Mulligan

Researched and written by Tracy Preston

Original music created exclusively for Malice in the Mitten by Tracy Preston

Original artwork by Todd Preston

Sources:

“Robert A. Woods Missing Article.” The Bay City Times, 1974. Newspaper clipping provided by anonymous Bay City listener.

“Woods, Robert Arthur.” Bay City Times obituary, Legacy / MLive, 2003. The obituary listing confirms Robert Arthur Woods of Bay City died January 24, 1974, at age 27, and notes his GM Saginaw employment, Shrine Temple membership, and interest in automobiles, motorcycles, and snowmobiling.

“Missing Persons.” Michigan State Police, Michigan.gov.

“Missing Persons Coordination Unit.” Michigan State Police, Michigan.gov.

“NamUs: Home.” National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, National Institute of Justice.