Disappearance of Jones remains local mystery
By BENJAMIN C. SHARP bensharp@journal-spectator.com

One year ago Sunday, Bobby Jones disappeared.

Since then, law enforcement officials have made repeated attempts to locate any trace of the whereabouts of the popular polka DJ and accordion player, from tracking phone and bank records to interviewing family and friends; to combing every square inch of the Colorado River.

So far, nothing of consequence has been found.

That has only intensified the rumors and speculation as to what may have happened to the Boling High School graduate. From Bobby Jones "sightings" across the country and overseas to countless theories about what may have led up to his vanishing, the interest in the case has grown into something of a local legend.

Practically every time a helicopter takes to the skies or a motor boat rumbles down the river, the thought that seems to jump to the minds of area residents is: "They must be looking for Bobby Jones."

Just this past Thursday, for example, staff of the Journal- Spectator and Leader-News were notified by area residents that a helicopter was seen flying along the river in the Hollywood Bottom area. Curiosity was again raised about yet another search for Jones.

A call to the Wharton County Sheriff's Department proved otherwise. Lt. Daniel Marek confirmed that there were no law enforcement-orchestrated searches going on at that moment. The helicopter most likely was checking gas pipeline routes or doing something agricultural in nature, officials surmised.

Yet the next time a helicopter is spotted near the Colorado River, it could very well be involved in the ongoing search for Jones. According to Marek, the searching will continue indefi- nitely. He said Texas Ranger David Maxwell, for instance, tries to fly the river every time he's working a case in this area.

The last time such a search occurred was roughly one month ago.

"We'll continue to see what we can do. It's worth a shot," Marek said.

Efforts have centered on the Colorado River since it's believed that Jones' car may have been pushed - or driven - into the waterway.

Less than 24 hours after Jones made his last known contact with anyone in this area (via a phone call), tire tracks were discovered leading from the parking lot of Los Cucos Mexican Restaurant down into the river.

Investigators initially doubted any connection between the tracks and the polka leader's disappearance, but changed their minds six days later when the license plate from Jones' 1993 Chevrolet Lumina was found stuck in a sapling at the water's edge.

Attempts to search for the car were severely limited at first as upstream rains had swollen the river to nearly 30 feet. Flood level is 39 feet. Initial searches were made above water by sonar-equipped boats.

In subsequent months, additional checks have been made via boat and helicopter. False hope was raised several times when searchers "hit" on chunks of concrete and a hulk of rusted metal; Jones' car, however, was never found.