FBI Director Christopher Wray issued the following message regarding Robert Levinson to the FBI workforce on March 26, 2020, which the FBI is sharing with the public.

All,

Many of you may have seen yesterday’s news about Bob Levinson. I wanted to take a moment of your time to talk about Bob and this reporting.

Along with some of our interagency partners, I recently had the opportunity to meet again with Bob’s family. I listened to the family talk about Bob, and most importantly, how they’ve always held out hope that Bob would one day come home. So has the FBI. Ever since Bob’s disappearance from Kish Island in Iran in 2007, countless personnel—from agents, to analysts, to professional staff—all across the FBI, especially the Washington Field Office, have worked tirelessly to bring Bob home and provide answers to his family. And to get answers for ourselves.

When I met with the Levinson family, we explained that the most credible evidence we have collected over the past 13 years points to the likelihood that Bob died in captivity. It pained me to deliver that news, but I believe that we owed Bob’s family a thorough and candid presentation of the information that we’ve collected.

This does not mean that the FBI has given up on finding out what happened to Bob. We’re going to keep working doggedly to determine the circumstances surrounding Bob’s abduction and his time in captivity, to find the answers we all want and that the Levinsons deserve. We won’t give up, because we don’t give up on family, and Bob, his wife Christine, and all of their children will always be part of our FBI family.


Seeking Missing Retired FBI Agent Robert Levinson

$5 Million Reward for Information Leading to Safe Location and Return  

July 17, 2014
Billboard of Retired FBI Robert Levinson, who went missing from Kish Island, Iran, on March 9, 2007.

Robert Levinson went missing from Kish Island, Iran, on March 9, 2007.

The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) continues to investigate the disappearance of Robert A. Levinson since he went missing on Kish Island, Iran, on March 9, 2007.

Mr. Levinson is a retired U.S. government employee who gave 28 years of service to the U.S. Department of Justice, including the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Levinson retired from the FBI in 1998 and worked as a private investigator following his retirement. Levinson traveled to Kish Island, Iran, on March 8, 2007, working on behalf of several large corporations, and his whereabouts, well-being and the circumstances surrounding his disappearance have been unknown since that time.

In March 2015, the FBI increased the reward in this case to up to $5 million for information leading directly to the safe location, recovery, and return of Mr. Levinson. The reward remains unclaimed, and the FBI asks anyone who may have information related to Mr. Levinson’s disappearance to contact the FBI. All tips will remain anonymous. If you have any information, please contact your nearest FBI office or U.S. Embassy or Consulate, or submit a tip online. You may also contact the Levinson family via their website www.helpboblevinson.com.

Help Us

Updates

March 2023: FBI Statement on the 16th Anniversary of the Abduction of Robert A. Levinson

March 2022: FBI Statement on the 15th Anniversary of the Abduction of Robert A. Levinson

March 2021: FBI Statement on the 14th Anniversary of the Abduction of Robert A. Levinson

March 2020:

November 2019: FBI Washington Field Office Statement on Robert A. Levinson and the Department of State Rewards for Justice Announcement

March 2019: FBI Statement on 12th Anniversary of the Abduction of Robert A. Levinson

March 2018: FBI Statement on 11th Anniversary of the Disappearance of Robert A. Levinson

July 2017: FBI Statement in Response to Reporting on Robert Levinson

March 2017: FBI Statement on Decade Since the Disappearance of Robert A. Levinson

March 2016: FBI Statement on the Ninth Anniversary of the Disappearance of Robert A. Levinson (English and Farsi)

January 2016:

March 2015:

March 2014:

November 2013:


Video received November 2010
Photos received April 2011
President Barack Obama meets with Christine Levinson in the Oval Office on March 6, 2012. During the meeting, President Obama reiterated to Mrs. Levinson—whose husband Robert Levinson disappeared in 2007 during a business trip to Kish Island, Iran—the U.S. government’s commitment to her husband’s safe return and said that the U.S. will continue to work tirelessly until he is home safely. Pictured with the President are Christine Levinson and Suzi Halpin, Christine Levinson’s sister. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza).

President Barack Obama meets with Christine Levinson in the Oval Office on March 6, 2012. During the meeting, President Obama reiterated to Mrs. Levinson—whose husband Robert Levinson disappeared in 2007 during a business trip to Kish Island, Iran—the U.S. government’s commitment to her husband’s safe return and said that the U.S. will continue to work tirelessly until he is home safely. Pictured with the President are Christine Levinson and Suzi Halpin, Christine Levinson’s sister. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza).

A billboard in Times Square in New York City in 2012. Robert A. “Bob” Levinson, is a retired FBI agent who traveled to Kish Island, Iran, as a private investigator on March 8, 2007. He has not been publicly seen or heard from since his disappearance on March 9, 2007.

A billboard in Times Square in New York City in 2012.

A 2012 news conference announcing a million-dollar reward in the Robert A. Levinson case.

At a 2012 news conference announcing a million dollar reward in the case, former WFO Assistant Director in Charge James McJunkin said, “We are committed to bringing Bob home safely to his family. We hope this reward will encourage anyone with information, no matter how insignificant they may think it is, to come forward. It may be the clue that we need to locate Bob.”

Former FBI Director Robert Mueller, seen with Robert Levinson’s wife Christine and former FBI Deputy Director Sean Joyce during a 2012 press conference, announced a $1 million reward in the Robert Levinson case.

Former FBI Director Robert Mueller, seen with Robert Levinson’s wife Christine and former FBI Deputy Director Sean Joyce during a 2012 press conference, announced a $1 million reward in the case.

Robert A. Levinson went missing during a business trip to Kish Island, Iran on March 9, 2007. He wears eyeglasses and is believed to have lost a significant amount of weight, possibly 50-60 pounds.

Robert A. Levinson went missing during a business trip to Kish Island, Iran on March 9, 2007. He wears eyeglasses and is believed to have lost a significant amount of weight, possibly 50-60 pounds.

A billboard announcing a reward for information leading to the recovery of Robert Levinson, in Herat, Afghanistan, on April 24, 2012. (european pressphoto agency).

A billboard announcing a reward for information leading to the recovery of Robert Levinson, in Herat, Afghanistan, on April 24, 2012. (european pressphoto agency).