Married Old Boyfriend ‘Not Interested’ in Search For Missing Deputy

JOLIET, IL — A horde of media descended on a quiet Joliet Street when federal agents and state investigators started tearing up a house’s basement floor to search for a Will County deputy who disappeared more than 26 years ago. But the married man who was romantically involved with the young woman when she vanished, he said he wasn’t interested.

“I’m not interested, OK,” said Tony Marquez, who was having an affair with Robin Abrams prior to the former deputy’s disappearance in October 1990. When asked if he killed Abrams, Marquez hung up the phone.

Last week, FBI agents and investigators from the state police dug up the basement of a house on Joliet’s Margaret Street in hopes of finding some sign of Abrams. Marquez’s stepbrother, John Romo, had poured the concrete for the basement when the house was built shortly before Abrams vanished, according to missing woman’s sister, Jody Walsh, and to law enforcement sources. The house was also searched soon after Abrams disappeared, Walsh and the sources said.

The excavation and search ended last week without the recovery of Abram’s body.

Abrams was 28 when she was last seen at a gas station near the corner of Jefferson Street and Larkin Avenue. Marquez, a Joliet businessman with an office near that location, was also a Will County auxiliary cop.

Marquez and Abrams’ tumultuous affair was punctuated by the two exchanging allegations of harassment. Walsh accused Marquez of stalking her sister.

In the midst of her turmoil with Marquez, the sheriff's department fired Abrams. According to the website Missing Persons of America, Abrams was let go two weeks before her probationary period was to end. But she didn't take it lying down.

"On Dec. 13, 1989, Robin filed a federal lawsuit against Marquez and seven other members of the sheriff's department alleging wrongful termination and sexual harassment," the site said. Abrams disappeared while the suit was still pending.

Patch had previously visited Marquez at his Elwood home in September 2012. He refused to discuss Abrams that time too.

“Sorry sorry sorry," Marquez said. "Zero.”

Tony Marquez and Robin Abrams