The Unsolved Mysteries episode "13 Minutes" has sparked theories that Rob Endres killed his wife, Patrice Endres. Netflix viewers have cited Rob's awkward on-camera demeanor as a major red flag, along with suspicious statements that imply he possesses "guilty knowledge information." However, the actual case evidence suggests that someone else is responsible for Patrice's death.
Patrice disappeared on April 15, 2004. She had been working as a hair stylist at Tamber’s Trim ‘N Tan in Cumming, Georgia, and met with clients between 8:50 a.m. and 11:10 a.m. Unsolved Mysteries locks into a 13-minute timeframe between 11-12 a.m., as Patrice was unusually "short" during a phone call at 11:35 a.m. and didn't answer a call 15 minutes later. Her remains were later discovered on December 6, 2005 in Dawson County, Georgia. Directed by Jimmy Goldblum, "13 Minutes" on Netflix features interviews with Patrice's son Pistol Black, various Georgia investigators, and the aforementioned Rob Endres.
Overall, Unsolved Mysteries "13 Minutes" underlines the unresolved conflict between Pistol and Rob. For extra suspense, the editing subtly frames Rob as the most logical suspect, which hasn't gone unnoticed by Netflix streamers. Rob acknowledges the fact that husbands are always the prime suspect in cases such as this, and references his degree in criminology before speaking honestly about Patrice and her disappearance. The following is all of the evidence against Rob — and also a few reasons why he could be innocent.
Patrice Endres Was Murdered By Rob — Theory Explained
The Rob-Is-Guilty theory begins with a clear motivation for murder. In the Unsolved Mysteries episode, both Pistol and Patrice's friends claim that Rob was extremely jealous of his wife spending time with other people, and so Netflix streamers have theorized a potential "If I can't have her, no one will" scenario. If there was a murder-for-hire contract, in which Patrice was kidnapped and taken elsewhere, then Rob could maintain a believable alibi. His background in criminology suggests that a murder-for-hire plot would be clean rather than messy.
Some Unsolved Mysteries theorists believe that Rob personally killed Patrice. The murder could've been premeditated or a crime of passion. The main evidence to support this theory is Pistol's revelation that Rob changed the house locks the day after Patrice's disappearance, which implies that he was trying to cover up a crime scene. Rob claims that he was merely protecting himself since his wife had just gone missing. If Rob did kill Patrice, he either visited her workplace first or had someone else kidnap her.
Why Rob Endres Was Ruled Out By Police
In Unsolved Mysteries, Inspector Mitchell Posey of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation states that Rob's involvement doesn't seem probable. He reveals that Rob was "thoroughly investigated," and that a timeline was created to account for his whereabouts on the day of Patrice's disappearance. Rob was presumably 40 minutes away at a gas station on his way to work, and also stamped his time card at work shortly after.
Posey also reveals in Unsolved Mysteries that Rob hasn't been entirely "eliminated" as a suspect. He doesn't rule out the possibility that Rob could somehow be connected to a murder-for-hire contract, but also states that the on-going investigation hasn't resulted in any evidence that suggests Rob was involved. However, Posey's belief that the killer was familiar with Patrice's daily routine only fuels theories that Rob orchestrated his wife's disappearance.
All The Evidence Suggesting Patrice WASN'T Murdered By Rob
Despite the claims made by Pistol (above), the Unsolved Mysteries case evidence suggests that Patrice wasn't killed by Rob. Two witnesses spotted a blue car in front of Tamber’s Trim ‘N Tan, however authorities aren't sure if it's a 1992 Blue Chevrolet Lumina with a Georgia Wildlife tag, a '99 to '02 Ford Taurus, or a Chevrolet Malibu four-door. It's possible that Rob could've been inside the car, but the vehicle itself hasn't been linked to him.
An Unsolved Mysteries witness named Tammy Fincher saw two women outside Patrice's workplace during the timeframe when she disappeared. She spotted a tall female and also and "older" woman. A second witness reported seeing a male with shoulder-length hair. Posey, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation inspector, believes that the witnesses are credible because they essentially saw the same thing, and also because they're "totally independent of each other." Crucially, the witness descriptions don't match Rob, nor do the witnesses recall seeing a mysterious male inside the blue vehicle.
As mentioned, Patrice's husband Rob Endres was investigated and essentially cleared (though not "eliminated"). The police don't have a clear motive for murder, aside from speculation that Rob had a turbulent marriage with Patrice. In addition, a serial killer named Jeremy Jones also admitted to Patrice's murder, only to later recant his confession. Because Jones has "guilty knowledge information" — or details that only someone involved with the crime would know — authorities believe that he's a person of interest in this particular Unsolved Mysteries case.
How Rob Endres COULD Be Involved In His Wife's Murder
Reddit users have pointed out that Rob's alibi story in Unsolved Mysteries doesn't make practical sense. He apparently worked an hour south of his home, yet the gas station he apparently visited is located 45 minutes east. So, if Rob conveniently arranged for someone to use his credit card alibi, then he would've had time to kidnap Patrice, kill her at home, and still make it to work. This theory aligns with Inspector Posey's belief that Patrice's killer knew her schedule, and also Pistol's speculation that Rob had something to hide by changing the house locks.
A second plausible theory is that Rob hired someone to kidnap Patrice and then drove 45 minutes away to secure an alibi. Internet theorists believe that the serial killer Jeremy Jones is somehow involved, which would explain his initial confession. The Jones connection also suggests a more sinister murder plot, as Unsolved Mysteries reveals that Rob requested to have Patrice's skeletal remains laid out on a table, and Rob also states that he slept with Patrice's ashes, described as his "teddy bear," for approximately one year after her cremation. This information is strange enough to make people believe that Rob could be a killer like Jones.
On the surface, Rob doesn't appear to the primary suspect because of the available case evidence. However, it's all the loose ends that make people believe Rob is connected to Patrice's death, especially when factoring in his overall demeanor and borderline-inappropriate statements about his late wife and her son, Pistol. The showrunners for Unsolved Mysteries on Netflix have stated that Rob has been honest and cooperative during the process, which leaves viewers wondering if he's completely innocent, or perhaps just over-confident because he knows that he'll never be linked to the crime by hard evidence.