Robert Grove was last seen alive the night of Oct. 26, 2025, when he left his Memphis home in a Chevy Avalanche around 11:30 p.m. Nearly a week later, on Nov. 2, investigators discovered his remains inside a detached garage on Egypt Central Road — and determined he had died from an apparent gunshot wound to the head. Now, Grove's mother says she wants answers. Police say they have them — along with a suspect in custody: her own son.
Background
The investigation into Grove's disappearance began when his mother reported him missing to the Memphis Police Department on Oct. 27, according to an arrest affidavit reviewed by Law&Crime. Family members told investigators that Grove had departed from his residence in the Chevy Avalanche late the previous night. Days later, his family located the vehicle in the parking lot of Surrey Apartments — and what they found inside was deeply disturbing.
"Large amounts of blood" coated the floorboard of the driver's side, the affidavit states. Two phone cases belonging to Grove were discovered on the ground nearby, but no phones were recovered. Investigators pulled surveillance footage from the apartment complex, which revealed Grove's Avalanche entering the parking lot at approximately 12:25 a.m. on Oct. 27 and departing four minutes later. At 1:09 a.m., the vehicle returned to the same spot where family members would later find it.
But security cameras captured something else: A "thin male" who did not match Grove's physical description was seen exiting the driver's side of the Avalanche and walking away on foot. Grove, according to footage, never emerged from the vehicle.
The Investigation
Detectives traced Grove's final movements through cell phone data. The last location his family could track via iPhone led authorities to a rural area near Egypt Central Road in Memphis. On Nov. 2, 2025, officers searched the location and found Grove's body inside a detached garage. An autopsy confirmed he had suffered injuries from an apparent gunshot wound to the head. Spent bullet casings were also recovered near his remains.
Investigators obtained search warrants for cell phone records tied to both the Surrey Apartments area and the Egypt Central Road location during the relevant time periods. On Feb. 16, 2026, they got a match: A phone number registered to a 17-year-old boy showed "activations consistent with travel patterns of Robert Grove's vehicle and the location of Robert Grove's body recovery location."
On April 29, school security officers at the teen's high school detained him for police questioning. According to the affidavit, the boy "did not wish to speak with investigators." But that wasn't the end of the trail.
Detectives also turned their attention to the teen's mother: Bridgit A. Riley, 47. Through jail calls between Riley and another individual, authorities allege she discussed her son's device containing photos of him inside Grove's vehicle. She allegedly spoke about "destroying the phone and possibly going to another country," according to court documents. On a new phone using the same number, someone reportedly stated they had set up a new Apple ID for the device — and that the old phone was gone, "smashed" and discarded in the Mississippi River.
The Charges
On July 6, Riley was arrested and charged with tampering with evidence and accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. She remains in the Shelby County Jail on $10,000 bond. Her son was also taken into custody that same day and charged as a juvenile with first-degree murder and especially aggravated robbery, according to the Memphis Police Department.
It was not immediately clear whether the teen would be bound over for prosecution as an adult. Riley's next scheduled court appearance is Tuesday in Shelby County Circuit Court.
Key Takeaways
- Robert Grove, 33, disappeared on Oct. 26-27, 2025 after leaving his Memphis home; his body was found Nov. 2 with a gunshot wound to the head
- A 17-year-old boy has been charged with first-degree murder and especially aggravated robbery in connection with Grove's death
- Cell phone data placed the teen's device at both crime scene locations during relevant time periods, according to investigators
- Riley allegedly discussed destroying her son's phone and fleeing overseas after learning of the evidence against him
- The old phone was reportedly "smashed" and thrown into the Mississippi River, per alleged jail call intercepts
- Police recovered spent bullet casings near Grove's body inside a detached garage on Egypt Central Road
What's Next
Riley is due back in Shelby County Circuit Court this week for her next scheduled appearance. Her son's case remains in juvenile proceedings as prosecutors consider whether to seek transfer to adult court. The investigation, which spanned months and involved surveillance footage analysis, cell phone forensics, and intercepted communications, continues to unfold as authorities build their case against both defendants.
The Memphis Police Department's homicide division is handling the investigation, with support from Shelby County prosecutors reviewing evidence for potential additional charges.