Robert Grove was last seen leaving his home in a Chevy Avalanche around 11:30 p.m. on Oct. 26, 2025, in Memphis, Tennessee. Six days later, the 33-year-old man's remains were discovered in a detached garage on Egypt Central Road with an apparent gunshot wound to the head, according to an arrest affidavit reviewed by Law&Crime. Police say his alleged killer was a 17-year-old boy who then recruited his mother to help conceal the crime.
Background
Grove's mother reported him missing to the Memphis Police Department on Oct. 27, 2025, after he failed to return home. His family located his Chevy Avalanche in the parking lot of Surrey Apartments and discovered what appeared to be a large amount of blood inside the vehicle along with two phone cases belonging to Grove — but no phones.
Investigators reviewed nearby security footage which captured Grove's vehicle entering the apartment complex parking lot around 12:25 a.m. on Oct. 27 and departing four minutes later. At about 1:09 a.m., the same vehicle returned to where his family eventually found it. Notably, the footage did not show Grove exiting the truck. Instead, police observed "a thin male could be seen exiting the vehicle and walking away on foot. This person did not have the same physical features as Robert Grove," according to court documents.
On Nov. 2, investigators traced Grove's iPhone location to Egypt Central Road where they discovered his body inside a detached garage. An autopsy determined he died from injuries consistent with a gunshot wound to the head, and spent bullet casings were recovered near the scene.
The Investigation
Authorities obtained search warrants for cellphone data to identify devices present at both locations during the relevant time periods. On Feb. 16, investigators received a match connecting a phone number belonging to the 17-year-old suspect to "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 detained the teenager for police questioning. According to the affidavit, he declined to speak with investigators.
Detectives also focused on the teen's mother, Bridgit A. Riley, 47. They obtained jail calls in which she allegedly discussed her son having photos of himself in Grove's vehicle and mentioned "destroying the phone and possibly going to another country." Investigators say someone using a new phone with the same number reported setting up a new Apple ID for the teen and indicated the original device had been "smashed" and thrown into the Mississippi River.
Both Riley and her son were arrested on July 6. The teenager has been charged with first-degree murder and especially aggravated robbery, according to the Memphis Police Department. Riley faces charges of tampering with evidence and accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. She is being held in the Shelby County Jail on $10,000 bond.
Key Takeaways
- Robert Grove, 33, was reported missing Oct. 27, 2025, after leaving home in his Chevy Avalanche around 11:30 p.m.
- Security footage showed someone other than Grove exiting his vehicle at Surrey Apartments — a "thin male" with different physical features
- Grove's body was found Nov. 2, 2025, in a detached garage on Egypt Central Road with a gunshot wound to the head
- Cellphone data placed the teen suspect's device at both locations matching Grove's travel patterns and body recovery site
- Riley allegedly discussed destroying her son's phone and fleeing the country in recorded jail calls
- The teenager has been charged with first-degree murder; it remains unclear whether he will be tried as an adult
What's Next
Riley is scheduled to appear in Shelby County court. Her son faces a murder charge that could carry significant prison time if convicted, though his case may involve proceedings related to whether he should be transferred to adult court. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue building their case against both defendants.
Law&Crime has requested comment from Riley's attorney.