Breckenridge – Authorities looking into the disappearance of a Breckenridge attorney seized financial records and case files to determine if his money woes could have led to an abduction or if he may have intentionally fled any debts.
Royal “Scoop” Daniel, missing since April 27, has struggled with his finances on and off over the years, taking more pride in his work than his rates and refusing to charge many of his clients, according to friends.
“He’s always been on the brink of financial disaster,” said J.B. Katz, a Breckenridge defense attorney who shared a law office with Daniel in the early 1990s.
At one point, Katz said, Daniel failed to make required tax deposits to the Internal Revenue Service, costing her a “substantial amount” of money when she discovered the negligence and took on the repayment because he couldn’t afford it.
Investigators on Wednesday conducted search warrants at Daniel’s office, home and storage facility as well as several other places in town and two out-of-state locations, removing documents they hope will shine light on Daniel’s background, business practices, finances and acquaintances.
“We’re looking at everything, trying to put together the pieces of the puzzle,” said Crystal Dean, spokeswoman for the Breckenridge Police Department.
Daniel frequently accepted no payments for his work on behalf of immigrants and friends, and he often delayed billing others, said Steve Shockey, a close friend.
“It’s clear that Scoop doesn’t give a … (care) about money,” Shockey said. “He’ll go six months without doing his billing, until the financial pressures build up.”
Shockey said Daniel had done some legal work for him and never asked for a dime.
“I kept bugging him to get me a bill. I finally had to go into the office and beg him: ‘Scoop, what do I owe you?”‘ he said, adding Daniel still undercharged him.
Daniel also has helped immigrants obtain green cards and other residency documents without charging, said Susan Robertson, the director of program services for the Family and Intercultural Resource Center, a Summit County social-services agency.
“He does just a ton of pro bono work for pretty much anyone,” she said.
But friends also say the 61-year-old attorney has operated that way for years and lived a simple lifestyle.
Daniel was spotted by security cameras entering his office building about 5:35 a.m. April 27. Authorities determined he spent the next hours conducting routine work.
Scott Howard, an employee of a radio station in the building, said he met Daniel in the hallway about 7:30, but the normally cordial attorney didn’t respond to his greeting.
“He seemed a little distracted,” Howard said. “I just figured he’s a busy guy and he’s just absorbed in something.”
The Summit County dispatch center received a 911 hang-up call from his cellphone at 7:48 a.m. His staff reported Daniel missing later that day after he failed to show up for appointments.
Staff writer Steve Lipsher can be reached at 970-513-9495 or slipsher@denverpost.com.
