Most of the deadbeats are WSB agents. The easiest way to write these people when they leave is have them leave on a mission and never come back. So when JJ leaves again it'll be written that he's going on an important mission.
Robert and Anna were believed to be dead for 10-15yrs. They were alive and didn't bother to tell their daughter. I used to love the WSB stuff in the 80s with Robert, Anna, Sean, Frisco etc....but now it's become a crutch and a lazy way to write off a character that is involved in law enforcement who is leaving the canvas and they have zero follow up.
