Original subtitles

ANNOUNCER: This program is about unsolved mysteries.

Whenever possible, the actual family members

and police officials have participated

in recreating the events.

What you are about to see is not a news broadcast.

ROBERT STACK: 30 year old Army Staff Sergeant Billy Ray

Hargrove wanted to spend his life in the military,

but in February of 1992 Hargrove was

found dead, hung by the neck in his own backyard.

Incredibly, just six weeks later Hargrove's best friend,

Sgt. Mike Carmichael, was also found dead,

hung from a barracks locker.

What happened to Billy Ray Hargrove and Mike Carmichael?

Congress is currently looking into these deaths,

and several other cases where American servicemen

have died under questionable circumstances.

In each case the military has ruled suicide or accident,

but some family members and friends are crying murder--

perhaps not without reason.

Join us for this intriguing investigation, and more,

on "Unsolved Mysteries."

[theme music]

In the early 1980s, the resort mecca of Miami, Florida

found itself in the midst of an urban crisis.

First the city was deluged by more than 120,000 refugees

from Cuba.

Among them were 30,000 hardcore criminals.

Simultaneously, racial tensions were polarizing the populace,

and in the summer of 1980 six days of rioting

convulsed the city.

In response, Miami doubled the size of its police force

between 1980 and 1983.

It was an unprecedented expansion,

but the accelerated pace exacted a price.

According to some, a handful of questionable applicants

slipped through the screening process,

and soon Miami had yet another problem--

corrupt officers at the heart of its police department.

It began almost quietly.

The early abuses were minor shakedowns,

and the targets small time drug dealers.

[non-english speech]

A number of the early ripoffs were simple car stops,

where the police officers would see small amounts of drugs

and money, and would proceed to take those drugs and money,

believing that the people who they were stopping

weren't going to report those incidents

to the police department.

They felt that they were invincible

as long as they stood together.

As long as no one talked, it was their word against common thugs

on the street.

These police officers succumbed to greed,

and they would go out and say they were not

harming law-abiding citizens.

And that's how they rationalized and justified

a lot of their crimes that they committed.

[non-english speech]

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): One of the most notorious of the rogue

officers was Armando Garcia.

In high school he was associated with a group

of drug users, ties he had been able to hide when

he joined the police force.

Garcia was not content with nickel and dime shakedowns.

He grew bold enough to confiscate literally

boatloads of drugs in bogus police operations

that were totally off the record--

raids which eventually escalated into violence.

In July of 1985, Garcia learned that some 400 kilos

of pure cocaine would soon arrive in Miami.

He had allegedly intercepted a similar shipment

two weeks before, and it seemed as easy

as taking candy from a baby.

Police!

Miami police!

Drop it and go!

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): But this time

Garcia's plans went south.

[non-english speech]

Get out of here, or face the consequences!

CLYDE RIMES: Six of the dopers jumped in the water

to escape the police officer, thinking

it was an official raid.

Three of them drowned.

The officers left with 400 kilos of cocaine.

Metro Dade Police Department began the investigation

immediately after the three bodies were found,

and they thought it was a routine homicide.

I need you to tell me exactly what it was you saw.

Sure.

I saw police cars come into the yard.

How many?

There were three of them.

What department?

The City of Miami police department.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Detectives

were stunned when a harbor security

guard said the three men had drowned

while fleeing a police raid.

Official police logs had no record of such a raid.

Further investigation blew the lid off Armando

Garcia's secret life.

Ultimately, he and 34 other Miami police officers

were arrested on corruption charges.

[non-english speech]

We have no choice.

[spanish]

We must eliminate our problem.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): While in prison,

Garcia and several other officers allegedly hatched

a secret plot to kill a number of the witnesses

scheduled to testify against them.

[non-english speech]

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): In January

of 1986, after four months in jail,

Garcia and several associates made bail.

According to investigators, they lost no time

putting their murder plans into action

against one of the prosecution's top witnesses.

They supplied $50,000 to one hit man for that hit,

but it did not take place.

He took their money, and did not commit the hit.

And they attempted-- even themselves-- they

hid in the bushes waiting for one

of the government witnesses, but never could find him.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): In the end, none of the witnesses

were harmed.

But in spite of their testimony, the corruption

case against Garcia and his co-defendants

ended in a mistrial.

By then, however, evidence of the assassination plots

had come to light.

The former officers were indicted

on a second set of charges, including

conspiracy to commit murder.

Several of the officers, after the indictment,

decided that they would cooperate.

The other officers realized then that the case had reached

a point where it was almost a sure conviction

if they went to court.

At that point, they made a decision to take flight.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Armando Garcia

disappeared in May of 1987.

He is 5'8 tall, weighs 185 lbs, and has

brown hair and brown eyes.

Garcia was born in Cuba, and police now fear he may have

slipped away to South America.

He is married, and is known to have two young daughters, ages

three and four.

Authorities are also seeking Garcia's father,

Toribio Dagoberto Garcia.

He is 55 years old, balding, and has brown eyes.

He stands 5'6 tall, and weighs 170 lbs.

A third suspect wanted in this case

is Victor Zapata, another former officer.

Zapata is 5'9 tall, weighs 175 lbs, and has

brown hair and brown eyes.

Next, two friends turn out to be brother and sister.

Perhaps you can help find the rest of the family.

It was just three days before Christmas in 1964.

A young woman from Flint, Michigan,

named Faith Marie Brown, stole out for a late night joyride

with two friends.

Faster than that?

You can go faster than that.

Come on.

Whoa, watch out!

ROBERT STACK: Miraculously, the driver survived the crash,

but both passengers were killed instantly.

Faith Brown was dead at the age of 26.

In addition to her parents and four brothers,

Faith left behind seven children under the age of 10.

The untimely death of Faith Marie Browne

added one final, tragic twist to the already

complicated lives of her four sons and three daughters.

Two divorces, and now the fatal car crash

had scattered the children to five different families.

It seemed they would be separated forever,

until a young woman named April Kersjes, who

had been adopted as a child, set out

to find her biological parents.

In 1992, April was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis,

a hereditary disease.

Concerned about her own childrens' health,

April began her search--

one with more than a share of surprises.

It all started in the records office

of Shiawassee County, Michigan.

I told them that I knew my name was Michelle Brown

at birth, and that my birthday was September 18, 1961,

and I was adopted, and I'd like any information

available on my adoption.

There's another child named Brown.

I kind of glanced over, and I'd seen the name

Michael Brown right underneath mine,

and so I knew I had a brother.

May I take a look at that?

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): April was not permitted

to examine the records.

Strict regulations govern the release of adoption files,

but April petitioned a county judge

for access to the information.

Three days later, she received this letter.

It contained the astonishing revelation that April had

four brothers and two sisters.

However, the key details that would allow her to find them

had been omitted.

April Kersjes was trapped in a bureaucratic catch-22.

I was a little bit upset that there

wasn't more information released on the other brothers

and sisters.

We were all over the legal age, and

we're all mature adults now, and we should be able to handle it.

And I was a little bit upset that they wouldn't give us

anymore than they did, but yet thankful that they

at least gave me that much.

I never even knew you were adopted.

Yeah.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Mike Galloway,

the husband of April's best friend, Deb,

had also been adopted.

He was especially curious about April's investigation.

--while later.

I mean, I knew that my birth name was Brown,

but they weren't willing to divulge any other names.

Your birth name is Brown?

Yeah.

That's funny.

My adoptive parents told me my birth name was Brown.

Oh, you're kidding?

Could I see the letter?

Sure.

When I showed Mike the letter, he looked at,

and the paragraph where it said I had a brother

born in Owasso in 1960.

He kind of looked over the top of the letter and said,

I was born in Owasso in 1960, and my last name was Brown.

We thought it would be funny if we were brother and sister,

but we really didn't think that was a possibility.

Brown's a common name, and when it was brought up,

it's just like Smith, or Jones, or any other common name

like that.

So I'm the type of person that likes to see things in writing,

or in my face before I actually settle

down to believe that it's true.

Remember when our daughter, Amber, was born?

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): The next morning, April met

Mike and Deb at their house.

Mike's adoptive parents had often told him that he

had a sister named Michelle.

Try to find Michelle.

Wait a minute--

did you say your sister's name was Michelle?

Yeah.

Michael-- my real name is Michelle Brown.

We knew it had to be that we were brother and sister.

Don't try and tell me that this is another coincidence.

We jumped up, and we hugged each other, and Deb, and said,

I can't believe I've known you for eight years,

and now I find out you're my brother.

This is-- this is too wild.

I'm kind of glad that April and I didn't meet first,

and then start dating, you know?

And end up getting married, or something, because then

that would have been--

kind of shocking to have kids with your own sister,

I suppose.

Michaeli pretty much information from the county files

was recollections primarily from Mike's adoptive parents.

Soon a picture began to emerge of their birth

mother, Faith Marie brown.

[coughing]

Come on, we really need to talk about this now.

Not in here.

When she was just 16 years old,

Faith had dropped out of high school to be married.

By the time she was 20 she already had four

children, including twin boys.

Faith would lose them all when her young marriage

ended in divorce.

What are you talking about?

They're coming with me, and if you try to fight me,

Faith, I will take you to court.

At the heart of the conflict was

her husband's belief that another man

had fathered the twins.

I don't want you raising them, either.

Why are you doing this?

Because I want to do what's best for the kids.

Mike and April would later learn

that their father was yet another man, 25

years older than their mother.

- I'm going out for a while, OK? - OK.

From what we know, our mother had a very hard time

at anything she'd ever done.

She had kids one right after the other,

and like she wasn't responsible for them.

She would give them up for adoption,

or they would eventually be taken away.

I don't think she could really handle the responsibilities

of having the kids.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): In 1962,

Michigan social services took custody of April and Michael.

Three months later their father and Faith

had another daughter, Shannon.

After Faith died, Shannon was put up for adoption,

and the records sealed in county files.

OK.

We can see "My Fair Lady" again.

We believe that a gentleman by the name of Mr. Dennis

is our father, and as far as we know, or have been able to find

out, he is still alive.

We'd like to be able to get in touch with him,

more or less to say hi, and see what kind of a person

he's like.

But if he doesn't want--

even if he doesn't want a relationship with us,

we would still at least like a chance to say hello.

It's pretty frustrating, because we have

a lot of little pieces of information,

and it's like a puzzle that's missing half the pieces.

I think it was fate that brought April and I together.

I hope it's fate that brings April

and I, and our other brothers and sisters together.

To live in a small town like we do,

we've wondered if some of the people we've met

may be related to us, and we never knew it.

We've had people say, you know, do you have a sister

that lives in St. John?

Because you sure remind me of somebody.

Well, before I'd say no, not that I know of.

Well, now I can't say that.

I may have.

ROBERT STACK: Together, April and Mike tried to locate

their five lost siblings--

William, Wanda, Shannon, and twins Keith and Kenneth--

but none of their leads paid off--

until the night of our broadcast.

That evening, four of Faith Brown's missing children

were watching.

All five contacted our phone center within 24 hours.

April and Michael quickly made plans to host

a remarkable family reunion.

They would soon be face to face with two sisters

and three brothers who, until recently,

they didn't even know existed.

The first to arrive were William, Shannon, and Wanda.

Woo!

All right.

What are you up to?

How are you doing?

When we started hugging, we didn't want to stop.

And it was, like, seeing old friends, or something.

It was overwhelming, joyous, happy.

A whole bunch of emotions all wrapped up in one.

When I hugged April, it was something--

I don't know what it was.

It was just--

I felt something inside.

And I noticed she keeps looking at me,

and I keep looking at her, and--

you know, it's just strange to look like somebody.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): When Kenneth and Keith showed up,

the reunion was complete.

For Mike Galloway, it was a moment

he thought might never arrive.

Hey.

How you doing?

All right.

When you're adopted, and you know that there's

other brothers and sisters out there,

you don't really feel like you're a whole person.

And with finding all the rest of 'em,

it just-- it kind of makes you feel like you're

a whole person.

Like your whole life is back in order.

Look at the hair.

Aw, jeez.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): The party exceeded everyone's

wildest expectations.

With a total of 33 family members present,

it was one of "Unsolved Mysteries'" largest

reunions ever.

Just knowing that there's family out there,

it means a lot.

Because it's a part of Mom, and now,

with all the brothers and sisters being together,

she'll live on with us forever now.

And today I think she's gonna rest in peace.

ROBERT STACK: This is the National Cemetery

in Little Rock, Arkansas, the final resting place

for hundreds of soldiers, sailors, and pilots.

Veterans of every major conflict in the history of this country.

Also buried here are two men who are

at the center of one of the most intriguing mysteries

we have ever encountered.

Recently we came across this article

in the Philadelphia Inquirer, in which investigative reporter

David Zucchino outlined the cases

of 40 US servicemen who died under

questionable circumstances.

Every case has been ruled either a suicide or a self-inflicted

accident by the military--

yet in each instance there seems to be evidence that

defies the official ruling.

In May of 1993, the families of 14 soldiers

said to have taken their own lives

testified before the House Armed Services Committee.

Each family claimed their son did not commit suicide.

Tonight we will be looking at two

of the most baffling cases--

the cases of Sergeant Billy Ray Hargrove

and Sergeant Mike Carmichael.

The army has refused to participate in our broadcast,

and stands by the judgment that the two

soldiers killed themselves.

Both families say the army is dead wrong.

Mike didn't have nothing to die for, no

more than Billy had to die for.

Neither one of them committed suicide.

They didn't do it.

Billy Ray Hargrove and Mike Carmichael had similar lives,

and suffered similar deaths.

Both had planned careers in the military since childhood.

Both had joined the army in their teens,

and become the best of friends as they climbed the ranks.

Both had married Korean women while stationed

in the Far East.

Tragically, Billy Ray Hargrove and Mike Carmichael

died within six weeks of each other,

and according to the army, they committed

suicide in a similar manner.

During Operation Desert Storm, Billy Ray Hargrove and his wife

were sent from their base in Germany to Saudi Arabia.

However, the conflict ended before the platoon

saw active duty.

When Billy finished Desert Storm and went back to Germany,

he was disappointed because his men did not get a merit award--

a medal that he felt like they deserved.

And he set about trying to get the medal

for 'em, and every direction he went in,

he couldn't accomplish it.

We were wondering when you'd recommend us for the Desert

Storm decoration.

Billy Ray, I appreciate everything you and the men

did during the campaign--

but since the unit did not go into combat,

I'm refusing the application.

Sir, I understand your point, but the men were just as--

I've decided to refuse the application.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Billy Ray

could not accept the army's decision,

and made a questionable decision of his own.

He forged his superior's signature

on the appropriate documents.

A short time later, his men received their medals.

A few months passed.

In June of 1991, Billy Ray arrived in Korea

for another tour of duty.

How are you doing?

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): At the airport he met his wife, Kim--

and unexpected trouble.

Sergeant Hargrove?

Yes, sir.

I'm here to place you under arrest for treason.

Willis, remove the Desert Storm commendation.

Sir-- what's this about?

Take him into custody, Jim.

Just come with me.

What is it?

I'll call you.

I'll call you.

Billy Ray called me January the 28th.

He told me, Dad, I think I'm going

to get out of the military.

I've had all of it I can stand.

And he said, I'll probably be home by June.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Billy Ray's court martial

was not his only problem.

In particular, his marriage to Kim had begun to fall apart,

and Billy Ray began making plans to divorce her.

I had visited their house, and they were fighting a lot,

and there was a lot of jealousy.

She was constantly accusing him of having a girlfriend,

and having a child somewhere that she

didn't know anything about.

And it wasn't true at all.

Well, I don't think they're going to kick me out.

I may lose some rank, but I'm gonna re-up.

I think it's the right call, man.

I've been telling you that. - Yeah, you're right.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Another eight months passed.

According to Billy Ray's family, the controversy surrounding

the forged documents began to subside,

and Billy Ray told his best friend, Mike Carmichael,

that he had re-enlisted.

Hey, Hargrove!

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): February 20, 1992.

The day of Billy Ray Hargrove's death.

Billy Ray had missed a summons to report to duty,

and at 9:20 AM, one of his fellow sergeants

showed up at his doorstep.

Hey, Billy.

Where you been?

Oh, I was just having breakfast.

Did you not hear the siren?

Uh, no.

Are we having a drill?

Yeah.

And the captain's going ballistic.

I'll bet he is.

Tell him I'm on my way.

OK, good deal.

See you later.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Inexplicably, Billy Ray

never reported for duty.

Instead, he took his dog for a walk.

[dog barking]

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): 20 minutes later,

Kim heard the dog barking.

Hey, there.

What's wrong with you, huh?

Where's Bill?

Huh?

Where's Bill?

Bill?

Bill?

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Kim found

Billy Ray hanging by the neck from a nearby trail.

Bill!

What are you doing?

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): An alleged suicide note was found

in Billy Ray's pants pocket.

It read in part, "My life is really screwed up now,

and I just don't know how to fix it.

I've been thinking a lot about taking my life for a long time

now. Goodbye.

Signed, William R. Hargrove."

However, Billy Ray's mother questions

whether he wrote the note.

SUE NUNNALLY: I looked at the writing,

and I did not believe it was his writing.

It did not look to me like his writing.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): The army acknowledges a possibility

that the suicide note might not have been

in Billy Ray's handwriting.

Even so, they ruled that he had killed himself, speculating

that he had been driven to suicide by his upcoming court

martial and divorce.

He was not the type of person to commit

suicide, no matter what.

Especially putting a rope around his neck.

I just could not believe it, and I still don't believe it.

Something happened to him, but he did not commit suicide.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): The autopsy report

yielded another piece of mysterious evidence

that seemed to bolster Sue Nunnally's claim.

Billy Ray had unexplained abrasions and lacerations

on his face and hands.

That would indicate to me that someone had

been in a scrape, or a fight.

But the military, in their report,

didn't question anyone, or ask where the scratches came from.

They just ignored them.

Billy Ray Hargrove was laid to rest on March 4, 1992.

One of the mourners at his funeral

was his old friend, Mike Carmichael.

I do know that there was one part of the scripture--

When I finally did meet Mike, it

was at Billy's funeral, when he brought Billy's body back home.

Fear no evil.

And he told me-- he said Harv said, we'll give 'em hell.

We're going to make 'em pay, the SOBs pay, for what they'd done.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): After the service,

Mike returned to the Hargroves' house with Billy Ray's family.

He looked at me, and he promised, and he told me

that if it was the last thing he ever did,

he was going to find out what happened to Billy Ray.

Just don't do anything until you hear from me.

OK.

Bye.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Mike Carmichael's uncle, Oscar,

served in the Marines for 20 years.

He is now suffering from emphysema,

and told us that Mike believed there was

a larger conspiracy involved.

And there had been three other army

personnel there in Korea that had

supposedly committed suicide.

And my nephew told his birth mother-- he says, don't

be surprised if I'm not next.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): On March 22, 1992,

Mike Carmichael returned to Korea

and immediately began his own investigation.

He and his wife, Sun Hui, visited Billy Ray's widow, Kim,

and collected Billy Ray's personal papers.

Included was a letter Billy Ray had written to his father

a few days before the hanging, but Harvey Hargrove

says he never received the correspondence.

Do you remember what the letter said?

He was supposed to have written me a letter, sometimes

in February.

I don't know when, but he was supposed

to have written me a letter.

I'm sure if I could find that letter,

it would explain everything.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Mike continued collecting

Billy Ray's papers, and stored them with his own papers

in a metal box.

Mike instructed his uncle Oscar that if anything were

to happen to him, Oscar should immediately

obtain possession of the box.

But Mike never revealed its contents.

I'll see you at the club tomorrow night, all right?

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): April 3, 1992.

Mike Carmichael's 38th birthday.

At 10:00 PM he received an unexpected phone call

ordering him back to the base.

By the next morning, Mike had still not returned home.

INTERPRETER: On Sunday morning I called the army base to find

out where my husband was.

I talked to a security guard.

I was told that he did not see my husband,

so I asked him to try to knock on the door

of his barracks room.

He said that there was no response,

and the door was locked.

Where are you at?

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): An hour

later, Sun Hui found her husband's

body in his barracks office.

Mike?

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): He was hanging from a locker,

and had been dead for several hours.

The army investigation was completed within a few days.

They concluded that Mike Carmichael had taken

his own life because he was despondent over financial

matters and Billy Ray's death.

Mike's wife has accepted the ruling,

however his mother and uncle Oscar have not.

I think he was angry, and I think he was going to direct

his anger towards finding out the reason

why or who caused his friend-- or killed his friend.

He was happier than I had seen him in a long time,

due to the fact that him and Sun Hui

had just gotten married in July.

They were just like a couple of overgrown kids, really.

And he had that, he had his retirement to look forward to.

There was no way that Mike would take his life,

and take the chicken way out.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Oscar Carmichael soon joined forces

with the Hargrove family.

They launched a letter writing campaign

asking for the official reports from the military.

Unsatisfied with the army's response,

they contacted the Office of US Congressman Jay Dickey.

Greg Stein is Congressman Dickey's legislative assistant,

who was assigned to the case.

But even the reports that I could get

were lacking in the photos of the crimes,

and other things were withheld, or or

whited out for certain reasons.

And after looking at it, I don't think that they took

into account all of the different aspects of the case,

and they maybe kinda just closed the door,

without a thorough investigation.

I think the signs are there that there

is a cover up of some sort.

And I don't want to accuse anything, or anybody

at this time of that, but the reason why there would

be a cover up, I don't know.

That's one of the things we want to find out.

But I happen to think that if we open this thing up,

that we will find an answer.

I want you men to clear out, but stay close, because I may

want to ask you some questions.

Move it.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): The two families

are especially disturbed by the eerie and suspicious

similarities in the deaths.

Both Billy Ray and Mike had been summoned to the army barracks.

Both men were found hanging just inches from the ground,

and both had been tied with parachute

cord, which is highly elastic.

This is the official crime scene sketch from the US

military investigation.

Mike Carmichael's body was shown hanging from a row of lockers,

a cord wrapped around his neck.

The question marks that come up about Sergeant Carmichael

start with the fact that he's in a sitting position

some 3 inches from the floor, with his body

dangling like that.

Even the natural instincts of a person

would have your hands falling down, or pushing against it.

There's not any way that--

our self-preservation rites are such that we

will do something like that.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Also noted

in the drawing was a metal box that contained Mike and Billy

Ray's personal papers.

It was sitting on a desk across the room from Mike's body.

Curiously, the box of letters would later disappear,

and no one knows what happened to it.

Mike Carmichael's family learned of yet

another disturbing similarity between the two cases.

Just as Billy Ray had abrasions on his face and hands,

Sergeant Carmichael had welts on his face,

and what appeared to be a gash on his forehead.

His uncle Oscar is convinced that Mike

was struck before he died.

You take a pipe, it'll be about an inch, or 5/8 inch,

and hit him over the head with it, that's the kind of valley

that you'd find, or crevice, however

way you want to describe it.

So that's why I say that my nephew, in my opinion,

was dead before he was placed in that position.

I believe in Billy Ray's case--

and in Mike's case, too--

that something had to be going on that wasn't right.

Something that they found out about, or knew about, or maybe

was going to expose.

And they were gotten rid of.

ROBERT STACK: When we return, the intriguing disappearance

of Charles Horvath.

Did the young hitchhiker choose to drop from sight,

or did he meet with foul play?

Imagine your 20 year old son is traveling in a foreign land.

Suddenly his phone calls and postcards stop.

Weeks pass with no news, and you begin to fear your child

will never come home.

This is exactly what happened to Denise Horvath-Allan.

In 1989 her son, Charles, disappeared

in Canada, halfway around the world

from their home in England.

Ever since, Denise has been trying to find out exactly

what happened to her son.

In the spring of 1989, Charles Horvath

was in the midst of a hitchhiking trip across Canada.

In August, he planned to fly to Hong Kong

to celebrate his 21st birthday with his mother, Denise,

and his stepfather.

The birthday festivities promised

to be a high point in what had always

been a close relationship.

Denise was just 19 when Charles was born,

20 when she divorced his father.

In some respects, mother and son had grown up together.

But before Denise could make final arrangements for

the trip, Charles disappeared.

I telephoned the Aussie MP, repeatedly begging them

to look for Charles because I was so

concerned something was wrong.

I then asked them if they could give

me the name of the local newspapers,

to enable me to place an ad.

So we'd started planning my trip to come and search for my child

myself.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Kelowna, British Columbia.

For thousands of vacationers each year

it is a favorite spot, but for Denise Allan

it had the somber distinction of being

the last place on Earth her son was known to have been alive.

It was from here that Charles faxed his final letter

on May 11, 1989.

And it was here that Denise search

for clues to his son's fate during two extended

trips between 1990 and 1992.

During the first trip, Denise blanketed the town with flyers.

She soon heard from a woman named

Joanne Zebroff, who had met Charles

during his stay in Kelowna.

When I first met Charles, it was

of this charming, good looking guy

who was obviously new to Canada, and I really liked him.

I thought, oh, here's a unique person.

- That's my mom. - She's gorgeous.

Yeah.

He loved his family.

He showed me pictures.

He-- he was so proud of all these photographs

of his mother.

They were very close.

It was obvious they were close.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): The last time

Charles dropped by the apartment Joanne shared with her mother,

he arrived uninvited.

JOANNE: Hello?

Is it Joanne?

JOANNE: Yes, it is.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): At the time,

Joanne's brother was in town for a special family reunion,

and the Zebroffs politely refused Charles'

request to come up and visit.

JOANNE: Actually, it isn't a very good time right now.

There was this momentary silence, and what

stays in our mind, fresh forever, is how he went,

but it's Charles.

And, like, of course you're going to let me up.

And we just couldn't.

We're-- we're having a family dinner.

I'm sorry.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Joanne told

Denise that the brief chat was her last contact with Charles.

To Joanne's best recollection, the episode had

taken place in May of 1989--

the same month Denise had last heard from Charles.

You keep telling me that you're afraid for your safety.

Why?

Leads began streaming in.

Denise soon learned that while he was in Kelowna,

Charles had stayed at a campground located

in a rough part of town.

Who else was there?

Can you remember anybody house?

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): In spite of the campground's

unsavory reputation, Denise knew that she

had no choice but to go there and investigate.

DENISE: I wanted to go over to the campsite to inquire,

but I was very apprehensive of going.

Eventually I got the courage, and went across to see them,

to see if they remembered Charles.

[knocking]

Excuse me?

I'm looking for my lost son, Charles Horvath.

He disappeared a year ago in Kelowna.

I wonder if you remember him staying here?

Yeah, I remember him.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): The campground manager

said that Charles left abruptly in May of 1989,

abandoning his tent, and all his possessions.

Most had been disposed of, but the few that remained

were close at hand.

I was just numb.

I went down to the police station,

and I was told that they were going to inform Interpol to get

his dental records, and the file was

being passed on to homicide.

I was also told that they believed my son to be dead.

That we may never find his body, or what happened to him.

It's very unfortunate that a comment like that

would be made, and I would have to say that that would be

that member's personal opinion, and certainly not

the view of the police force.

I don't know upon what he based that, other than the fact items

were left at a campsite, and in my opinion that

does not substantiate that.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): But on March 17, 1992,

the case took a sudden, ominous turn.

Denise came back to her hotel room

to find an unsigned letter scrawled in a rough hand.

MALE VOICE: I've seen your ad in the paper,

looking for your son.

I've seen him May 26.

We were partying, and two people knocked him out.

But he died.

His body is in the lake, by the bridge.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Lake Okanagan,

just outside of Kelowna, is one of the deepest

lakes in the world.

Local divers immediately volunteered

to look for the body of Charles Horvath.

For five days a search yielded nothing,

but the mysterious informant was apparently watching

the divers' every move.

Denise received a second note saying

they were looking on the wrong side of the bridge.

We're stopping every 10, 15 feet.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Equipped

with a submersible camera, the divers began

to search at the new location.

One day later, they told police that they had found a body.

The fear in the young officer's eyes

told me that he thought it was Charles.

The total panic on their faces--

I-- I was hysterical, in the bathroom crying.

Which, I assume, is quite normal of any parent.

I just couldn't believe that he was dead.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Even before authorities

had identified the corpse, local papers

were trumpeting the news that the body

was that of Charles Horvath.

The coroner came to see me at the motel.

I asked him if it was Charles.

Was it-- no--

I asked him if it was good news or bad,

and he said it wasn't Charles.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): The dead man

was later identified as a 64 year old Kelowna

resident-- a probable suicide.

Police now believe that the anonymous notes

were hoaxes, and the discovery of a body just a coincidence.

Once again it seemed that Charles must be alive.

Then a man named Gino Bourdin came

forward, claiming to have seen Charles

just before he disappeared.

Gino and his son had pitched their tent near Charles

while he was at the campground.

GINO: He was a nice guy.

He was a good friend.

He used to always come over to our camp--

our little camp, and have coffee in the morning,

and play Frisbee and catch with my son,

and just sit and chat with us.

What should I do with him?

You should take him to Hong Kong with you.

That's it. Pack him in my suitcase.

There you go. - Here's some coffee.

Some sugar and that at the table.

He was a friendly guy.

A real friendly guy.

Probably too friendly.

He seemed-- I don't know, naive about--

like, he wasn't-- he'd talk to anybody.

He'd make friends with anybody.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Gino's recollections added details

to the campground manager's account.

Gino had last seen Charles during a raucous, all night

party at the campground.

The next morning, Gino had awakened to find Charles gone,

and his things left behind.

When I first established that Charles had abandoned

his belongings at the campsite, it

was assumed that something terrible had happened to him

which caused him to leave his belongings,

because it was so unlike him to have

left his photographs behind, which

were very important to him.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Gino's story

seemed to confirm the theory that Charles had met

with foul play, but continued investigation revealed

that Charles was very much alive long

after he left the campground.

JOANNE: Hello?

Is it Joanne?

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Charles supposed

called at Joanne Zebroff's apartment in May of 1989,

but police later discovered that Joanne was mistaken.

Charles had actually come by in July, two full months

after he had last contacted his mother.

This revelation has led some to conclude

that for unknown personal reasons,

Charles intentionally severed contact with his family.

During our investigation we contacted

two of Charles' relatives back in eastern Canada.

They related to us that during his time there with them,

he did advise both relatives that it was his intention, when

discussing his family situation, to disappear off

the face of the Earth, and that his mother would

never find him, and that he wanted

to carry on with his own life.

It is totally out of character for him

to have gone out intentionally to break away from his family,

because he wasn't that kind of boy.

He may have tried to imply to people who he wanted to impress

that he didn't need his mom.

What 20 year old does need their mom,

or would admit to needing them?

It's not very macho.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Four years have passed without word

from Charles Horvath, but police have received

tips from nearly 200 people.

Some claim to have seen Charles hitchhiking in Canada

as recently as April of 1992.

Others are equally certain that Charles Horvath never

made it out of Kelowna alive.

If Charles is out in this world--

you know, in a gutter somewhere--

he needs picking up and bringing home,

and getting medical help, or whatever kind of help

is required.

If not, if he is dead, and he's been murdered,

he needs burying.

I've been asking for help for so many years, because of my fear

that something's happened to him.

And it'll only be if he's found dead that I'll be proven right.

What a way to be proven right.

ROBERT STACK: Charles Horvath would now be 25 years old.

He is six feet tall, with dark brown hair, dark brown eyes,

and a tattoo on his left arm.

When last seen, Charles weighed 165 lbs.

On our next "Unsolved Mysteries," when a 17 year old

girl disappeared in 1974, her family

became convinced that she had been abducted by members

of a renegade motorcycle gang.

The girl's mother soon embarked on a dark journey

into the biker subculture.

Nearly 20 years later, she believes

her daughter is still alive--

still, perhaps, being held against her will.

Join me next time for an all new show.

Perhaps you may be able to solve a mystery.

[theme music]