Original subtitles

MALE (VOICEOVER): 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 (VOICEOVER): Frank and Teresa Wilson were

married for 34 happy years.

Then in 1960, Frank's death separated them forever,

or so it seemed, until Teresa's 80th birthday approached.

Many in the Wilson family believe that Frank's spirit

chose that occasion to make a special visit

from beyond the grave.

To his neighbors in Ohio, Neil Gott

seemed perfectly ordinary, the proverbial nice guy next door.

Then an FBI raid revealed that Gott was running a $1 million

dollar drug operation.

Perhaps you can help find him.

When he was 19 years old, Curt Borton was declared

missing in action in Vietnam.

Today, his name is inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans

Memorial in Washington DC.

But incredibly, Curt's family believes that Curt is not

only still alive, but that he has returned to the United

States with a new identity.

While the army maintains that Curt is dead,

his family has accumulated just enough evidence

to sustain their hopes that they'll yet find their son.

Join me for this intriguing addition

of "Unsolved Mysteries."

[music playing]

Most of us have a certain image of big time criminals.

They wear three piece suits, slick back their hair,

drive fancy cars, and wear fancy jewelry.

That's the image we see in the movies and on television.

In real life, a criminal can be anyone,

even your next door neighbor.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Neil Gott

certainly seemed normal enough.

He and his wife Terry had moved to the small town

of North Benton, Ohio in 1986.

Neil opened an auto repair shop, and business

appeared to be thriving.

When a baby girl came along in 1989,

the happy family picture was complete.

The Gotts, on the surface, appeared

to be a very legitimate couple.

He was a mechanic who had a place called Lake Park Auto.

She had a cleaning business, where she cleaned houses.

They had a two-year-old daughter,

Heather Gott, that was a very attractive,

blonde-headed little girl.

And everything appeared to be normal,

unless you lived in community and had heard

some of the rumors, or unless you were an FBI agent,

and you knew--

you had access to what we knew.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): But the FBI

knew was that Neil Gott was making

an awful lot of phone calls to a drug dealer in Akron.

Maybe we can just flip around, know what I mean?

Probably.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): The FBI listened in for a month,

gathering information and biding their time.

Finally, on December 15, 1990, Gott put in a substantial order

for the next day--

eight ounces of cocaine.

Probably bring eight or so?

Eight of them?

Yeah, give me an eight pack.

No kidding?

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): When Neil Gott made the buy,

the FBI was waiting. - FBI!

Don't move!

Step away from the vehicle.

Step aside.

Put your hands on the truck.

We're with the FBI.

Do you have any weapons on you anywhere?

No.

Go ahead and turn around.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): The agents did not

take Neil Gott into custody.

They had decided on a risky strategy.

We wanted the cocaine.

But we were not going to arrest Neil Gott, because we wanted

to continue our investigation till we

got everybody in his network.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Neil Gott, the good neighbor,

did not disappoint.

He went straight home and called his buyers

to tell them the bad news.

There would be no cocaine.

Now, the FBI had the names of Gott's cohorts.

But the authorities had already begun

to suspect that Gott was more than a small-time cocaine

middleman.

We became suspicious of other areas

of Neil Gott's activities.

For instance, he had rented a barn in Homeworth, Ohio.

And in this barn which was supposedly empty are being used

for occasional auto repairs, we looked at electric bills

in the neighborhood of $1,800 to $1,900 a month.

Whereas, in that type of building,

the electric bill shouldn't be over $50.

And that was our clue that they were

probably growing marijuana hydroponically

in that property.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): The FBI moved again.

This time, they carried a federal search

warrant for Neil and Terry Gott's house

and for their barn.

His indoor growing operation was everything we expected,

and much more.

It was a very sophisticated operation with expensive strobe

lights, which are heating lamps, expensive timers,

irrigation piping and tubing to all these various plants,

grow packs.

Everything a successful marijuana

operation for an indoor growth needed, Neil Gott had.

Inside with that kind of secrecy, in normal cases,

you can harvest at a minimum four times a year.

Your minimum harvest would be in the neighborhood

of $75,000 to $100,000.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): In addition to the marijuana,

agents also found a trove of weapons when they searched

the house, including high-powered rifles, handguns,

and explosives.

Terry Gott was at the barn.

But she denied any knowledge of drug dealing.

This time, however, Neil Gott was arrested.

After he was arrested, Mr. Gott's bail

was set at $25,000 cash, and a $200,000 bond, which

was signed by his parents.

And he immediately, of course, made bail,

and was back out on the street.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): In the meantime,

the FBI had nailed Gott's entire distribution network, as well

as several other drug dealers.

In all, 22 people were indicted on March 7th, 1991,

including Neal and Terry Gott.

Most of the defendants were in court for the arraignment.

The Gotts never showed.

When the FBI went to the Gott's house, it was empty.

In the backyard, they found a dead dog chained to a tree.

The only sign of life was a neighbor who wandered

over to see what was going on.

Ryan Smith, FBI.

Have you seen Neil or Terry Gott?

No, I'm watching their dog.

You're watching their dog?

Yeah.

For how long?

I don't know, about a week.

We started interviewing people.

And we interviewed a lady who had

rented a U-Haul trailer for the Gotts, had put it in her name.

And we were also able to decide, and from talking to people,

that on the evening of March 6, the Gotts

loaded all their personal belongings

into this U-Haul trailer and had left.

Neil Gott ended up in Florida.

At least that's where he dropped the U-Haul truck.

We believe the Gotts are still in the United States.

Neil Gott is a powerboat enthusiast,

the kind of cigarette type boats that were on "Miami Vice."

He enjoys that kind of activity.

So we feel wherever he is, he's probably engaging in that.

He's a truck driver.

And he's also an accomplished mechanic.

But what Neil Gott does best is he

grows dope, marijuana specifically.

So we definitely feel he's engaged in that activity.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Neil Gott is 44 years old, six feet

tall, and weighs 180 pounds.

He has prematurely gray hair, which he may

have died brown, and blue eyes.

Gott sometimes uses the alias John Hughes,

and should be considered armed and dangerous.

[music playing]

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): When we return,

the poignant ghost story of a love

that transcended the grave.

It has long been said that love conquers all.

Consider the romance of Frank and Teresa

Wilson, joined in marriage 1926, separated

by Frank's death, 1960.

Incredibly, Teresa and her family

believe that Frank has expressed his continuing love and

devotion from beyond the grave.

I can't believe it's been 34 years--

34 years married, and 34 years he's gone.

I have a feeling that he is here all the time around me.

I really do.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): The 1930s

and '40s were busy years for Teresa and Frank,

as they raised seven children, three girls and four boys.

Money was scarce.

But the Wilson's were content with the simple joys

of marriage and family.

A red letter day was April 3rd, 1950, Frank's 50th birthday.

Teresa proudly presented him with the money

she had carefully saved to buy her first TV set.

Frank?

The last time I saw Frank, we got up at our usual time, 6:00

o'clock, and went to the door, like I always

did, to kiss him goodbye.

Surprise me.

All right.

Goodbye, sweetheart.

TERESA: And that was his last words, when

he said, goodbye sweetheart.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Frank Faye Wilson, beloved husband

and father of seven, died of a heart attack

on his way to work.

He was 59 years old.

Teresa's family, which eventually

grew to include more than two dozen grandchildren and 40

great grandchildren, helped to fill the painful void

left by Frank's death.

In 1982, as Teresa approached her 80th birthday,

her children planned a special celebration.

They never imagined just how special

it would turn out to be.

More than a year in advance, Teresa's daughter,

Margaret Locke, began working on a unique and intimate gift.

They wanted to put together a memory book with letters

from all her relatives, and the children, and grandchildren,

and people all across the states,

just writing her a letter and telling her

how they felt about her, and remembering things

that they had done in the past.

And it took a long time.

And it was a lot of work.

But it was worth it.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): According to Margaret,

one letter was delivered in a most extraordinary fashion--

in the midst of a sleepless night.

MARGARET: I sensed that there was someone in the door.

And I looked over.

And there was a man standing there.

And it just came to me that it was my father.

He was white.

And it was just-- it glowed.

It actually glowed.

I don't know how else to describe it.

Margaret, I'm here because I want you to take a letter.

Letter?

You mean a letter for mom's book?

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Margaret

says she grabbed her journal and hurriedly began to scribble.

Dear Teres, as you celebrate your 80th birthday,

I want you to know I'll be at your side

as you blow out the candles on your cake.

Happy birthday, sweetheart.

When he was done, I looked up at him again.

And he smiled.

And he was gone.

He just vanished.

And I just was so stunned.

And I laid down.

And it took a long time.

And I finally fell asleep.

And I woke up the next morning.

And I thought, what a dream, what a dream I had.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Margaret

says she began to believe it wasn't a dream when she read

the love letter the next day.

If If I were really here, I would

shower you with sapphires as blue

as the ocean to match your eyes.

My father was always like that.

I mean, when my mother's regular birthdays came around,

he was so--

sometimes, they didn't have enough money to buy her a gift.

But he always had something special for her.

And I really think this was the most special thing

he had in all her years.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): September 19th, 1982--

at last, the night of the party had arrived.

Surprise!

Happy birthday!

MARGARET: It turned out, we had quite

a few people at the party.

And my mother kind of got wind of it before the party.

So when she walked in there, I think she kind

of suspected what was going on.

But she was still so gracious.

And she just acted like she was just as

surprised and pleased as punch.

Well, when they took me there, it was a hall.

And I knew it was going to be a party.

And it was my birthday.

So I figured, that's it.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Teresa had guessed

correctly about the party.

But she had absolutely no idea what was in store for her

as she opened the book of letters.

She opened the first page.

And inside was the invitation, which, she said,

oh that's nice.

And then she opened it up.

And there was a picture of her and my dad

that my nephew had drawn.

And then there was the letter.

FRANK: Dear Teres--

TERESA: I just couldn't control myself.

I just started to cry.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Initially, Teresa

thought Margaret had written the letter as a way of including

Frank in the celebration.

But then she began to wonder.

When it said, dear Teres, everybody else

called me Teresa.

But he called me Teres.

FRANK: Happy birthday, sweetheart, Frank.

I think I'll read these later.

I couldn't get past the first page.

I was in tears.

Then everybody started coming up, and congratulating me,

and giving me presents.

And after that, it was a real nice evening.

How did you know what he called me?

What do you mean?

Sweetheart.

I didn't.

I just wrote what he said.

I couldn't believe that.

I said, oh no, it's just a dream.

But then when she told me that she never knew about him

calling me sweetheart, and she said, that's what he signed it,

told me to sign it.

And then I believed it.

But I wish he'd come to me like that.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): More than a decade has passed.

For Teresa, the letter remains a tangible link

to her one true love.

Well, I read his letter.

And I can just hear her say it, just like he was right there.

FRANK: I love you more as each day brings us closer together.

Stay a while, though.

I'll wait forever.

I loved that part of it.

He doesn't want me to leave yet.

And I guess my kids don't want me to leave either.

But it gave me a good feeling, to know that when I go,

I'll have--

I won't-- they shouldn't feel bad, because I'll have

somebody waiting for me.

Here we go everybody.

Happy birthday!

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): In September of 1994,

our cameras were on hand as Teresa Wilson

celebrated her 92nd birthday.

Gathered around her were family members for generations,

and perhaps, just perhaps, the spirit

of the man she will always love, her sweetheart, Frank Wilson.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Next, a woman

claims to have seen her brother more than 25 years

after the government declared him

missing in action in Vietnam.

[music playing]

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): The images

are as stark today as they were in the 1960s and '70s.

It seems hard to believe, but it's been more than 20 years

since American forces were fighting

and dying in the distant jungles of Southeast Asia.

Along with the 58,000 who lost their lives,

the Vietnam Veterans Memorial also

carries the names of hundreds of GIs

who were officially unaccounted for.

A few families hold on to the faint glimmer of hope

that the men will one day return home.

Tonight, you'll meet the family of Robert

C. Borton Jr. known as Curt.

The Borton's believe Curt's name should never

have been inscribed on the wall in the first place,

that he is not missing in action, nor was he killed.

They are convinced that Curt is not only still alive,

but that he has come back to the United States

with a new identity.

I know my brother Curt's alive.

I've seen him on three separate occasions in Washington DC.

And I have not one doubt in my mind that that was my brother,

and he's very much alive to this day.

While it is understandable that the Borton family might

not want to accept the harsh reality that Curt has died,

they have collected just enough evidence to give

credence to their theory.

When Curt enlisted in the Marines, he was 19 years old.

Eight months later, just 19 days after arriving in Vietnam,

he found himself on night patrol near the city of Da Nang.

It was not long after that that Robert

Borton received the visit that every father dreads.

Yes?

Mr. Robert Borton?

Yes.

I'm Captain Victors.

This is Lieutenant Jeffers, Casualty Officer of the United

States Marine Corps.

Is this about Curt?

Yes, sir.

I'm afraid we do have some bad news about your son.

He has been reported missing in action.

It really hit me hard.

They said he's missing in action.

So I had to hope they'd find him right away.

Listening to the news, hoping something

would come up where they found him.

But then it never did, never happened.

Two Two years passed with not a single word about Curt's fate.

Still, the Borton's prayed for a miracle.

And in September of 1968, they believe one was delivered.

Robert?

Yeah.

Come here a minute.

We subscribe to the Leatherneck Magazine, the Marine magazine.

I was just going through it.

And all of a sudden, I see this picture.

And it just-- it just jumped at me, like, there's our son.

I wasn't expecting to see a picture of him.

But it was him.

I seen it, I said right then, there's my boy.

And ain't no doubt, because it is his picture of him.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): The photograph

had been taken in the Quan Tri Province in 1967, a full year

after Curt had been reported missing.

The Bortons are convinced that this soldier is their son.

We took it down to the Marine Casualty Office.

And then we get a letter back saying that it couldn't be him,

because this didn't match and that, and something else.

In other words, they claimed it was not our son.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): A few years

later, the Bortons came across what they

believe is additional evidence.

This is a frame from a 16 millimeter film shot in a Viet

Cong prison camp in 1968.

The Bortons have identified this prisoner as Curt.

I seen that there.

And as soon as I seen it, I said,

there's my boy again right there.

I'm like, there's our son again, no doubt.

I mean, you know your children when you see them.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Major Dave Greco,

a spokesperson for the Marine Corps,

says the Bortons are mistaken.

Each of the service members in that photograph

have been positively identified.

We've spoken to each one of them.

And none of them is Robert Borton.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): If it had ended with the two

photographs, Curt's family might have dropped the entire matter.

But the Bortons say there is more, much more.

In the summer of 1976, Roberts says

he was approached by two strangers

who claimed to be agents with the Department of Defense.

Who are you?

You're Curt Borton's father.

Is that right?

Yeah, you got information about him?

No, we have no information we can give you.

But we do have a letter we need you to sign for us.

What's this about?

Basically, it changes his status from missing

in action to killed.

What do you mean?

Wanting to know if for my son's own personal safety,

I'd declare him dead.

I said, no, I won't do that.

They told me I'd get a large sum of money.

And I said, I'm not concerned about the money, or my boy.

And I told him, no, I will not.

I don't know what's going on.

But I'm not signing any letter.

Now, just stay away from me, OK?

They got in the car and left.

And they said, do not tell nobody,

nobody, nobody, about it.

And so I didn't even tell her about it.

We don't work that way.

We do things in a very professional manner.

We would not approach someone and solicit

them to change their son's status in a public parking

lot of a shopping mall.

It would have been done in uniform in the family's home,

and would not have been solicited to have that done.

I feel like I should talk to a lawyer before I sign this.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Robert claims that the two men pursued

him aggressively over a period of weeks,

always confronting him in a public place.

Robert is functionally illiterate.

And, eventually, he signed the document

without knowing what it said.

And so I agreed to declare him dead for his own safety.

They kept saying that every once in a while, for his own safety.

They never told me that he was alive or anything like that.

But when they told me for his own safety, and--

then I knew he was alive then.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): In the end,

Robert Borton received a check for $43,000.

10 years went by before Robert told his family

anything about the episode.

When Diane read the letter that her father had signed,

she discovered that it was not a waiver,

but was typed up as a request by Mr. Borton.

The description killed in action had been x'd out,

and replaced with killed in captivity.

It was one more confusing discovery

that made the Borton's wonder what

had really happened to Curt.

That confusion would grew as the family travelled

time and time again to Washington

DC to investigate Curt's case.

On several occasions, the Bortons

were allowed to examine Curt's official files.

During the early morning hours of an unrecalled day

in March or April 1966--

What?

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Diane claims

that the entries regarding Curt's death kept changing.

Some of these reports are unsubstantiated.

They had him killed in March or April of '66.

In 1967, they have a story of him being with an engineer crew

and being killed.

They had him killed on paper several times.

And it just amazes me the audacity of them thinking

that we would swallow each one of these stories

and not say anything about it.

I think a lot of what the families read, they have

to understand that what they are reading

is not often government position.

But it may be the report of a witness.

These people, Vietnam villagers, are remembering things that

happened to them 25 years ago during a traumatic time

in their own lives.

So there are often errors in years.

There are often errors in months.

Many times, they only understand things

from the cycles of planting and harvesting their crops.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): The Bortons

continued to dig for evidence that Curt was still alive.

In the process, the family believes

that someone was becoming increasingly

curious about them.

Every time I go and check out his file, there's

something new.

Well, this time I went and--

[click]

Did you hear that?

Yeah, it's probably your call waiting.

I don't have call waiting.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Diane and other family

members became convinced that their phones were tapped.

I started having several phone conversations with Diane.

And she was giving me a lot of the information that she had.

One of Diane's cousins is certain that the entire family

was being watched.

He has asked that his identity not be revealed.

About that time frame that I started noticing that I

was being followed to work.

We lived in a house that was inside of a trailer park.

And I started noticing that pretty much

every morning there would be a car pull

out of the office parking lot.

And they would follow me into work.

And then I'd find them behind me again on my way home.

After about a month and a half, maybe two

months, of being followed, I approached

the two gentlemen in the car.

Yeah, guys, I'm not going to the company this morning.

I'm going to the gym first.

It's right across the street from the company.

I'll be there for two hours.

I'll be back here, take a shower.

Then I'm going back to work, OK?

What are you talking about?

You guys have been following me for a while.

I figured I'd let you know where I was, just--

After that for, about a month and a half, two months,

I wasn't followed anymore.

And then we started noticing them again.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): As part

of his job in a security company,

Diane's cousin often ran routine credit checks.

At Diane's request, he entered Curt's social security

number in the system, and made an unsettling discovery.

I entered it into the computer,

and it came back invalid entry.

At that time, I went and got my employer, and I told them,

I'm trying to run this credit application.

And I think I'm doing something wrong.

And he said, whoever filled out that credit application

is trying to feed you a line.

That number's never been issued.

That same day, I had left work, was headed home.

And I was approached by someone.

They very pleasantly called me by my name.

Hi, how you doing?

Listen, what you did today was really stupid.

What are you talking about?

You know what I'm talking about.

Now, it would be you and your family's best

interest not to do it again.

I don't know what you're talking about.

Yes, you do.

Now, leave it alone.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Diane's cousin

believes that he was threatened because he

had stumbled upon evidence that Curt might still be alive.

It would seem to fit together that maybe he had been

used for covert operations.

And in order to keep him from talking

about these covert operations, he

was given a new identity and instructions not to contact

anyone from his past.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): In 1990, a full 24 years

after Curt Borton supposedly died in Vietnam,

his sister Diane moved to a suburb of Washington DC.

Soon after, Diane had a chance encounter

that finally convinced her that all

of the scenarios about her brother

might, in fact, be true.

I went down to gas up the van.

And a car pulled in behind me.

It was a red car.

And whoever it was, must have pumped

their gas fast, because I seen them run across,

and pay for theirs.

And I walked across to pay for mine.

And when I came back across, the person was

standing there outside his car.

It looks like it's going to snow, doesn't it?

I was stunned.

It was my brother.

I didn't even have time to react,

because as soon as he said that, he got in and took off.

There was a real pretty girl in the front seat.

She had a long blond hair.

It didn't look like it was going to snow.

It was October.

It was clear skies.

And that's the only thing he said to me.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): The next April, Diane

claims she saw Curt again.

DIANE: We were headed down 395.

And a red car pulled up beside us.

I looked over.

It was my brother.

That's Curt.

It was the same red car I'd seen at the gas station.

The blonde girl was in the car with him.

You could see her there.

And he looked at me.

And he grinned.

And then he took and shot in front of us,

and slowed down a little bit.

And I wrote down the license number.

And then he sped up, and zipped over in the other lane,

and zipped off the exit, which was-- that was

at Quantico Marine station.

And we were going too fast.

We couldn't follow him.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Diane traced the license plate number

to a man who lived in Virginia.

But he claimed to know nothing about Curt.

A few months later in July of 1991,

Diane says Curt made another mysterious appearance.

By this time, Diane says that at least

one war buddy of Curt's had confirmed that Curt was alive.

However, that vet said Curt had come home

a disturbed and dangerous man.

DIANE: I spent many, many hours down at the Vietnam Veterans

Memorial.

I had my two daughters with me.

And there's a little hill with some woods.

And on the other side is the restrooms.

We went over to the restroom, went in, used the restroom.

When we came out of the restroom,

my brother was leaning against the wall.

And my oldest daughter, she recognized him.

- Mom, that's Curt! - Come on.

- He's right there. - Come on.

He's right there!

Let's go home.

Mom, please talk to him!

DIANE: I had been told from other sources

that he was potentially dangerous.

I had my two children with me.

And I just couldn't take that chance

that he could possibly be dangerous and harm my children.

I know now that was a mistake.

And if I had it all to do over again,

I would have turned around.

I would have faced him.

I would have talked to him.

I would have thrown my arms around him and hugged him.

But I was afraid.

[telephone ringing]

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): In 1992, another disturbing event.

Hello?

MAN: Is this Robert Borton?

Yes, who's this?

I can't mention any names, no names.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): The caller

asked a question which could only be answered by two people.

Your son had a blond-haired babysitter.

What was her name?

Frida Smith.

Friday Smith.

Yeah!

Is that My son?

Is he there?

So I knew right then, it's him.

He must be in the background.

And then they made a statement, they'd be seeing me soon.

I can't tell you anything more.

But he'll be seeing you soon.

Don't tell anyone.

Wait, hello?

I haven't heard another word from him.

I figured he'd probably get in touch.

I hope I didn't jeopardize his life

or anything by telling anybody.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): In August of 1993,

the Bortons were notified that a new set of documents

concerning MIAs and POWs had been

declassified by the government.

When they met with officials at Marine Headquarters,

the Bortons were shocked by what they learned.

We have discovered some remains

that we believe belong to Curt.

What did you find?

We found 11 teeth in a grave site.

Where did you find them?

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): One report

told of four US soldiers who were killed

by the Viet Cong in 1966.

Vietnamese eyewitnesses said that the bodies

were buried, and then later moved to another grave site.

Although the actual dates are in dispute,

the government believed that the discovery of Curt's teeth

and another set of dog tags at the grave site

provided reasonable certainty that Curt

was killed in Vietnam.

However, the teeth found in the grave

were compared with x-rays provided by the military,

not by Curt's family.

I asked him.

I says, where's the rest of his body?

All we have is teeth?

They says, well, there was grave robbers.

And they came.

And they robbed the grave, and took the body.

And I'm thinking, well, this is kind of dumb.

What, did they just leave the teeth?

We know that there is a remains trade in Vietnam, where

remains are buried, dug up, and moved to another place,

dug up again, and sold to remains traders.

So they miss many of the smaller pieces.

So often, we find only teeth.

Forensic experts tell us that these teeth were

from a deceased person, and that the teeth

do match Robert Borton.

It looks like it's going to snow, doesn't it?

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Today, the Borton family

believes that Curt is part of a secret government operation.

Diane, in particular, feels that her brother has attempted

to contact the family in order to let them know that he

is alive without endangering himself

by exposing his new identity.

I talked to a man who claims to be a secret attorney.

He said that they were allowed to come back, as long as they

didn't contact their families or let anybody know they're back.

The official status that was taken on these men

was that there were no more live POWs in Southeast Asia.

And they couldn't bring back live POWs when they

have already taken the stand that all

the POWs are home are dead.

There is no such program to bring

servicemen back after Vietnam and give them new identities.

Robert Boren would not be a candidate

for any type of secret mission.

He was a very young man.

He was in the Marine Corps just over six months.

He did not have any special skills.

He did not have a security clearance

or any linguistic skills that would

have been needed for some type of a covert operation.

They're lying to us.

And there's lots of families out there like us

that are suffering because of it.

And that's what's hard for me to handle,

is knowing what I've went through,

and knowing there's other families

out there going through this same thing, the not knowing.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): What happened to Curt Borton?

Did he die in the jungles of Vietnam as the government says?

Or did he somehow manage to survive?

Despite the official record, the Borton family remains convinced

that Curt is very much alive, and that one day he

will come home.

[music playing]

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Recently, we

told you the story of Xuan van Nguyen,

who immigrated to America from Vietnam

with his family in 1993.

Xuan had come not only to start a new life,

but to complete a chapter from his own.

In 1968 at the height of the Vietnam War,

Xuan was among hundreds of South Vietnamese officers

dispatched to a US Air Force Base

in Louisiana for jet pilot training.

Within weeks, Xuan had fallen in love with an American woman

named Gwendolyn Loften.

But, inevitably, the war intervened.

Xuan was sent back to Vietnam to fight for his country.

A few months after his return, he

received a letter from America.

Gwendolyn was pregnant.

[vietnamese]

INTERPRETER (VOICEOVER): Coming back from a tense mission,

and hearing the good news, I was so happy at that moment.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Five years later,

Xuan was dispatched to Louisiana once again.

He met his daughter Kimberly for the first time.

INTERPRETER (VOICEOVER): And I looked at her,

and knew right away that this was my child.

Kimberly, this is Xuan.

Xuan?

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Xuan was

able to spend an entire month with Kimberly,

before he had to return to Vietnam and the war.

After the war ended, Xuan was incarcerated for nearly 10

years in a re-education camp.

Another 10 years passed before he finally made it to America.

But Xuan never stopped thinking of the little girl

he had left behind so long ago.

And on our broadcast, he asked if someone in our audience

could help reunite.

That night, the switchboard at our phone center

lit up with calls from Kimberly's friends and family.

Kimberly, who lives in Pineville, Louisiana,

was thrilled to learn the Xuan was looking for.

Over the years, Kimberly had searched for Xuan,

but had always run into dead ends.

Now, she was anxious to be with her father again.

A few days later, Xuan and his American sponsor

travel to Louisiana for an emotional reunion

with Kimberly.

It was their first time together in more than 20 years.

Hi.

It's good to see you.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Xuan was overcome with emotion.

Still, he wanted to convey his feelings in English.

When in Vietnam, I never--

I would never think I can meet her.

But now, it's my dream can be true.

I very, very happy.

And then we hugged.

And then we said hello.

And then it was just--

you can't describe the feeling.

It was just like, nice.

It doesn't do the feeling justice.

Bit it was just incredible, fantastic, wonderful, great.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): Later that day,

Xuan celebrated with 20 members of Kimberly's family,

including her mother Gwendolyn.

To see them together is just a dream come true.

A fairy tale that had had some bad detours,

but it came to a happy ending.

This is a big day, big happy day.

I think I cannot forget it.

I knew that wherever he was, that he loved me.

And I was always certain in my heart

that one day we would be back together.

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): For Xuan and Kimberly,

the end of their long search marked the beginning

of a new life for both of them.

[music playing]

ROBERT STACK (VOICEOVER): On our next "Unsolved Mysteries,"

for more than 60 years, a mysterious light

has appeared above a stretch of railroad tracks in Arkansas.

Some say there is a scientific explanation.

Others believe the light is nothing less than the ghost

of a murdered railroad foreman, perhaps

still searching for his killer.

And the final appeal of Stuart Heaton--

DNA tests were the primary evidence

that convicted him of a murder he swears he did not commit.

But how accurate were the tests?

Heaton may spend the rest of his life

behind bars waiting to find out.

Join me next Friday for another intriguing addition

of "Unsolved Mysteries."

[music playing]