Original subtitles

Narrator: CHARLIE ALLEN JR. DISAPPEARED

ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2007.

WHEN A PERSON DISAPPEARS WITHOUT A TRACE,

OFTEN, THE MOST CRITICAL INFORMATION

IS HIDDEN IN THEIR ACTIONS AND WORDS

FROM THE DAYS BEFORE THEY VANISHED.

CHARLIE ALLEN'S LAST-KNOWN WHEREABOUTS

MAY HOLD THE CLUES TO WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM.

22-YEAR-OLD COLLEGE STUDENT AND TENNIS BUFF CHARLIE ALLEN

GOES AFTER LIFE WITH GUSTO.

HE WOULD EAT, SLEEP, AND BREATHE TENNIS.

IF HE WANTED TO BE GOOD AT SOMETHING,

HE WANTED TO BE THE BEST.

Narrator: ONE AFTERNOON, IN TYPICAL CHARLIE FASHION,

HE MAKES PLANS WITH A BUDDY TO GO TO A PARTY.

Viau: CHARLIE WAS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE CHANCE

TO GO TALK TO GIRLS AND JUST TO HAVE A GOOD TIME.

Narrator: BUT HE NEVER SHOWS UP.

ON A CHILLY OCTOBER NIGHT IN 2007,

CHARLIE ALLEN JR. DISAPPEARS.

I WAS TRYING HIM ON HIS PHONE -- NO RESPONSE.

Narrator: THE MYSTERY DEEPENS

WHEN HIS FACEBOOK ACCOUNT IS ABRUPTLY DELETED

AND HE WARNS HIS FAMILY THAT PEOPLE MAY BE AFTER HIM.

HE SAID THERE ARE PEOPLE AFTER HIM AND HE'S NOT SAFE.

Narrator: POLICE ARE BAFFLED BY THE BIZARRE CASE.

IN MY TIME HERE AS A POLICE OFFICER,

WE'VE NEVER ENCOUNTERED A STORY SUCH AS THIS.

Narrator: AND HIS LOVED ONES FIND THEMSELVES RICOCHETING

BETWEEN HOPE AND DESPAIR.

Ann: I JUST FELT LIKE HE'LL CALL TOMORROW.

IT WOULD JUST BE TOO UNBEARABLE TO THINK OTHERWISE.

-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Narrator: IT'S A CHILLY EVENING IN SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS.

IN OCTOBER 2007,

22-YEAR-OLD UMASS DARTMOUTH STUDENT CHARLIE ALLEN

IS RUNNING BAREFOOT AND SHIRTLESS

ALONG A WOODED ROAD A FEW MILES FROM CAMPUS.

THE TENNIS JUNKIE,

WHO WAS ONCE ONE OF THE WORLD'S TOP-RANKED ONLINE GAMERS,

IS SURE THAT SOMEONE IS AFTER HIM

AND THAT NEITHER HE NOR HIS FAMILY IS SAFE.

THIS DASH INTO THE NIGHT

WILL RESONATE WITH CHARLIE'S LOVED ONES

AS THE MOMENT EVERYTHING WENT WRONG.

JUST A FEW DAYS EARLIER, CHARLIE HEADS OVER

TO NEARBY PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND,

TO MEET HIS YOUNGER SISTER, BRITTANY.

15 MONTHS APART, THE TWO SIBLINGS ARE VERY CLOSE

AND SEE EACH OTHER OFTEN.

CHARLIE AND I GREW UP TOGETHER, DID EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

WE ALWAYS HAD, LIKE, THAT CONNECTION.

WE WOULD ALWAYS BE THERE FOR EACH OTHER, YOU KNOW?

WE SAW EACH OTHER ALL THE TIME.

THEY CATCH UP OVER LUNCH WITH THEIR MOTHER, ANN,

WHO COMES DOWN TO SEE HER KIDS A COUPLE OF TIMES A MONTH

FROM HER HOME A LITTLE MORE THAN AN HOUR-AND-A-HALF-DRIVE NORTH

IN HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS.

Ann: IT WAS A GREAT DAY.

I JUST REMEMBER LEAVING AND FEELING HAPPY.

HE WAS DOING GOOD IN SCHOOL, PLAYED TENNIS,

AND HE SEEMED HAPPY.

AND I'M DRIVING HOME FEELING REALLY GOOD.

Narrator: CHARLIE IS THE OLDEST OF THREE KIDS

IN A TIGHT-KNIT FAMILY.

Ann: VERY CLOSE.

CHARLIE AND I COULD TALK ABOUT ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING.

HE TOLD ME MORE --

SOMETIMES THINGS I DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO KNOW.

Charles Sr.: HE WAS A GREAT KID GROWING UP.

YOU KNOW, ENJOYED PLAYING BASEBALL

AND WAS VERY GOOD AT SCHOOL.

HE ENJOYED LIFE, AND HE DID WELL.

HE WAS IN THE HONOR SOCIETY.

HE COULD GET GOOD GRADES WITHOUT EVEN TRYING HARD.

Narrator: CHARLIE GROWS UP HANGING OUT WITH FRIENDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

AND ENJOYING VACATIONS AT THE FAMILY SUMMER HOUSE

IN GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

Charles Sr.: CHARLIE HAD A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOOD FRIENDS,

AND OUR HOUSE WAS ONE OF THE GATHERING PLACES.

HE WAS JUST ALWAYS, LIKE, THE LIGHT OF THE PARTY.

HE WAS JUST VERY OUTGOING

AND JUST LIKED TO HAVE A GOOD TIME.

Costanzo: HE WAS A GOOD GUY.

HE SEEMED LIKE, YOU KNOW, HE HAD EVERYTHING IN ORDER.

Narrator: IN HIGH SCHOOL,

CHARLIE BECOMES INTERESTED IN ONLINE GAMING,

COMPETITIONS IN WHICH MULTIPLE PLAYERS

COMPETE OVER THE INTERNET.

HE BECOMES ESPECIALLY GOOD AT THE GAME "HALF-LIFE."

Costanzo: HE WAS VERY DETERMINED.

HE WOULD PUT A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT INTO ANYTHING

TO MAKE HIMSELF THE BEST, AND HE WAS THE BEST.

Brittany: WHEN CHARLIE FIRST GOT INTO ONLINE GAMING,

HE FELL IN LOVE WITH IT.

HE WANTED TO BE NUMBER ONE.

Narrator: CHARLIE'S GAMER NAME IS NEO,

AND HE SOON BECOMES ONE OF THE TOP-RANKED

"HALF-LIFE" PLAYERS IN THE WORLD,

EVEN TRAVELING TO TEXAS FOR A TOURNAMENT.

HE WAS CONSIDERED THE NUMBER-ONE PLAYER IN THE WORLD.

STANDINGS, HIS STATS -- IF YOU LOOKED THEM UP ONLINE,

THAT WOULD EASILY TELL THAT.

Charles Sr.: HE WAS VERY WELL REGARDED, ONE OF THE BEST IN THE WORLD,

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE KNEW HIM FOR THAT.

THEY WROTE ARTICLES ABOUT HIM AND THAT KIND OF THING,

SO IT WAS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.

I REMEMBER, IN HIGH SCHOOL,

AND SOME STRANGER WALKED UP TO ME AND WAS LIKE,

"ARE YOU NEO'S SISTER?"

I WAS LIKE, "UM, YEAH, I GUESS SO."

HE'S LIKE, "I LOVE HIM."

Narrator: AFTER GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL,

CHARLIE ENROLLS AT UMASS DARTMOUTH.

HE MAJORS IN PSYCHOLOGY AND GETS GOOD GRADES.

HE EVEN THINKS ABOUT GOING ON TO MEDICAL SCHOOL AFTER GRADUATION.

HAVING CONQUERED THE ONLINE GAMING WORLD,

CHARLIE SHIFTS HIS FOCUS TO TENNIS

WHEN HE GETS TO COLLEGE.

HE APPROACHES IT WITH THE SAME DETERMINATION TO LEARN

AND BE THE BEST.

HE ENDED UP MAKING THE COLLEGE TEAM.

HE WOULD DEDICATE HIMSELF TO SOMETHING, A PASSION,

AND HE WOULD SPEND PRETTY MUCH ALL OF HIS TIME

WORKING AT THAT PARTICULAR THING

UNTIL HE FELT HE WAS MASTERING IT.

Brittany: THAT WAS ALL HE TALKED ABOUT.

HE WOULD STUDY IT, THE STRATEGIES OF THE GAME,

AND HE'D PLAY ALL THE TIME.

HE WOULD EAT, SLEEP, AND BREATHE TENNIS.

HE WAS ALWAYS A HAPPY-GO-LUCKY GUY,

ALWAYS HAD A POSITIVE ATTITUDE.

Narrator: ON THE COURTS AT UMASS DARTMOUTH,

CHARLIE MEETS FELLOW STUDENT MASON VIAU.

I HAD GONE DOWN THERE TO PRACTICE.

I HAD SEEN HIM.

HE HAD ASKED ME TO HIT,

SO WE STARTED HITTING, AND WE GOT IT OFF FROM THERE.

Narrator: THE TWO QUICKLY BOND

OVER THEIR MUTUAL LOVE OF TENNIS.

Viau: CHARLIE WAS A QUICK LEARNER.

HE HAD DEVELOPED HIS SKILLS PRETTY QUICKLY,

AND HE HAD A GOOD FOREHAND,

HE LIKED COMING TO THE NET,

AND HE WAS ABLE TO STAY OUT THERE WITH ANYONE.

Narrator: CHARLIE IS FASCINATED

WHEN MASON TELLS HIM HE TRAINED AT TENNIS ACADEMIES IN FLORIDA,

SOMETHING CHARLIE ASPIRES TO DO HIMSELF.

Viau: CHARLIE WANTED TO GET A LOT BETTER.

HE HAD ALWAYS SAID HE WANTED TO GO DOWN SOUTH

AND JUST TRAIN TO SEE HOW GOOD HE COULD GET.

Narrator: AT 2:00 ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2007,

CHARLIE AND MASON MEET ON THE COURTS TO PRACTICE.

WE HAD PRACTICED FOR 2, 2 1/2 HOURS,

JUST PLAYING A LITTLE BIT AND JUST DOING SOME DRILLS.

NOTHING REALLY SEEMED OUT OF THE ORDINARY.

WE HAD A GREAT PRACTICE.

Narrator: CHARLIE TELLS MASON

THAT HE'S BEEN INVITED TO A PARTY LATER THAT EVENING

BY A MEMBER OF THE GIRLS' TENNIS TEAM.

HE ASKS MASON TO JOIN HIM.

Viau: HE WAS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE PARTY,

THE CHANCE TO GO TALK TO GIRLS ON THE TENNIS TEAM

AND JUST TO HAVE A GOOD TIME.

CHARLIE WAS REALLY EXCITED

AND WAS HAPPY THAT WE WERE BOTH GONNA GO.

Narrator: THE TWO FRIENDS GRAB DINNER AT THE SCHOOL CAFETERIA

AND THEN GO THEIR SEPARATE WAYS TO SHOWER AND CLEAN UP.

THEY AGREE TO MEET BACK ON CAMPUS AT 8:30

AND GO TO THE PARTY TOGETHER.

AROUND 6:00 P.M.,

MASON HEADS TO HIS HOUSE NEARLY A HALF-HOUR AWAY.

MASON ASSUMES CHARLIE IS HEADED

TO HIS OFF-CAMPUS APARTMENT IN NEARBY NEW BEDFORD.

I TOLD CHARLIE THAT I WOULD SEE HIM LATER TONIGHT

AND THE PARTY SHOULD BE GOOD,

"AND I WILL GIVE YOU A CALL WHEN I GET BACK."

Narrator: AT 8:00 THAT NIGHT,

AT HER APARTMENT IN PROVIDENCE, CHARLIE'S SISTER, BRITTANY,

IS CHECKING HER FACEBOOK ACCOUNT.

WE TALKED TO EACH OTHER ON FACEBOOK EVERY DAY.

HE LOVED FACEBOOK.

Narrator: CHARLIE HAD MESSAGED HER EARLIER THAT EVENING,

AND SHE WANTED TO GET BACK TO HIM,

BUT WHEN SHE LOGS ON,

SHE IS SHOCKED AT WHAT SHE FINDS.

COMING UP, IN A MATTER OF MOMENTS,

CHARLIE'S WORLD APPEARS TO UNRAVEL.

I COULD HEAR, OVER THE PHONE, HIS HEART DROPPING.

HE GOT REALLY SCARED.

Narrator: FAMOUS AMONG HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY

FOR HIS PASSION FOR TENNIS,

22-YEAR-OLD CHARLIE ALLEN JR.

IS FINISHING UP HIS SENIOR YEAR OF COLLEGE.

OCTOBER 11, 2007.

HIS SISTER, BRITTANY, LOGS ON TO FACEBOOK

TO RESPOND TO A MESSAGE CHARLIE SENT HER EARLIER.

SHE IS THROWN BY WHAT SHE DISCOVERS.

HIS ACCOUNT WAS DELETED.

HE DIDN'T EXIST ON THERE ANYMORE.

AND SO I THOUGHT IT WAS CRAZY THAT, ALL OF A SUDDEN,

HE WOULD DELETE IT AND HE WOULDN'T EVEN TELL ME.

Narrator: BRITTANY CALLS CHARLIE TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED.

AT FIRST, I WAS JUST LIKE, "HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

AND HE WAS LIKE, "UM, I'M WALKING.

I WAS THINKING ABOUT GOING TO THIS GIRL'S PARTY."

I WAS LIKE, "OKAY, WELL, I CALLED

"'CAUSE I WAS WONDERING,

WHY DID YOU DELETE YOUR FACEBOOK?"

AND I COULD JUST, LIKE, HEAR OVER THE PHONE

HIM -- LIKE, HIS HEART DROPPING.

IT WAS LIKE, ALL OF A SUDDEN,

HE GOT REALLY SCARED.

Narrator: BRITTANY IS CONFUSED WHEN CHARLIE TELLS HER

HE HAS NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS FACEBOOK PAGE

AND THAT HE DIDN'T DELETE IT.

Brittany: AND THEN HE JUST STARTED PANICKING.

HE WAS TALKING REALLY FAST, JUST IN A PANIC.

Narrator: WHAT CHARLIE TELLS HER NEXT IS STUNNING.

Brittany: THERE ARE PEOPLE AFTER HIM,

AND HE'S NOT SAFE AND I'M NOT SAFE.

HE'S LIKE, "YOU HAVE TO LEAVE SCHOOL RIGHT NOW.

"YOU HAVE TO GO HOME, STAY WITH DAD.

"DAD'S THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN PROTECT YOU.

"THERE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT PEOPLE AFTER ME.

I'VE SENT SOME E-MAILS, AND I'M NOT SAFE."

RIGHT BEFORE HE HUNG UP, HE SAID,

"ALL THE ANSWERS ARE IN THE PERIODIC TABLE OF ELEMENTS."

Narrator: DISTRAUGHT AND BEWILDERED,

BRITTANY CALLS HER FATHER.

Brittany: I WAS REALLY FREAKED OUT,

AND I CALL MY DAD, CRYING,

AND I WAS LIKE, "I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON,

BUT CHARLIE IS -- HE JUST SCARED ME."

Charles Sr.: BRITTANY HAD BEEN VERY CLOSE TO CHARLIE,

BUT WITH THE WAY THAT HE WAS TALKING TO HER,

SHE WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HIS WELL-BEING.

AND AT THE SAME TIME, MY WIFE AND I

BOTH HAD RECEIVED CELLPHONE MESSAGES FROM CHARLIE,

WHERE HE SOUNDED LIKE HE WAS RUNNING

AND TALKING ABOUT MAYBE HEADING SOUTH.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS DEFINITELY CONCERNING.

Narrator: IN THE MESSAGE CHARLIE LEAVES FOR HIS FATHER,

HE MENTIONS MEXICO AND FLORIDA.

IN THE VOICEMAIL HE LEAVES FOR HIS MOTHER,

HE TALKS OF TEXAS.

Ann: I HAD HAD A MESSAGE FROM CHARLIE,

WHICH IS REALLY OUT OF CHARACTER.

HE HAD TOLD ME THAT HE NEEDS TO BE LOVED MORE

AND THAT HE FELT ISOLATED.

HE WAS RUNNING AT THE TIME THAT HE WAS TALKING TO ME.

HE WAS OUT OF BREATH.

AND THEN HE KIND OF HUNG UP ABRUPTLY.

AND I TRIED CALLING HIM BACK,

AND HE HAD TURNED OFF HIS CELLPHONE.

CHARLIE'S PARENTS AND SISTER

ALL TRY TO REACH HIM ON HIS CELLPHONE,

BUT EVERY CALL GOES TO VOICEMAIL.

THAT SAME EVENING, ON THE UMASS DARTMOUTH CAMPUS,

MASON HEADS TO THE CAMPUS PARKING LOT

WHERE HE AND CHARLIE ARE MEETING TO GO TO THE PARTY TOGETHER,

BUT CHARLIE NEVER SHOWS.

Viau: I'D WAITED ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR TO 45 MINUTES

BEFORE I HAD LEFT.

I FIGURED CHARLIE PROBABLY WENT TO THE PARTY

AND JUST FORGOT ABOUT ME.

Narrator: MASON TRIES ONE MORE TIME TO REACH CHARLIE.

HE GETS VOICEMAIL AND HEADS HOME.

MEANWHILE, CHARLIE'S MOTHER, FATHER, AND SISTER

KEEP TRYING BUT FAIL TO REACH HIM.

CHARLIE HAD TAKEN OFF A COUPLE OF TIMES,

USUALLY JUST TO GO SEE A TENNIS TOURNAMENT.

HE'D ALWAYS GET IN TOUCH WITH US THE SAME DAY OR THE NEXT DAY,

AND SO WE -- YOU KNOW, WE FIGURED

HE'D TURN UP THE NEXT DAY.

Narrator: BUT CHARLIE DOESN'T TURN UP,

AND HE DOESN'T CALL.

HIS PARENTS NOTIFY THE UNIVERSITY

THAT CHARLIE HAS VANISHED.

OCTOBER 14, 2007.

THREE DAYS AFTER CHARLIE IS LAST SEEN,

POLICE ARE CALLED TO INVESTIGATE SOMETHING SUSPICIOUS

A HOMEOWNER FOUND IN HIS BACKYARD.

DETECTIVE ROBERT LEVINSON OF THE DARTMOUTH POLICE DEPARTMENT

IS THE PATROLMAN ON DUTY.

ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14th, AT AROUND 11:00 IN THE MORNING,

I WAS DISPATCHED TO A RESIDENCE IN TOWN

FOR SOME FOUND PROPERTY.

SPECIFICALLY, IT WAS A BACKPACK --

A SCHOOL-TYPE BACKPACK.

Narrator: LEVINSON LOOKS THROUGH THE BACKPACK

AND FINDS A NOTEBOOK.

THE NAME IN THE NOTEBOOK WAS "CHARLES ALLEN."

I CONTACTED THE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS,

AND FROM THERE, I FOUND OUT THAT CHARLES ALLEN JR.

HAD BEEN REPORTED MISSING.

Narrator: BLOODHOUND UNITS ARE SENT OUT

TO SEE WHAT, IF ANY, TRACE THEY CAN FIND

OF THE COLLEGE STUDENT.

THE K-9 SEARCH COMES UP EMPTY,

BUT OVER AT UMASS DARTMOUTH, CAMPUS POLICE MAKE A DISCOVERY.

THEY FIND CHARLIE'S FORD EXPEDITION

IN A SCHOOL PARKING LOT.

INSIDE THE CAR IS A PILLOW AND BLANKET.

IT APPEARED AS IF THAT MAYBE CHARLIE

HAD BEEN SLEEPING IN HIS VEHICLE RATHER THAN IN HIS HOME.

Narrator: UP TO THIS POINT, CHARLIE'S FAMILY HAS ASSUMED

THEY WOULD HEAR FROM HIM AT ANY MOMENT,

BUT THEIR CONCERN TURNS TO FEAR

WITH THE DISCOVERY OF CHARLIE'S CAR.

Ann: WHEN THEY FOUND HIS CAR, THAT'S WHEN I JUST...

I COULDN'T DEAL WITH IT.

BECAUSE WHY WOULD HE LEAVE HIS CAR?

Narrator: MONDAY, OCTOBER 15th,

THE DAY AFTER THE CAR AND BACKPACK ARE DISCOVERED,

OFFICER LEVINSON IS TALKING ABOUT THE CASE

WITH A FELLOW COP.

WHEN HE DESCRIBES CHARLIE,

HIS COLLEAGUE TELLS HIM THAT THE COLLEGE STUDENT

SOUNDS JUST LIKE A SUSPECT IN ANOTHER CASE.

THERE'D ACTUALLY BEEN A HOUSE-BREAK

NOT TOO FAR AWAY FROM THE CAMPUS.

Narrator: IN THE EARLY-MORNING HOURS OF FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12th,

A LITTLE MORE THAN SIX HOURS

AFTER BRITTANY LAST SPOKE TO HER BROTHER,

JEAN BOUDREAU WAKES TO FIND SOMEONE WITH NO SHIRT ON

CLIMBING THROUGH HER SECOND-FLOOR BEDROOM WINDOW.

Narrator: WHEN SHE AWOKE,

SHE HAD A BRIEF CONVERSATION WITH THIS GENTLEMAN

WHO HAD ENTERED HER WINDOW.

AND HE SAYS, "OH, EXCUSE ME, MA'AM.

EXCUSE ME, MA'AM. I'M JUST LEAVING."

HE WAS LOOKING FOR HIS FRIEND MASON,

AND THEN HE JUST PROCEEDED TO GO OUT THE WINDOW.

HE WAS ACTUALLY VERY POLITE.

Narrator: LEVINSON IS SURE IT'S CHARLIE.

THE PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION IS A MATCH,

AND HE HAS ALREADY LEARNED

THAT CHARLIE HAS A FRIEND NAMED MASON.

JUST BASED ON THE PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

AND THE CLOTHING DESCRIPTION

OF THE PERSON WHO ENTERED THIS RESIDENT'S HOME,

THAT PERSON WAS MORE THAN LIKELY CHARLIE ALLEN.

Narrator: THIS DISCOVERY ONLY INTENSIFIES THE MYSTERY.

CHARLIE'S TENNIS BUDDY

LIVES NOWHERE NEAR THE HOME THAT WAS BROKEN INTO.

Viau: IT WAS A GOOD 30 MINUTES AWAY,

AND HE HAD KNOWN WHERE I LIVED,

SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS A LITTLE STRANGE.

JUST DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME.

Narrator: COMING UP, THE SEARCH FOR CHARLIE BECOMES MORE URGENT.

Levinson: TIME WAS OF THE ESSENCE TO FIND HIM

BEFORE HE HAD HURT HIMSELF OR SOMETHING EVEN WORSE.

Narrator: COLLEGE STUDENT CHARLIE ALLEN JR.

LEAVES A SERIES OF WORRISOME MESSAGES

ON HIS PARENTS' CELLPHONE,

AND AFTER A DISTURBING CONVERSATION WITH HIS SISTER,

HE DISAPPEARS.

WHEN INVESTIGATORS SEEMINGLY TIE THE 22-YEAR-OLD

TO A BREAK-IN AT A HOME SEVERAL MILES

FROM CHARLIE'S UMASS CAMPUS,

THE CASE BECOMES EVEN MORE PUZZLING.

CHARLIE WAS NOT A KNOWN CRIMINAL.

THIS WASN'T HIS NORMAL BEHAVIOR, TO BREAK INTO SOMEONE'S HOUSE.

Narrator: BUT POLICE LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT CHARLIE

THAT THEY THINK MAY EXPLAIN THIS BEHAVIOR.

THE FATHER TOLD ME THAT HIS SON WAS BIPOLAR

AND MANIC-DEPRESSIVE,

AND HE HAD ACTED IRRATIONAL AT TIMES,

AND HE MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN TAKING HIS MEDICATION

AS HE WAS SUPPOSED TO.

SO, IT WOULD ALL MAKE SENSE

THAT HE WAS IN SOME TYPE OF A MANIC STATE

AND HE WAS ACTING IRRATIONAL.

Narrator: YEARS EARLIER, IN HIGH SCHOOL,

CHARLIE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER,

A CONDITION THAT INVOLVES ALTERNATING PERIODS

OF MANIA AND DEPRESSION.

Charles Sr.: HE BECAME A BIT MANIC,

AND IT WAS A PRETTY BIG CHANGE FOR HIM.

HE HAD BEEN SOMEWHAT SHY IN SCHOOL UP TO THAT POINT,

AND SUDDENLY HE WAS VERY OUTGOING,

AND IT WAS NOTICEABLE.

WHEN HE WAS MANIC, HE TALKED A LOT AND FAST,

AND, YOU KNOW, HE HAD SOMEWHAT GRANDIOSE THOUGHTS.

WHEN HE WAS DIAGNOSED IN HIGH SCHOOL,

HE TOOK MEDICATION FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME

AND STARTED SEEING A THERAPIST AND SEEMED TO DO BETTER.

YOU KNOW, HE FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL, GRADUATED,

AND IT WENT WELL WHEN HE WENT TO COLLEGE.

Narrator: BUT IN RECENT YEARS,

CHARLIE HAD AN ON-AGAIN, OFF-AGAIN RELATIONSHIP

WITH HIS PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATION.

WHEN THEY DIAGNOSED HIM WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER

AND THEY PUT HIM ON, LIKE, MOOD STABILIZERS,

HE SAID HE WASN'T THE SAME.

HE FELT, LIKE, DEAD INSIDE.

HE DIDN'T GET HAPPY OR SAD.

I REMEMBER ONE TIME I WAS SO UPSET ABOUT SOMETHING,

LIKE, HYSTERICALLY CRYING TO HIM ABOUT IT,

AND HE LOOKED AT ME, AND HE WAS LIKE,

"I'M JUST JEALOUS THAT YOU CAN FEEL LIKE THAT,

"FEEL PASSIONATELY ABOUT SOMETHING,

EVEN IF IT'S BAD,"

BECAUSE HE DIDN'T.

Narrator: THE SUMMER BEFORE HE DISAPPEARED,

CHARLIE STOPS TAKING THE DRUGS ALTOGETHER.

EVENTUALLY, HE STOPPED TAKING THE MEDICATION ON HIS OWN.

THINGS HAD LEVELED OUT.

HE TRIED TO MAINTAIN HIS PHYSICAL WELL-BEING

IN RELATIONSHIP TO MENTAL WELL-BEING,

AND HE SEEMED LIKE HE WAS SOMEWHAT UNDER CONTROL

DOING IT THAT WAY.

Brittany: HE WAS LIKE, "I WASN'T ALIVE BEFORE.

I FEEL LIKE I'M LIVING FOR THE FIRST TIME."

Narrator: POLICE SUSPECT CHARLIE'S DISAPPEARANCE

IS CONNECTED TO HIS BIPOLAR DISORDER

AND THAT, OFF HIS MEDICATION,

HE MAY HAVE SLIPPED INTO A MANIC STATE.

WE BELIEVED THAT WE WERE DEALING WITH A MENTALLY ILL INDIVIDUAL,

AND TIME WAS OF THE ESSENCE TO FIND HIM

BEFORE HE HAD HURT HIMSELF OR SOMETHING EVEN WORSE.

Narrator: BUT THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW CHARLIE BEST,

HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS,

FIND IT IMPOSSIBLE TO BELIEVE THAT CHARLIE'S CONDITION

IS SERIOUS ENOUGH TO MAKE HIM WANT TO DISAPPEAR.

PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND,

YOU KNOW, MENTAL ILLNESS,

OR WHAT PEOPLE CALL MENTAL ILLNESS.

AND ONCE THEY HEAR THAT LABEL,

IT'S LIKE, "OH, HE PROBABLY JUST RAN AWAY,

"OR HE'S PROBABLY SCHIZOPHRENIC.

HE HAS NO IDEA. HE'S JUST CRAZY."

I THINK HE IS MORE SANE THAN ANYONE I'VE EVER MET.

EVEN WHEN CHARLIE WAS MANIC, HE ALWAYS MADE SENSE.

HE NEVER LOST HIS TOUCH WITH REALITY.

Narrator: CHARLIE'S MOTHER,

WHO SAW HIM JUST DAYS BEFORE HE DISAPPEARED,

SAYS THERE WOULD USUALLY BE A BUILDUP TO A MANIC EPISODE,

AND, DURING HER RECENT VISIT WITH HER SON,

THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF THAT AT ALL.

Ann: IT STARTS OFF SLOW,

AND IT BUILDS AND IT BUILDS AND IT BUILDS.

THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS WITH CHARLIE.

YOU JUST DON'T LOSE YOUR MIND IN ONE MINUTE AND RUN AWAY.

Viau: THERE WERE NO SIGNS INDICATING

THAT HE WAS GOING TO HAVE A BREAKDOWN OF ANY KIND,

SO IT ALL SEEMED A LITTLE STRANGE TO ME.

Narrator: IN FACT, MASON,

WHO SAW CHARLIE SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK,

HAD NO IDEA HIS FRIEND WAS BIPOLAR.

Viau: THAT WAS NEWS TO ME

BECAUSE HE HAD ALWAYS BEEN

REALLY LEVEL-HEADED, HAPPY-GO-LUCKY.

I'D HUNG OUT WITH HIM A LOT.

THERE WAS NOTHING TO SUGGEST

THAT HE WAS DEPRESSED OR BIPOLAR AT ALL.

Narrator: BUT IN HINDSIGHT,

MASON DOES REMEMBER SOMETHING A LITTLE ODD

FROM THE LAST DAY HE SAW CHARLIE.

Viau: AT DINNERTIME, CHARLIE AND I

WENT TO THE SCHOOL CAFETERIA,

AND, WHEN WE HAD SAT DOWN,

HE REACHED ACROSS TO GRAB PIZZA FROM MY PLATE.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS A LITTLE STRANGE.

I MENTIONED IT,

AND HE SAID HE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS HIS SLICE OF PIZZA.

WE BOTH KIND OF LAUGHED IT OFF.

Narrator: IN ANOTHER STRANGE TWIST,

POLICE ALSO LEARNED THAT, SHORTLY BEFORE HE DISAPPEARED,

CHARLIE LEGALLY CHANGED HIS NAME FROM CHARLES ALLEN JR.

TO NEO BABSON MAXIMUS.

ONE DAY I GOT HOME FROM WORK,

AND HE'S LIKE, "CHECK THIS OUT. I CHANGED MY NAME."

AND HE TOOK OUT HIS LICENSE AND HE SHOWED IT TO ME,

AND IT SAID "NEO BABSON MAXIMUS."

AND I JUST LAUGHED. I WAS LIKE, "ARE YOU SERIOUS?

WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?" I JUST KIND OF, LIKE, BRUSHED IT ASIDE.

LIKE, "I'M STILL CALLING YOU CHARLIE.

I'M NOT CALLING YOU 'NEO' IN THE PUBLIC."

Narrator: NEO, CHARLIE'S ONLINE GAMING NAME,

IS TAKEN FROM THE MOVIE "THE MATRIX,"

WHILE "MAXIMUS" COME FROM THE FILM "GLADIATOR."

"BABSON" IS A FAMILY NAME.

Brittany: I ASKED HIM WHY, AND HE WANTED IT TO BE DIFFERENT,

AND HE WANTED TO BE THE BEST TENNIS PLAYER IN THE WORLD.

THAT WAS HIS GOAL.

AND HE THOUGHT THAT IT SOUNDED A LOT BETTER

IF HE HAD A DIFFERENT NAME.

Narrator: CHARLIE DIDN'T TALK WIDELY OF THE NAME CHANGE.

IN FACT, MANY ARE LATER SURPRISED TO FIND OUT ABOUT IT.

CHARLIE HAD NEVER MENTIONED ANYTHING

ABOUT CHANGING HIS NAME.

I DID NOT KNOW CHARLIE HAD CHANGED HIS NAME

UNTIL AFTER HE HAD GONE MISSING.

Narrator: POLICE SEE THE NAME CHANGE AS FURTHER EVIDENCE

OF CHARLIE'S TROUBLED STATE OF MIND.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT MAKES A PERSON DECIDE TO CHANGE THEIR NAME.

NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE A PERSON THAT'S MISSING,

WE HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL THAT LEGALLY CHANGED HIS NAME,

AND, PERHAPS, YOU KNOW, DID HE DO THAT

TO ESCAPE HIS PAST, TO START A NEW LIFE?

MAYBE. I DON'T KNOW.

I GUESS THERE ARE SO MANY POSSIBLE ANSWERS OUT THERE.

Narrator: CHARLIE'S FAMILY LAST HEARD FROM HIM ON A THURSDAY.

A WEEK LATER, THERE IS STILL NO WORD.

Ann: I JUST FELT LIKE HE'LL CALL TOMORROW.

IT WOULD JUST BE TOO UNBEARABLE TO THINK OTHERWISE.

Narrator: HIS PARENTS THINK BACK

TO THE BAFFLING VOICEMAILS HE LEFT EACH OF THEM

JUST BEFORE HIS DISAPPEARANCE, TALKING ABOUT HEADING SOUTH.

HIS LAST CONVERSATION WITH HIS SISTER, BRITTANY,

IS EQUALLY CONFUSING.

CHARLIE TOLD BRITTANY THAT PEOPLE WERE AFTER HIM

AND HE WASN'T SAFE,

BUT NONE OF HIS FRIENDS ARE AWARE OF ANY DANGER

HE MAY HAVE BEEN FACING OR ANY ENEMIES HE MAY HAVE HAD.

CHARLIE DIDN'T HAVE ANY ENEMIES.

I MEAN, HE WAS JUST A HAPPY GUY, AND HE WAS EVERYONE'S FRIEND.

SO, FOR HIM TO HAVE ENEMIES

WAS A LITTLE FAR-FETCHED, IT SEEMED.

THE KID WASN'T REALLY A TROUBLESOME KID.

I MEAN, HE NEVER PICKED FIGHTS.

HE WASN'T, LIKE, A MEAN PERSON.

I DON'T KNOW WHY HE SAID THAT.

Narrator: POLICE DON'T FIND ANY EVIDENCE

TO INDICATE THAT ANYONE IS AFTER CHARLIE

OR THAT HE HAD BEEN IN DANGER.

BUT CHARLIE'S MOTHER AND SISTER

DON'T BELIEVE CHARLIE'S FEARS ARE IMAGINARY.

I DIDN'T THINK THAT THERE WAS ANY CHANCE IN HELL

THAT HE WAS JUST HAVING AN ILLUSION

THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE AFTER HIM.

I COULD TELL THAT HE WAS BEING HONEST.

HE WAS REALLY SCARED, AND I BELIEVE IT.

Narrator: COMING UP,

COULD CHARLIE HAVE HITCHED A RIDE OUT OF TOWN?

I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT IT WAS THAT STUDENT.

Narrator: GET MORE "DISAPPEARED" ONLINE AT...

Narrator: CHARLIE ALLEN JR.

IS LAST SEEN IN EARLY OCTOBER, 2007.

THE COLLEGE STUDENT SUFFERS FROM BIPOLAR DISORDER,

AND POLICE SEEMINGLY LINK HIM TO A HOME BREAK-IN.

LAW ENFORCEMENT DEVOTES EVERY RESOURCE AVAILABLE

TO SEARCH AROUND THE UMASS DARTMOUTH CAMPUS

AND IN NEIGHBORING NEW BEDFORD.

I THINK THE FACT THAT CHARLIE DID SUFFER

FROM SOME TYPE OF MENTAL ILLNESS MADE IT ALL THE MORE URGENT

TO SEARCH THE WOODS AND TO REACH OUT

TO AS MANY PEOPLE WHO KNEW CHARLIE

AND THAT MAYBE HAD SEEN HIM WITHIN THE LAST FEW DAYS

BEFORE HE DISAPPEARED.

Narrator: POLICE FIND CHARLIE'S SNEAKERS ALONG A ROAD

NOT FAR FROM THE HOUSE HE ALLEGEDLY BROKE INTO,

WHICH SEEMS TO CONFIRM THEIR SUSPICION

THAT HE WAS THE SHIRTLESS INTRUDER.

Levinson: THE SEARCH ESCALATED,

FROM THE USE OF MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE HELICOPTER

TO A WIDESPREAD SEARCH WITH MULTIPLE PEOPLE

SEARCHING FOR CHARLIE IN THE WOODED AREA.

IT'S A VERY DENSE WOODED AREA IN THAT PART OF DARTMOUTH.

Narrator: NOW, WITH NO SHIRT, NO SHOES,

AND WEARING JUST A PAIR OF WARM-UP PANTS,

HOW FAR COULD THE COLLEGE STUDENT HAVE MADE IT

IN THE COOL, RAINY OCTOBER WEATHER?

Charles Sr.: IF ANYBODY COULD FIGURE OUT A WAY TO SURVIVE,

IT WOULD BE CHARLIE.

HE KNEW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF HIMSELF,

AND SO HE WAS DEFINITELY THE TYPE OF PERSON

THAT WOULD FIND A WAY IF HE WANTED TO.

Narrator: WHEN CHARLIE'S FAMILY REPORTS

THAT HAD A VERY ACTIVE ONLINE LIFE,

POLICE CHECK CHARLIE'S COMPUTER

FOR POSSIBLE CLUES TO HIS WHEREABOUTS.

THERE WAS NOTHING REALLY ALL THAT HELPFUL ON HIS COMPUTER

THAT WOULD LEAD US IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

THE DETECTIVE WHO CHECKED THE COMPUTER

DID NOT REPORT ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY.

Narrator: THE ONLY FINDING OF INTEREST

IS THAT ONE OF THE LAST PAGES CHARLIE LOOKED AT ONLINE

WAS A WEBSITE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.

IN THE VOICEMAIL HE LEFT FOR HIS MOTHER,

HE MENTIONED GOING TO TEXAS.

HAD CHARLIE BEEN RESEARCHING A SECRET MOVE SOUTH?

WE CONTACTED THE UNIVERSITY DOWN THERE

JUST TO INQUIRE WHETHER CHARLIE HAD, IN FACT,

APPLIED AT THAT UNIVERSITY, AND WE WERE TOLD THAT, NO,

THERE WAS NO FILE WITH HIS NAME ATTACHED TO IT.

Ann: IF CHARLIE HAD AN INTEREST IN GOING TO TEXAS,

HE WOULD TELL ME, 'CAUSE HE KNOWS I WOULD SAY,

"IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT, HON, DO IT."

Narrator: CHARLIE'S MOTHER IS MORE CONCERNED

WITH WHAT POLICE DIDN'T FIND ON HIS COMPUTER.

CHARLIE HAD TOLD HIS SISTER HE WAS IN TROUBLE

BECAUSE HE HAD SENT SOME E-MAILS TO IMPORTANT PEOPLE,

BUT THOSE E-MAILS ARE NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.

IN FACT, ALL OF CHARLIE'S RECENT E-MAILS ARE MISSING.

Ann: THERE WERE NO E-MAILS BEFORE HE WENT MISSING.

THERE WERE NO E-MAILS

FROM OCTOBER 11th, 10th, 9th, 8th, 7th, 6th, 5, 4.

BUT I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY STRANGE.

IT BLOWS MY MIND THAT WE COULD GIVE CHARLIE'S COMPUTER

TO THE POLICE TO DO THE FORENSICS,

AND SOMEONE WHO LIVED HIS ENTIRE LIFE ON THE COMPUTER --

THEY FOUND NOTHING.

HE, LIKE, LIVED A VIRTUAL LIFE, YOU KNOW?

AND THEY FOUND NOTHING.

Narrator: IF THERE IS ANY TRUTH TO THE NOTION

THAT SOMEONE WAS AFTER CHARLIE,

COULD THEY HAVE TAMPERED WITH HIS COMPUTER

AND PURPOSELY WIPED IT CLEAN?

OR COULD IT HAVE BEEN CHARLIE HIMSELF WHO DID IT?

COULD THE ONLINE PHENOM

HAVE INTENDED TO TAKE HIMSELF OFF THE GRID?

IF HE WANTED TO CHANGE HIS IDENTITY,

I'M PRETTY SURE HE COULD HAVE DONE IT.

I MEAN, HE'S PRETTY CREATIVE

IN THE TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, ACT,

YOU KNOW, AND BE SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

HE DID CHANGE HIS NAME, SO, I GUESS, IN A SENSE,

HIS IDENTITY WAS KIND OF ALTERED ALREADY.

Narrator: ACCORDING TO HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY,

CHARLIE HAD A KNACK FOR MASTERING THINGS QUICKLY.

COULD HE HAVE BEEN EQUALLY ADEPT

AT SETTING UP HIS OWN DISAPPEARANCE?

WAS CHANGING HIS NAME A FIRST STEP IN CREATING A NEW IDENTITY?

CHARLIE'S FAMILY HAS A HARD TIME BELIEVING THIS COULD BE TRUE.

Brittany: PEOPLE WOULD SAY TO ME,

"YOU KNOW, MAYBE HE JUST DOESN'T WANT TO BE FOUND.

MAYBE HE WANTED TO GO OFF LIKE THAT."

AND I'M LIKE... [ CHUCKLES ]

"WELL, YOU DON'T KNOW HIM.

HE WOULD NEVER WANT TO DO THAT."

HE WAS GONNA GO TO MED SCHOOL.

HE WANTED TO BE A DOCTOR.

HE WAS SO HAPPY WHERE HE WAS AT THE TIME,

WITH WHAT HE WAS DOING, AND HE HAD GOALS FOR THE FUTURE.

HE LOVED HIS APARTMENT, LOVED HIS CLASSES,

LOVED PLAYING TENNIS,

AND THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT'S ALL, LIKE, GONE.

Narrator: CHARLIE HAS BEEN MISSING FOR MORE THAN A WEEK.

WITH NO NEWS CONCERNING HIS WHEREABOUTS,

HIS FAMILY IS GETTING INCREASINGLY DESPERATE.

Charles Sr.: WE COULDN'T SLEEP.

YOU KNOW, TROUBLE EATING. CRYING ALL DAY.

IT WAS JUST UNIMAGINABLE.

IT ACTUALLY WAS JUST, YOU KNOW, DIFFICULT TO FUNCTION.

EVERY SECOND OF EVERY DAY, YOU'D BE THINKING ABOUT IT,

AND IT'S JUST TOTALLY UNIMAGINABLE.

Narrator: DID CHARLIE FLEE IN A MANIC STATE

BROUGHT ON BY BIPOLAR DISORDER?

DID HE DECIDE TO CREATE A NEW IDENTITY SOMEPLACE ELSE?

OR, AS HE TOLD HIS SISTER, WERE PEOPLE REALLY AFTER HIM?

THERE ARE NUMEROUS SCENARIOS

AS TO WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO CHARLIE ALLEN.

HE WAS IN OUR TOWN. SOMEONE HAD SEEN HIM.

SOMEONE HAD INTERACTED WITH HIM.

AFTER THAT, IT'S ANYONE'S GUESS WHAT HAPPENED.

Narrator: FINALLY, A FEW WEEKS AFTER CHARLIE IS LAST SEEN,

A WITNESS COMES FORWARD.

JIM COSTA IS AN ELECTRIC-COMPANY TROUBLESHOOTER.

ON A SATURDAY MORNING IN OCTOBER 2007,

HE LEAVES EARLY FOR WORK.

Costa: I'M DRIVING DOWN CROSS ROAD.

I DID NOTICE A YOUNG MAN, NO SHIRT ON,

AND HE LOOKED RATHER DISHEVELED.

HE LOOKED SHAKEN.

HE DIDN'T LOOK THAT GOOD.

AND I SAW THAT YOUNG MAN WALKING TOWARDS A TRUCK,

MAYBE TO ASK FOR HELP, OR MAYBE HE SLEPT IN THAT TRUCK.

I DIDN'T KNOW.

Narrator: WHILE THE YOUNG MAN SOUNDS LIKE HE COULD BE CHARLIE,

COSTA IS NOT ABLE TO REMEMBER EXACTLY WHEN HE SAW HIM --

THE SATURDAY JUST DAYS AFTER CHARLIE DISAPPEARED

OR THE SATURDAY A WEEK LATER.

IF IT WAS THE RIGHT DAY,

I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT IT WAS THAT STUDENT.

Narrator: THE INTERSECTION IS NEAR THE UMASS DARTMOUTH CAMPUS.

IT IS ALSO ALONG ROUTE 6,

A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE THAT FEEDS RIGHT ON TO INTERSTATE 195.

WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO CONFIRM THAT THAT WAS, IN FACT, CHARLIE.

Narrator: BUT IF IT WAS, WHAT HAPPENED?

DID HE APPROACH THE TRUCK DRIVER FOR HELP OR A RIDE?

IT'S POSSIBLE HE COULD HAVE GOTTEN ON THE TRUCK

AND LEFT THE AREA.

THAT OPENS UP A WHOLE NEW DOOR FOR US,

OR FOR THE FAMILY.

IT GIVES US HOPE THAT MAYBE CHARLIE IS ALIVE.

Narrator: DECEMBER 2007.

CHARLIE HAS BEEN MISSING FOR MORE THAN TWO MONTHS,

AND THE TRAIL IS GROWING COLD.

Levinson: AFTER A CERTAIN TIMEFRAME IN ANY INVESTIGATION,

AFTER A COUPLE OF SEARCHES HAD BEEN CONDUCTED,

THE PHONES STOPPED RINGING.

THE LEADS JUST WEREN'T COMING IN.

WE SORT OF HIT A WALL IN THE INVESTIGATION.

IT JUST BECAME MORE EXCRUCIATING, YOU KNOW?

ANXIETY INCREASED TENFOLD EVERY DAY

WITH NOTHING BEING FOUND.

Narrator: WHILE CHARLIE'S SHOES AND BACKPACK WERE QUICKLY LOCATED,

THERE IS NO SIGN OF HIS CELLPHONE OR HIS WALLET.

HIS FATHER KEEPS CHARLIE'S BANK AND CELLPHONE ACCOUNTS ACTIVE

JUST IN CASE.

Charles Sr.: THE BANK CARD WAS NEVER USED

AFTER HE HAD DISAPPEARED,

AND, ACTUALLY, THE CELLPHONE ITSELF --

I STILL HAVE THE ACCOUNT ACTIVE, JUST IN CASE.

EVERY TIME THE PHONE RANG HERE AT HOME,

YOUR HEART WOULD JUMP.

YOU THINK IT'S HIM OR SOMEBODY CALLING ABOUT HIM.

EVERY TIME, YOU KNOW, YOU HEAR A CAR PULL UP

OR SOMEBODY COME TO THE DOOR, YOU THINK IT COULD BE HIM.

FOR ABOUT FIVE OR SIX MONTHS, I CALLED HIM EVERY SINGLE DAY,

MULTIPLE TIMES.

I'D LEAVE HIM, LIKE, VOICEMAILS AND STUFF,

TO THE POINT WHERE YOU COULDN'T LEAVE HIM VOICEMAILS ANYMORE.

THE PHONE WOULD JUST KEEP RINGING, OR IT WOULD JUST HANG UP ON YOU.

Narrator: CHARLIE'S FAMILY PRAYS FOR ANSWERS,

BUT AS THE DAYS WEAR ON,

THEY'RE LEFT WITH ONLY QUESTIONS.

WHERE IS HE?

WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM, AND WHY HASN'T HE CALLED?

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM

TO BELIEVE THAT CHARLIE HAS INTENTIONALLY CUT THEM OFF.

BUT IT IS EVEN MORE HORRIFYING

TO IMAGINE THAT HE MAY HAVE DONE SO AGAINST HIS WILL.

IT'S JUST LIKE YOU'RE SUSPENDED.

SOMETIMES I PRAY FOR ANSWERS, AND I THINK, "OH, WAIT.

IS THAT REALLY WHAT I WANT?"

WHAT IF, YOU KNOW, HE'S DEAD?

IT STILL EATS AWAY AT YOU, YOU KNOW?

YOU CAN'T FIND PEACE UNLESS YOU KNOW.

Narrator: COMING UP,

A GROUP OF PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS AND A FRESH SEARCH

OFFER NEW AND DISTURBING LEADS IN THE CASE.

WHEN WE GET THE CALL, OUR HEARTS JUST DROPPED.

Narrator: THE DISAPPEARANCE

OF 22-YEAR-OLD COLLEGE STUDENT CHARLIE ALLEN JR.

DEVASTATES HIS FAMILY AND CONFOUNDS POLICE.

Levinson: IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING.

IS IT POSSIBLE HE'S OUT THERE

AND DOESN'T REALLY REMEMBER WHO HE IS?

I DON'T KNOW.

I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO BELIEVE THAT HE'S ALIVE

AND HE'S OUT THERE SOMEWHERE.

Narrator: SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER CHARLIE'S DISAPPEARANCE,

HIS FAMILY IS DISMAYED

BY THE LACK OF MOVEMENT IN THE INVESTIGATION.

THEY REACH OUT TO A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR,

JOHN LECCESE.

Leccese: CHARLIE ALLEN SR. CONTACTED ME

AND WAS JUST DEVASTATED

THAT THEY HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE HIM.

DESCRIBED HIM AS VERY INTELLIGENT, LOVED HIS FAMILY,

AND THEY KNEW THAT HE WAS OFF HIS MEDICATION.

HE WAS MANIC, AND HE BELIEVED THAT HE WAS BEING STALKED,

PEOPLE WERE AFTER HIM AND HIS FAMILY.

Narrator: LECCESE TAKES ON THE CASE PRO BONO

AND FORMS A COLD-CASE TEAM WITH SEVERAL OTHER P.I.s TO HELP.

THEY START BY CONSIDERING THE AREA WHERE CHARLIE WAS LAST SEEN

AND WEIGHING WHETHER OR NOT

HE COULD STILL BE SOMEWHERE IN THE VICINITY.

Leccese: COULD HE BE IN THE WOODS?

ABSOLUTELY. HE MAY HAVE COMMITTED SUICIDE.

HE MAY HAVE FALLEN INTO FOUL PLAY.

THAT'S ALL A POSSIBILITY.

Narrator: THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS

IS TO ORGANIZE A NEW AND COMPREHENSIVE SEARCH

OF THE 4-SQUARE-MILE WOODED AREA BORDERING UMASS DARTMOUTH.

THE TERRAIN IS DENSE AND DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE.

ALIVE OR DEAD, IF CHARLIE IS IN THE WOODS,

LECCESE IS CONFIDENT THAT THEY'LL FIND HIM.

POLICE HAVE ALREADY EXPLORED THE AREA,

BUT LECCESE AND HIS PARTNERS

PLAN A MUCH LARGER AND DEEPER SEARCH,

EMPLOYING GROUND SEARCHERS, ATVs, HELICOPTERS,

K-9 UNITS, AND CADAVER DOGS.

MORE THAN 300 PEOPLE TAKE PART,

AND THE MASSIVE EFFORT KICKS OFF

ON THE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF CHARLIE'S DISAPPEARANCE.

THIS SEARCH IS THE LARGEST CIVILIAN-RUN SEARCH

THAT WE'RE AWARE OF IN NEW ENGLAND.

Narrator: PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR ALAN TATE COORDINATES THE SEARCH.

AS GUIDES, HE USES CHARLIE'S LAST KNOWN LOCATION

AS WELL AS WHERE HIS SHOES AND BACKPACK WERE FOUND.

Tate: TO SEARCH THIS AREA HERE,

ALTHOUGH, ON THE MAP, IT LOOKS NICE, WIDE, AND OPEN,

ON THE GROUND, IT'S VERY THICK AND VERY DIFFICULT

FOR GROUND SEARCHERS TO NAVIGATE THROUGH.

Narrator: CHARLIE'S FRIEND ANTHONY

IS ONE OF THE MANY VOLUNTEER SEARCHERS.

I WAS KIND OF HOPING WE DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING,

'CAUSE, OBVIOUSLY, WHO WANTS TO --

I MEAN, YOU WANT CLOSURE SOMETIMES,

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I MEAN, I'M THE TYPE

WHERE I DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP,

SO IT'S LIKE I DON'T WANT, LIKE, AN ENDING THAT'S NOT POSITIVE.

Narrator: BUT ON THE THIRD DAY OF THE SEARCH,

A TEAM INCLUDING CHARLIE'S OWN COUSIN

COMES ACROSS SOME BONES.

Charles Sr.: WHEN WE GET THE CALL,

OUR HEARTS JUST DROPPED.

OBVIOUSLY, AFTER THAT PERIOD OF TIME,

YOU KNOW, IT'S ALMOST LIKE YOU MIGHT EXPECT

IT'S GONNA HAPPEN, THAT THEY WOULD FIND HIM.

YOU KNOW, SO IT WAS -- YOUR HEART'S DROPPED,

BUT YOU FEEL LIKE THIS IS FINALLY IT.

Brittany: FOR LIKE 24 HOURS,

WE DIDN'T KNOW IF THEY WERE HIS BONES.

IT'S NOT A FUN SITUATION TO BE IN.

WHEN THEY FOUND THE BONES...

JUST -- I COULDN'T EVEN DESCRIBE TO YOU

WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE.

I MEAN, JUST...

PRETTY MUCH DIED.

BUT THE BONES TURN OUT TO BE ANIMAL, NOT HUMAN, REMAINS.

IT WAS DIFFICULT TO DO THE SEARCH,

BUT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS NECESSARY TO DO.

WE KNEW IT NEEDED TO BE DONE,

AND, IN MY OPINION, THE OUTCOME WAS GOOD --

YOU KNOW, THAT HE WASN'T FOUND.

I WAS JUST EXHILARATED THAT THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING.

Leccese: I DON'T BELIEVE THAT CHARLIE IS IN THE WOODS.

I BELIEVE, AT THIS POINT, THAT CHARLIE MADE IT OUT.

Narrator: BUT WHERE DID HE GO?

WHILE THE SEARCH INDICATES THAT IT IS UNLIKELY

CHARLIE OR HIS BODY IS IN THE WOODS,

IT STILL OFFERS NO CLUES TO WHAT HAPPENED TO THE COLLEGE STUDENT.

THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN LOOK AT IT.

I PERSONALLY AM TRYING TO REMAIN POSITIVE.

I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT HE'S OUT THERE SOMEWHERE

AND HE'S STILL ALIVE.

I THINK THAT, IF CHARLIE HAD PASSED AWAY,

I THINK WE WOULD HAVE COME ACROSS HIM BY NOW.

Leccese: THE ONLY PLACE TO GO WITH THIS INVESTIGATION RIGHT NOW

IS TO ASSUME THAT HE IS ALIVE AND SEE IF WE CAN FIND HIM.

Narrator: AS THE MONTHS PASS,

THERE IS NO WORD FROM CHARLIE AND NO SIGN OF HIM ANYWHERE.

THE INVESTIGATION APPEARS TO HAVE HIT A DEAD END.

BUT HIS FRIENDS REMAIN HOPEFUL.

I FEEL LIKE, WHEREVER HE WANTED TO GO,

HE HAD A PLAN.

AND IF THE PLAN DIDN'T WORK OUT,

YOU KNOW, 100% THE WAY HE WANTED IT TO,

THE WAY HE THINKS, HE WOULD HAVE A BACKUP PLAN.

HE WOULD HAVE WAYS OF GETTING BY

IF STUFF DIDN'T GO THE WAY HE WANTED IT TO GO.

I THINK CHARLIE WANDERED OFF.

I THINK HE PROBABLY IS SOMEWHERE DOWN SOUTH,

PLAYING TENNIS LIKE HE WANTED TO.

Narrator: DECEMBER 2009.

MORE THAN TWO YEARS SINCE CHARLIE DISAPPEARED,

THERE IS A POSSIBLE SIGHTING OF HIM MUCH CLOSER TO HOME.

Kelly: IT WAS ABOUT 4:00 IN THE MORNING,

AND I WAS SLEEPING.

Narrator: STEVEN KELLY AND HIS WIFE ARE ASLEEP IN BED

IN THEIR NEW BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, HOME,

11 MILES FROM THE UMASS DARTMOUTH CAMPUS.

I HEARD THE DOOR KNOCKER KNOCK,

SO, YOU KNOW, I RAN TO THE DOOR, AND I OPENED THE DOOR,

AND THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, A YOUNG MAN

STANDING AT THE DOOR.

HE WASN'T DRESSED FOR THE WEATHER.

HE SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN OUTSIDE AT 4:00 IN THE MORNING.

HE SAID HE NEEDED HELP GETTING BACK TO S.M.U.

Narrator: S.M.U. STANDS FOR SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS UNIVERSITY,

WHAT UMASS DARTMOUTH WAS CALLED UNTIL 1991.

MY WIFE WAS PANICKING.

SHE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS MAYBE GOING TO BE,

LIKE, HOME INVASION IF I WENT OUTSIDE,

SO WE SHUT THE DOOR AND CALLED THE POLICE.

Narrator: BUT BY THE TIME POLICE GET THERE,

THE YOUNG MAN IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.

THE NEXT DAY,

KELLY'S WIFE MENTIONS THE INCIDENT TO A FRIEND,

WHO TELLS HER ABOUT CHARLIE'S DISAPPEARANCE.

WHEN KELLY HEARS ABOUT IT,

HE LOOKS UP PICTURES OF THE UMASS STUDENT ONLINE.

Kelly: WHEN I LOOKED AT THE PICTURES, I'M LIKE,

"THAT'S THE KID THAT WAS STANDING AT OUR FRONT DOOR."

COULD IT HAVE BEEN CHARLIE ALLEN?

KELLY TELLS POLICE HE THINKS IT WAS.

Levinson: HE SAID CLOSE TO 100%,

WHICH IS VERY HIGH FOR SOMEONE

TO MAKE THAT TYPE OF A STATEMENT,

BUT, YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE, IN HIS MIND,

THAT, YOU KNOW, HE REALLY FELT THAT HE SAW CHARLIE.

IT BRINGS SORT OF A NEW ELEMENT TO THIS WHOLE INVESTIGATION.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT SOMETIMES, I THINK THIS IS JUST --

IT'S SUCH AN ODD STORY THAT SOMETIMES YOU ALMOST WONDER,

YOU KNOW, IF IT'S REAL OR NOT.

Leccese: IT WOULD BE A WONDERFUL "MOVIE OF THE WEEK"

IF CHARLIE SHOWS UP SOME MORNING ON THE DOORSTEP OF HIS PARENTS

AND ASKS IF HE CAN COME HOME.

SO, THAT'S MY HOPE.

Narrator: CHARLIE'S INFORMATION AND FINGERPRINTS ARE ENTERED

INTO THE NATIONAL CRIME INFORMATION CENTER DATABASE.

AND I FEEL SURE IF CHARLIE IS PLACED UNDER ARREST

OR PROTECTIVE CUSTODY

AND IF HIS FINGERPRINTS ARE CHECKED,

IT WILL SHOW THAT HE IS A MISSING PERSON.

Narrator: TO DATE, THERE HAVE BEEN NO HITS.

Levinson: IN MY TIME HERE AS A POLICE OFFICER,

WE'VE NEVER ENCOUNTERED A STORY SUCH AS THIS.

SO, YOU JUST WANT ANSWERS.

I KNOW THE FAMILY WANTS IT,

AND I KNOW ALL THE INVESTIGATORS --

WE JUST WANT TO KNOW.

WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO CHARLIE ALLEN JR.

ALL WE ASK FOR IS SOME CLOSURE.

I THINK THAT'S --

THAT'S WHAT THE FAMILY DESERVES, AT LEAST.

HE'S STILL OUT THERE SOMEWHERE.

Narrator: CHARLIE'S FAMILY CONTINUES TO HOPE THAT CHARLIE IS SAFE

AND THAT THEY WILL ONE DAY HEAR FROM HIM.

CHARLIE WOULD NEVER JUST DISAPPEAR.

HE KNOWS ME WELL ENOUGH,

AND HIS FAMILY, TO KNOW HOW MUCH IT WOULD HURT.

I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE HE IS OR IF HE'S ALIVE.

IT'S LIKE THE ULTIMATE INTERNAL STRUGGLE

[ CHUCKLES ]

'CAUSE YOU CAN'T REALLY GRIEVE OVER SOMETHING

THAT YOU DON'T KNOW.

Ann: I DON'T BELIEVE FOR ONE MINUTE

THAT CHARLIE LEFT BECAUSE HE WANTED TO.

HE JUST WOULDN'T.

Charles Sr.: I HAVE TO HOLD OUT HOPE

THAT CHARLIE'S STILL OUT THERE.

I HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE.

YOU KNOW, I CAN'T GIVE IN TO THE THOUGHT

THAT I'LL NEVER SEE HIM AGAIN.