Original subtitles

>> Narrator: GINNI WOOD

DISAPPEARED ON SATURDAY,

MARCH 10, 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.

GINNI WOOD'S LAST-KNOWN

WHEREABOUTS MAY HOLD THE CLUES

TO WHAT HAPPENED TO HER.

A BRIGHT AND AMBITIOUS YOUNG

WOMAN VANISHES WITH TWO OF HER

FRIENDS DURING A SPRING BREAK

ROAD TRIP.

>> ONCE YOU CROSS INTO MEXICO,

YOU'VE CROSSED INTO THE UNKNOWN.

>> Narrator: THE SEARCH FOR

GINNI AND HER FRIENDS LEAVES

INVESTIGATORS CONFOUNDED.

>> THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT

WANT TO BE FOUND.

>> Narrator: WHILE THREE

FAMILIES STRUGGLE TO DEAL WITH

AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE.

>> THIS IS MY YOUNGEST CHILD.

SHE'S MY BABY.

I HAVE TO FIND HER.

FAMILY GET-TOGETHERS ARE ALMOST

UNBEARABLE BECAUSE SOMEBODY'S

MISSING.

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

>> Narrator: 19-YEAR-OLD

GINNI WOOD HAS BEEN THRIVING IN

HER FIRST YEAR OF COLLEGE AT

APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY IN

NORTH CAROLINA.

AS IN HIGH SCHOOL, HER GRADES

EARN HER SPECIAL RECOGNITION.

>> SHE DID WELL ACADEMICALLY.

SHE MADE THE DEAN'S LIST FOR A

SEMESTER THERE, AND WHEN THAT

SPRING BREAK CAME, SHE WAS STILL

DOING VERY WELL IN HER CLASSES.

>> Narrator: GINNI'S MOTHER,

TAMMY, SAYS THAT SHE'S ALWAYS

BEEN A STRONG STUDENT.

>> SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO WORK HARD

AT IT.

IT JUST CAME VERY EASY TO HER.

>> Narrator: COLLEGE SOCIAL LIFE

IS MORE OF A CHALLENGE FOR

GINNI, AT LEAST AT FIRST.

>> THE FIRST THREE, FOUR MONTHS

UP THERE, SHE WAS MISERABLE.

SHE SAID, "MOM, I DON'T HAVE ANY

FRIENDS," AND IT WAS HARD FOR

HER TO MAKE FRIENDS.

SHE WAS A SHY PERSON.

SHE WASN'T JUST GONNA GO UP AND

SAY, "HELLO. HI. I'M GINNI."

>> Narrator: BUT BY SEMESTER'S

END, GINNI'S MADE SOME NEW

FRIENDS AND LOOKS FORWARD TO

TAKING THE NEXT STEP TO

INDEPENDENCE BY MOVING OFF

CAMPUS IN THE FALL.

>> WE FOUND HER AN APARTMENT TO

LIVE IN, PAID THE DEPOSIT, AND

FOUND HER A PARKING PLACE.

WE DID ALL THAT STUFF FOR HER TO

GO BACK AS HER SOPHOMORE YEAR,

AND I -- I THOUGHT SHE WAS VERY

EXCITED ABOUT IT.

>> Narrator: GINNI MAKES THE

SIX-HOUR DRIVE HOME TO

CHOCOWINITY, NORTH CAROLINA,

WHENEVER SHE CAN TO VISIT FAMILY

AND FRIENDS, ESPECIALLY HER

CLASSMATE KELLY GASKINS.

GINNI AND KELLY HAVE BEEN BEST

FRIENDS SINCE STARTING SCHOOL.

>> GINNI WAS OVER AT THE HOUSE A

LOT.

KELLY WAS OVER AT HER HOUSE A

LOT.

AND THEY WERE JUST TYPICAL

TEENAGED GIRLS.

THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, ROWDY.

[ LAUGHS ]

THEY GOT ALONG REAL WELL.

THEY WERE LIKE SISTERS.

THEY WERE REALLY CLOSE.

THEY JUST WERE INSEPARABLE.

>> GINNI -- I MEAN, SHE WASN'T

VERY ADVENTUROUS, AND I THINK

KELLY WOULD GET HER TO DO THINGS

THAT SHE WOULDN'T NORMALLY HAVE

DONE.

>> Narrator: AMONG MANY OTHER

THINGS, THE GIRLS SHARE A

PASSION FOR PHOTOGRAPHY.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]

>> THEY WOULD GO, AND KELLY

WOULD POSE, AND I'VE GOT

PICTURES OF HER IN THE SWAMP BY

A BIG CYPRESS, YOU KNOW?

THEY WOULD GO TO GRAVEYARDS AND

POSE BY OLD STONES.

>> Narrator: BOTH KELLY AND

GINNI FAVOR THE DARK CLOTHING

AND MUSIC OF THE GOTH SCENE.

>> IT WAS A BIG THING IN

CHOCOWINITY.

THERE WERE A LOT OF THE

TEENAGERS WHO WERE INTO THE

BLACK CLOTHES AND THE BLACK

MAKEUP AND THE PIERCINGS AND

STUFF LIKE THAT.

>> GINNI LYNNE LIKED BLACK

PANTS, AND SHE WAS NOT AN OBESE

PERSON, BUT SHE ALWAYS WORE A

HOODIE BECAUSE SHE WAS

SELF-CONSCIOUS, AND IT WAS

USUALLY ALWAYS A DARK HOODIE.

>> Narrator: ONE THING THE GIRLS

DON'T SHARE IS A FOCUS ON

ACADEMICS.

WHILE GINNI'S TOP MARKS IN HIGH

SCHOOL PROPELLED ON TO COLLEGE,

KELLY STRUGGLED THROUGH HER

SENIOR YEAR.

>> SHE WAS REALLY SMART.

SHE DID REAL GOOD IN SCHOOL UP

UNTIL THE 12th GRADE, BUT I

THINK WHEN YOU GET HOOKED UP

WITH THE WRONG PEOPLE, YOU JUST

GET A SENSE OF THINGS LIKE THAT

DON'T MATTER ANYMORE.

>> Narrator: KELLY'S MOTHER,

DENISE, DIDN'T APPROVE OF HER

DAUGHTER'S NEW BOYFRIEND,

ERVIN WILLIAMS, WHOM KELLEY

BEGAN DATING THE SUMMER BEFORE

GINNI WENT OFF TO COLLEGE.

>> HE HAD A PRETTY BAD

REPUTATION.

I THINK SHE WAS DRAWN TO THAT,

YOU KNOW, THE BAD-BOY IMAGE.

AREN'T WE ALL AS TEENAGE GIRLS?

>> Narrator: AS SUMMER TURNED TO

FALL, KELLY TRIED TO COMPLETE

12th GRADE FOR THE SECOND TIME

BUT FAILED.

>> SHE WAS SKIPPING SCHOOL A LOT

AND WASN'T WORKING TOWARDS

GRADUATING AT ALL.

HER GRADES STARTED TO GET REALLY

BAD, AND SHE JUST WASN'T PUTTING

FORTH ANY EFFORT.

AND SHE STAYED IN SCHOOL THROUGH

THE WHOLE 12th GRADE, KNOWING

THAT SHE WAS NOT GONNA PASS.

>> Narrator: AFTER KELLY FLUNKED

OUT, SHE MOVED IN WITH ERVIN AND

HIS FAMILY.

THEN, THAT WITHER, THE COUPLE

SUDDENLY PACKED UP AND MOVED TO

THE BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS, AREA

NEAR THE MEXICAN BORDER.

NOW THAT THE SEMESTER'S OVER,

GINNI WOOD TELLS HER MOTHER THAT

SHE WANTS TO SPEND HER SPRING

BREAK DRIVING DOWN TO

BROWNSVILLE TO SEE HER OLD

FRIEND KELLY.

>> SHE TOLD ME THAT ERVIN AND

KELLY WERE DOWN THERE AND THEY

HAD GOTTEN JOBS.

I THINK SHE TOLD ME THAT ERVIN

WAS DOING MAINTENANCE IN A HOTEL

AND MAYBE KELLY WAS WORKING AT

THE HOTEL, AS WELL, AND SHE WAS

JUST GONNA GO DOWN THERE AND

VISIT THEM.

>> Narrator: GINNI PACKS HER

BAGS, LOOKING FORWARD TO HER BIG

TRIP.

SHE BRINGS ALONG HER SOCIAL

SECURITY CARD AND A COPY OF HER

BIRTH CERTIFICATE SO SHE HAS THE

OPTION OF CROSSING THE BORDER

INTO MEXICO WITH HER FRIENDS.

SHE LEAVES APPALACHIAN STATE ON

THURSDAY AND SETS OFF ALONE ON

THE EPIC 1,400-MILE JOURNEY

THROUGH THE DEEP SOUTH AND

AROUND THE GULF OF MEXICO.

>> GINNI LYNNE HAS ALWAYS HAD A

LEVEL HEAD.

I WASN'T CONCERNED.

I DIDN'T SEE HER DOING ANYTHING

CRAZY.

[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]

>> Narrator: ON FRIDAY AROUND

NOON, GINNI CALLS HER MOTHER TO

SAY THAT SHE'S ARRIVED IN

BROWNSVILLE AND HAS MET UP WITH

KELLY.

>> THEY WERE ALWAYS SHORT

CONVERSATIONS.

"MOM, I'M HERE.

I'M DOING ALL RIGHT," YOU KNOW,

THE TEENAGE THING.

DON'T BOTHER ME. I'M DOING OKAY.

>> Narrator: THEN ON SATURDAY

NIGHT, TAMMY GETS TO THINKING

ABOUT GINNI AND DECIDES TO SEE

HOW SHE'S DOING.

>> SO I CALLED, AND SHE SAID,

"MOM, WE'RE WATCHING A MOVIE.

I'LL CALL YOU LATER."

AND WHETHER THEY WERE OR WHAT

THEY WERE DOING, I DON'T KNOW.

>> Narrator: TAMMY WAITS UP THAT

NIGHT, HOPING THAT GINNI WILL

CALL BACK, BUT THE PHONE NEVER

RINGS.

THE NEXT DAY, TAMMY TRIES TO

CALL GINNI AGAIN BUT GETS HER

VOICE MAIL.

SHE ISN'T WORRIED, THOUGH.

MAYBE THE GIRLS WENT TO THE

MARKET ACROSS THE BORDER IN

MEXICO.

>> I THOUGHT THEY WERE GONNA GO

DOWN THERE AND DO SOME

SHOPPING 'CAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE

DO THAT OR GO TO THE BEECH OR DO

SOMETHING.

AND I KEPT CALLING, AND I THINK,

"WELL, MAYBE SHE'S JUST OUT OF

RANGE, YOU KNOW?"

>> Narrator: OVER THE NEXT FEW

DAYS, TAMMY KEEPS TRYING GINNI'S

CELLPHONE.

>> TAMMY WAS VERY HOPEFUL THAT

IT WAS A LACK OF COMMUNICATION,

MAYBE CELLPHONE FAILURE,

SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> I CALLED HER CELLPHONE AT

LEAST 10 OR 15 TIMES, LEAVING

MESSAGE AFTER MESSAGE.

THEN IT BECAME THAT POINT WHERE

IT WOULDN'T TAKE ANYMORE

MESSAGES, YOU KNOW, AND THAT

WAS -- THAT WAS PROBABLY THE

POINT WHEN I REALIZED THAT THERE

WAS SOMETHING DEFINITELY WRONG

HERE.

>> Narrator: COMING UP...

AS CLUES RISE TO THE SURFACE,

POLICE FIND THEMSELVES AT A DEAD

END.

>> THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT

COULD'VE HAPPENED TO THEM.

ONCE YOU CROSS INTO MEXICO,

YOU'VE CROSS INTO THE UNKNOWN.

>> Narrator: DURING A SPRING

BREAK ROAD TRIP TO TEXAS,

19-YEAR-OLD COLLEGE STUDENT

GINNI WOOD VANISHES.

HER MOTHER, TAMMY, IS BAFFLED.

>> THIS WAS A SURPRISE TO ME.

I DIDN'T EXPECT IT.

IF I HAD HAD ANY NOTION THAT SHE

WAS GOING TO NOT COME BACK OR

DISAPPEAR...

I WOULD'VE DONE SOMETHING WHERE

SHE WOULDN'T HAVE GONE.

>> Narrator: AFTER LEAVING

MESSAGES FOR OVER A WEEK AND

GETTING NO RESPONSE, TAMMY'S

CONCERN GROWS.

>> I KEPT CALLING AND KEPT

CALLING, AND, YOU KNOW, I WOULD

JUST SAY, "GINNI, I HAVEN'T

HEARD FROM YOU.

I MISS YOU.

LET ME ME HEAR FROM YOU.

I WANT TO KNOW YOU'RE OKAY."

FRIDAY ROLLED AROUND, AND I

STILL HADN'T HEARD FROM HER.

SATURDAY CAME, SUNDAY CAME, AND

I KNEW SHE WASN'T BACK AT

SCHOOL.

>> Narrator: TAMMY BECOMES TRULY

ALARMED WHEN THE FIRST DAY OF

CLASSES AFTER SPRING BREAK COMES

AND GOES WITH NO WORD FROM

GINNI.

>> I BECAME VERY WORRIED, AND I

FRETTED.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

I JUST KEPT CALLING.

>> Narrator: STILL HOPING FOR

THE BEST, TAMMY CALLS GINNI'S

BEST FRIEND KELLY'S MOTHER, WHO

ALSO LIVES IN CHOCOWINITY.

>> GINNI'S MOM IS CALLING ME AT

WORK, ASKING ME, HAVE I HEARD

FROM GINNI OR HEARD FROM KELLY.

AND I SAID, NO, I HADN'T HEARD

FROM EITHER ONE OF THEM.

>> Narrator: DENISE TELLS TAMMY

THAT SHE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW GINNI

AND KELLY HAD PLANNED A VISIT.

NOW PANIC-STRICKEN, TAMMY TURNS

TO THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S

DEPARTMENT AND FILES A

MISSING-PERSONS REPORT.

>> I WAS TORMENTED BY IT.

I COULDN'T GET IN TOUCH WITH

HER.

THAT WEDNESDAY WHEN I DID FILE

THE REPORT, IT WAS JUST KIND OF

LIKE...

EVERYTHING JUST FELL APART, YOU

KNOW?

>> YOU HAVE A MOTHER WHO KNOWS

THAT HER DAUGHTER SHOULD HAVE

COME BACK AT THE END OF SPRING

BREAK.

WITHOUT A DOUBT, TAMMY BELIEVES

THAT VIRGINIA PLANNED ON COMING

HOME.

>> I CRIED AND CRIED, YOU KNOW?

I THOUGHT THE WORST, AND THEN

THERE'S PEOPLE TELLING ME ALL

THESE BAD THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO

PEOPLE IN MEXICO -- PROSTITUTE

TRAFFICKING IN GIRLS.

I MEAN, I JUST -- I HEARD EVERY

POSSIBLE BAD THING THAT COULD

HAPPEN.

>> Narrator: SEEKING INSIGHT

INTO GINNI'S THOUGHTS AND

FEELINGS, INVESTIGATORS SEIZE

HER COMPUTER AND FIND TWO VERY

PROVOCATIVE FILES.

>> ONE WAS TO KELLY, EXPLAINING

HOW SHE MISSED HER, HOW SHE

MISSED THEIR TIME THEY SPENT

TOGETHER AND THAT THE DISTANCE

BETWEEN THEM MADE HER SAD.

SHE ALSO HAD A FILE IN THERE

REGARDING A BOYFRIEND THAT SHE

HAD RECENTLY BROKE UP WITH AND

THAT SHE WAS DEPRESSED AND SAD.

SHE DID MAKE MENTION OF KILLING

HERSELF.

>> Narrator: GINNI WAS REELING

FROM THE END OF A SHORT FLING

WITH ERVIN WILLIAMS' BROTHER,

HUBERT, AS WELL AS AN EARLIER

BREAKUP.

ACCORDING TO HER MOTHER, HER

THOUGHTS TURNED TO SUICIDE.

>> SHE JUST WAS OVERWHELMED WITH

THE REJECTION OF TWO DIFFERENT

GUYS WITHIN A MATTER OF, YOU

KNOW, A FEW MONTHS.

>> Narrator: TAMMY SAYS THAT

DESPITE GINNI'S WRITINGS ABOUT

TAKING HER OWN LIFE, SHE IS

CONVINCED THAT HER DAUGHTER'S

SPIRITS HAD LIFTED BY THE TIME

SHE LEFT FOR SPRING BREAK.

>> SHE HAD BEEN REJECTED, BUT,

YOU KNOW, THAT'S LIFE.

YOU LEARN TO DEAL WITH IT, AND

YOU GO ON, AND SHE WOULD'VE DONE

THE SAME.

>> Narrator: BEAUFORT COUNTY

INVESTIGATORS AGREE WITH GINNI'S

MOTHER.

>> HER THOUGHTS IN THE COMPUTER

WERE ONE THING, BUT HER ACTIONS

WERE ANOTHER.

I THINK SHE WAS VERY EXCITED

ABOUT SPENDING TIME WITH KELLY,

AND I THINK SHE WAS EXCITED

ABOUT SPRING BREAK AND GOING TO

TEXAS AND TRAVELING.

>> Narrator: IN URGENT NEED OF

ANSWERS REGARDING GINNI'S TRIP,

POLICE TRACE ACTIVITY ON HER

CELLPHONE, BEGINNING WITH THE

NIGHT SHE LAST SPOKE TO HER

MOTHER.

>> WE KNOW THAT ON MARCH 10th,

THE CELLPHONE THAT VIRGINIA HAD

WAS USED RIGHT AT THE

BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS BORDER IN

MEXICO.

>> Narrator: THEN FOR THE NEXT

FOUR DAYS, THERE ARE INCOMING

AND OUTGOING CALLS TRACED TO

CELL TOWERS IN SEVERAL MEXICAN

CITIES.

>> THE LAST TIME IT WAS USED WAS

MARCH 14th, AND THAT WAS IN

MONTERREY, MEXICO.

THE WAY CELLPHONE TOWERS ARE SET

UP, YOU MIGHT BE IN ONE

LOCATION, BUT YOU'RE CLOSER TO A

TOWER IN ANOTHER CITY.

SO, THEREFORE, IT APPEARS THAT

YOU WERE IN THIS AREA WHEN YOU

REALLY WEREN'T.

SO TO SAY THAT THEY WERE IN ANY

PARTICULAR CITY IN MEXICO IS

REALLY HARD TO DO WHEN YOU'RE

RUNNING OFF A CELLPHONE BILL.

>> Narrator: SO THE PHONE

RECORDS DON'T GIVE POLICE

ANYTHING SOLID REGARDING GINNI'S

LOCATION.

THEN A TANTALIZING CLUE

SURFACES.

INVESTIGATORS REVIEWING GINNI'S

FINANCIAL RECORDS SEE A RECENT

PURCHASE ON THE CREDIT CARD SHE

BORROWED FROM HER MOTHER.

>> WE HAD A LAST TRANSACTION ON

THE CREDIT CARD FOR A GROCERY

STORE IN MEXICO, IN MATAMOROS.

THE NAME OF THE GROCERY STORE

WAS SORDIANA.

>> Narrator: MATAMOROS IS THE

SISTER CITY TO BROWNSVILLE,

TEXAS, JUST ACROSS THE MEXICAN

BORDER.

THERE WAS ONLY ONE CREDIT-CARD

CHARGE RECORDED FOR $24 AND

CHANGE.

>> THAT WAS THE ONLY TIME THAT

CREDIT WAS USED DURING THIS

ENTIRE SPRING-BREAK VACATION.

SHE NEVER USED IT ANYWHERE

WITHIN THE U.S., AND SHE NEVER

USED IT AGAIN IN MEXICO.

>> Narrator: BOTH THE CELLPHONE

RECORDS AND CREDIT CARD INDICATE

THAT GINNI DID INDEED CROSS THE

BORDER.

>> WE FELT LIKE WE DEFINITELY

NEEDED TO FOCUS OUR SEARCH IN

MEXICO, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT

WE DID.

I WAS PUT IN TOUCH WITH SOMEONE

AT THE U.S. CONSULATE'S OFFICE

IN MEXICO THAT HANDLES ANY U.S.

CITIZEN HAVING BEEN ARRESTED,

HOSPITALIZED, THINGS OF THAT

NATURE.

THEY'RE NOTIFIED.

THEY IMMEDIATELY CHECKED TO SEE

IF ANY OF THE THREE NAMES

APPEARED ON ANY OF THEIR

INFORMATION.

>> Narrator: ACCORDING TO THE

CONSULATES, THERE IS NO RECORD

OF GINNI, KELLY, OR KELLY'S

BOYFRIEND, ERVIN, IN MEXICAN

JAILS OR HOSPITALS.

IT'S STARTING TO LOOK LIKE GINNI

MAY NOT BE THE ONLY ONE MISSING.

DESPITE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS,

KELLY'S MOTHER, DENISE, IS STILL

UNABLE TO REACH HER DAUGHTER.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO

HER TELEPHONE, BUT THE NUMBER

WAS DEAD.

AND THE NUMBERS THAT SHE HAD

CALLED ME FROM AND THE NUMBER

THAT SHE GAVE ME TO GET IN TOUCH

WITH HER WEREN'T WORKING.

NOBODY WOULD ANSWER.

>> Narrator: NEXT, POLICE

ATTEMPT TO TRACE BOTH GINNI AND

ERVIN'S CARS THROUGH THEIR

VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS

AND LICENSE PLATES.

>> I CONTACTED BROWNSVILLE

POLICE TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF THE

THREE PERSONS WE WERE LOOKING

FOR, AS WELL AS THE VEHICLES

INVOLVED.

>> WE ALSO REACHED OUT TO BORDER

PATROL TO SEE IF THEY HAD ANY

DOCUMENTATION OR RECORDS OF THEM

CROSSING THE BORDER NEAR

BROWNSVILLE TEXAS.

>> Narrator: NEITHER BROWNSVILLE

POLICE NOR THE BORDER PATROL HAS

ANY RECORD OF CONTACT WITH THE

THREE KIDS OR THEIR VEHICLES.

THE POTENTIAL DANGER OF

TRAVELING TO MEXICO BRINGS UP

FRESH WORRIES FOR FAMILY AND

INVESTIGATORS.

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE REPORTED

MISSING THERE EACH YEAR.

>> THEY'RE ARE SO MANY THINGS

THAT COULD'VE HAPPENED TO THEM.

ONCE YOU CROSS INTO MEXICO,

YOU'VE CROSSED INTO THE UNKNOWN.

WE HAVE NO JURISDICTION THERE.

>> THAT'S A SOURCE COUNTRY FOR A

LOT OF THE NARCOTICS THAT WE

HAVE HERE IN THE U.S.

>> Narrator: DRUG WARS ALONG THE

TEXAS-MEXICO BORDER HAVE

ESCALATED OVER THE YEARS,

SOMETIMES MAKING THE TOWNS ON

BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER

DANGEROUS PLACES TO LIVE AND

VISIT.

>> YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME I SEE

THAT STUFF THAT'S HAPPENING

ALONG THE BORDER, I JUST WORRY.

>> WITH THE NEWS YOU HEAR ABOUT

THE VIOLENCE IN MEXICO, IT

REALLY MAKES YOU START TO WORRY

ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES ABOUT

WHAT HAPPENED TO GINNI, KELLY,

AND ERVIN.

>> Narrator: INVESTIGATORS DON'T

KNOW ANYTHING FOR CERTAIN AFTER

GINNI LEFT HER COLLEGE DORM IN

BOONE COUNTY.

>> THIS WASN'T A GIRL WHO WAS

KIDNAPPED FROM A PARKING LOT.

THIS IS A GIRL WHO WENT ON HER

OWN ON VACATION, AND WE DON'T

KNOW WHERE BETWEEN HER TRIP FROM

BOONE, NORTH CAROLINA, TO

BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS, THAT SHE

WENT MISSING.

>> Narrator: AS FAR AS

INVESTIGATORS CAN TELL,

GINNI WOOD, KELLY GASKINS, AND

ERVIN WILLIAMS HAVE SIMPLY

VANISHED.

>> HOW DOES THREE INDIVIDUALS

FALL OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH

ALL TOGETHER ALL AT THE SAME

TIME AND NOBODY KNOW ANYTHING?

THAT'S THE MOST BIZARRE THING

ABOUT THIS CASE.

IT'S JUST CRAZY.

>> Narrator: COMING UP...

INVESTIGATORS UNCOVER TROUBLING

ALLEGATIONS OF VIOLENCE IN

ERVIN WILLIAMS' PAST.

>> A CONFRONTATION OCCURRED

WHICH LED TO ERVIN POINTING A

SHOTGUN AND THE HOME BEING SET

ON FIRE.

>> Narrator: 19-YEAR-OLD

GINNI WOOD HAS BEEN MISSING FOR

ALMOST TWO WEEKS.

>> IT WASN'T SOMETHING SHE'D

EVER DONE BEFORE, YOU KNOW?

IT WASN'T LIKE SHE WAS A RUNAWAY

KID.

>> Narrator: BOTH HER MOTHER,

TAMMY, AND INVESTIGATORS

DESPERATELY TRY TO TRACE GINNI'S

LAST MOVEMENTS IN SOUTHERN TEXAS

AND MEXICO.

>> WE HAD AN OPEN COMMUNICATION.

YOU KNOW, IF EVERYTHING WAS

OKAY, I THINK SHE WOULD CONTACT

ME AND SAY, "MOM, I'M ALL

RIGHT."

>> Narrator: DOWN IN

BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS, GINNI'S

FRIEND, KELLY, ALSO APPEARS TO

BE MISSING.

HER MOTHER, DENISE WILSON,

BECOMES FRANTIC.

>> I WENT INTO A TOTAL STATE OF

PANIC.

I KNEW THEN SOMETHING WAS REALLY

WRONG.

>> Narrator: DENISE CALLS THE

BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S

OFFICE, BUT THEY TELL HER KELLY

CAN'T BE REGISTERED AS A MISSING

PERSON.

IN AUGUST OF 2006, SEVEN MONTHS

BEFORE SHE AND GINNI

DISAPPEARED, KELLY WAS PLACED ON

PROBATION FOR A MISDEMEANOR DRUG

OFFENSE.

>> SHE DID GET IN TROUBLE WITH

THE LAW.

SHE HAD A SIMPLE POSSESSION OF

MARIJUANA.

SHE WENT TO COURT, AND THEY PUT

HER ON PROBATION.

IT'S THE FIRST TIME SHE'D EVER

BEEN IN TROUBLE.

>> Narrator: KELLY WAS GIVEN A

SUSPENDED SENTENCE AND 36 MONTHS

PROBATION.

BUT WHEN SHE LEFT

BEAUFORT COUNTY WITH

ERVIN WILLIAMS FIVE MONTHS

LATER, SHE VIOLATED THAT

PROBATION AND BECAME A FUGITIVE.

>> SHE GOT MIXED UP WITH A BAD

CROWD.

AND I'M NOT SAYING SHE WAS

PERFECT BY ANY MEANS.

SHE WAS A TEENAGER, YOU KNOW?

THEY'RE ALL LOOKING FOR TROUBLE.

BUT I THINK SHE FOUND MORE

TROUBLE THAN SHE CAN HANDLE.

>> Narrator: DENISE SAYS HER

RELATIONSHIP WITH HER DAUGHTER

CHANGED AFTER KELLY STARTED

DATING ERVIN DURING HER SENIOR

YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL.

>> WE GOT ALONG PRETTY GOOD.

WE WERE REAL CLOSE A YEAR OR SO

EARLIER.

BUT WHEN SHE MET ERVIN AND

STARTED SEEING HIM, WE GREW

FURTHER AND FURTHER APART.

THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, DRINKING

AND SMOKING POT, AND I DON'T

KNOW WHAT ELSE.

WHEN I WOULD TRY TO FIX THE

SITUATION, IT MADE IT WORSE.

SHE WOULD LEAVE AND GO STAY WITH

ONE OF HER FRIENDS.

I HAD A HARD TIME WITH HER.

SHE GOT KIND OF HARD TO HANDLE.

>> Narrator: AROUND CHRISTMAS

TIME, DENISE GIVES HER DAUGHTER

A ULTIMATUM.

>> I DID HAVE RULES IN MY HOUSE.

IF YOU'RE GONNA LIVE WITH ME,

YOU'RE GONNA LIVE BY MY RULES.

AND I DON'T THINK SHE CARED TOO

MUCH FOR IT.

>> Narrator: SO KELLY GOES TO

LIVE WITH HER FRIEND GINNI AND

HER FAMILY.

>> SHE TOLD US THAT SHE HAD GOT

KICKED OUT OF HER HOUSE.

I FELT THAT SHE NEEDED TO FINISH

SCHOOL.

THAT WAS MY WHOLE REASON I LET

HER COME HERE.

>> Narrator: KELLY SPENDS ABOUT

SIX MONTHS LIVING WITH THE

WOODS.

ACCORDING TO GINNI'S MOTHER, THE

TWO TEENAGE GIRLS ARE THE

CLOSEST OF FRIENDS.

>> THEY WERE TOGETHER ALL THE

TIME.

THEY WOULD SIT UP THERE IN THAT

ROOM AT NIGHTTIME FOR HOURS.

[ WOMAN SCREAMS ]

THEY WATCHED MOVIES, AND THEY

WATCHED AWFUL MOVIES.

[ SCREAMING CONTINUES ]

BLOODY, GORY MOVIES.

SCARY MOVIES.

ANYTHING SCARY, THEY LIKED THAT

STUFF.

>> Narrator: WHILE TAMMY WAS

HAPPY TO HELP OUT HER DAUGHTER'S

BEST FRIEND, SHE SAYS SHE WASN'T

ALWAYS THRILLED TO HAVE KELLY

UNDER HER ROOF.

>> SHE NEVER TALKED TO ME MUCH,

BUT SHE WAS NICE.

I MEAN, SHE WASN'T AN UNPLEASANT

PERSON.

SHE JUST WAS QUIET AND

SECRETIVE.

IT WOULD BE A GOOD DESCRIPTION

OF KELLY.

>> Narrator: TAMMY WORRIES THAT

KELLY IS A BAD INFLUENCE ON HER

DAUGHTER.

>> I FOUND HER TO BE

MANIPULATIVE WITH GINNI.

AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT WAS GOING

ON BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM OR

WHY KELLY WOULD HAVE ANY CONTROL

OVER GINNI, BUT SHE DID.

>> Narrator: THEN IN THE SUMMER

OF 2006, KELLY MOVES BACK HOME.

BUT ACCORDING TO HER MOTHER,

TENSION WITHIN THE FAMILY

CONTINUES, ESPECIALLY OVER

KELLY'S RELATIONSHIP WITH

ERVIN WILLIAMS.

>> THE MORE SHE SAW HIM, THE

WORSE SHE GOT.

SHE JUST DIDN'T HAVE ANY

AMBITION ANYMORE.

SHE JUST WANTED TO SPEND TIME

WITH HIM.

>> Narrator: AGAINST HER

MOTHER'S WISHES, KELLY MOVES IN

WITH ERVIN AND HIS FAMILY.

OVER THE WEEKS THAT FOLLOW,

DENISE SEES LESS AND LESS OF HER

DAUGHTER.

>> AFTER SHE'D BEEN STAYING WITH

ERVIN FOR A WHILE, IT WAS HARDER

AND HARDER FOR ME TO GET IN

CONTACT WITH HER, AND I WORRIED

A LOT ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I

THOUGHT HE WAS PRETTY

CONTROLLING.

[ DIALING ]

>> Narrator: AFTER A COUPLE OF

WEEKS WITH NO CONTACT...

[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]

...DENISE GETS A STARTLING PHONE

CALL FROM KELLY.

>> SHE CALLED ME ON THE 18th OF

JANUARY AND TOLD ME THAT SHE WAS

IN MATAMOROS, MEXICO.

I WAS VERY SHOCKED.

I HAD NO IDEA THAT THEY HAD WENT

DOWN THERE, THAT THEY HAD WENT

ANYWHERE OUT OF THE STATE.

I WAS A LITTLE FLIPPED OUT ABOUT

IT ALL BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE

FIRST THING THAT COMES TO MY

MIND IS, "OH, MY GOD, THAT'S A

DANGEROUS PLACE DOWN THERE.

YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T NEED TO BE

THERE.

>> Narrator: AND KELLY CONFESSES

TO HER MOTHER THAT LIFE IN

MEXICO WASN'T EVERYTHING SHE WAS

HOPING FOR.

>> SHE TOLD ME THAT THINGS WERE

NOT THE WAY SHE THOUGHT THEY

WOULD BE.

ALL THE STREETS WERE DIRT.

SHE JUST DIDN'T PICTURE IT BEING

LIKE THAT AND THE HOUSES BEING

THE WAY THEY WERE.

>> Narrator: DENISE TRIES TO

PERSUADE HER DAUGHTER TO RETURN

HOME TO NORTH CAROLINA.

>> I OFFERED TO SEND HER A BUS

TICKET, AND I OFFERED TO GO GET

HER, BUT, NO, SHE WAS GONNA

STAY, YOU KNOW, STICK IT OUT.

>> Narrator: AS POLICE LOOK INTO

THE BACKGROUNDS OF GINNI'S TWO

PRESUMED COMPANIONS, THEY

REALIZE THAT THEY KNOW KELLY'S

BOYFRIEND, ERVIN WILLIAMS, WELL.

WHEN KELLY AND ERVIN SKIPPED

TOWN BACK IN JANUARY OF 2007, HE

WAS IN SERIOUS TROUBLE WITH THE

LAW IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.

ERVIN IS WANTED IN CONNECTION

WITH FELONY CHARGES OF ARSON AND

ASSAULT, ALLEGEDLY COMMITTED

WITH HIS FATHER 18 MONTHS

EARLIER.

>> 2005, ERVIN AND HIS FATHER

VISITED AN ACQUAINTANCE OF

THEIRS IN BLOUNTS CREEK OUT HERE

IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.

A CONFRONTATION OCCURRED WHICH

LED TO ERVIN POINTING A SHOTGUN

AT A RESIDENT, WHICH IN TURN LED

TO THE HOME BEING SET ON FIRE.

>> Narrator: ACCORDING TO LAW

ENFORCEMENT, ERVIN WAS ALSO

CHARGED WITH FELONY COCAINE

POSSESSION, AND HIS FATHER WAS A

KNOWN DRUG USER.

>> THE PERSON THAT THEY WERE

VISITING HAS A WELL-DOCUMENTED

CRIMINAL HISTORY FOR NARCOTICS

DEALING.

WE COULD NOT SAY AT THIS POINT

THAT IT WAS A DRUG TRANSACTION,

BUT, OF COURSE, WITH THE HISTORY

OF THOSE INVOLVED, THERE'S SOME

SPECULATION THAT THAT MAY HAVE

BEEN A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.

>> Narrator: TWO DAYS BEFORE A

HEARING ON THE CRIMES, ERVIN'S

FATHER COMMITS SUICIDE, LEAVING

HIS SON TO STAND FOR THE

CHARGES.

ALONE AT AGE 21, ERVIN INSTEAD

OPTS FOR A LIFE ON THE RUN.

>> THE CASE FINALLY CAME TO

SUPERIOR COURT AND WAS SCHEDULED

FOR A HEARING ON JANUARY THE

8th.

HE DECIDED ON JANUARY 6th THAT

HE WANTED TO LEAVE THE COUNTY,

THE STATE, AND IT APPEARS, THE

COUNTRY.

>> Narrator: BY ALL ACCOUNTS,

BOTH KELLY AND GINNI KNEW ABOUT

ERVIN'S PAST,BUT THEIR FAMILIES

ARE ALARMED THAT THE GIRLS ARE

TRAVELING WITH AN ALLEGEDLY

VIOLENT PERSON.

>> CAPTAIN WATSON TOLD ME THAT,

YOU KNOW, HE WAS A VERY

DANGEROUS PERSON, THAT HE WOULD

NOT TRUST HIM AT ALL.

YOU KNOW, IT'S UPSETTING THAT

YOUR CHILD'S WITH SOMEONE LIKE

THIS, THAT THEY WOULD EVEN BE

HANGING AROUND WITH SOMEONE LIKE

THIS.

ERVIN WAS BAD NEWS.

THERE'S NO GETTING AROUND IT.

I'VE NEVER HEARD ANYTHING GOOD

SAID ABOUT HIM.

FOR WHATEVER REASON, I GUESS

BECAUSE SHE WAS IN LOVE WITH

HIM, SHE FELT LIKE IT WAS HER

DUTY TO GO WITH HIM.

I DON'T THINK SHE THOUGHT THINGS

THROUGH.

I DON'T THINK SHE REALIZED JUST

WHAT SHE WAS GETTING INTO.

>> Narrator: INVESTIGATORS SOON

DISCOVER ANOTHER SURPRISING

ANGLE TO THE STORY.

THEY LEARN THAT WHEN ERVIN AND

KELLY LEFT FOR MEXICO IN

JANUARY...

THEY WEREN'T ALONE.

ERVIN'S SISTER AND HIS YOUNGER

BROTHER, HUBERT, DROVE SOUTH

WITH THEM AS FAR AS FLORIDA.

AT THAT POINT, ERVIN MADE AN

UNEXPECTED ANNOUNCEMENT.

>> ERVIN MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT

THEY WERE NOT GOING TO BE COMING

BACK.

ONCE WE GET ACROSS THE BORDER,

WE'RE STAYING.

WE'RE NOT COMING BACK.

>> Narrator: FRIGHTENED AT THE

IDEA OF NEVER SEEING HOME AGAIN,

HUBERT AND HIS SISTER TOOK A BUS

BACK TO CHOCOWINITY, WHILE ERVIN

AND KELLY CONTINUED ON THEIR

JOURNEY, PRESUMABLY TO MEXICO.

>> WE INTERVIEWED HUBERT SEVERAL

TIME DURING THE INVESTIGATION OF

VIRGINIA'S CASE.

HE'S ALWAYS INDICATED TO US THAT

HE DOES NOT KNOW HIS BROTHER'S

EXACT LOCATION AND HAD NOT HAD

CONVERSATIONS WITH HIS BROTHER

SINCE HE LEFT THE COUNTRY.

>> Narrator: TRAGICALLY, NINE

MONTHS AFTER HE RETURNED TO

BEAUFORT COUNT...

[ GUNSHOT ]

...HUBERT WILLIAMS TOOK HIS OWN

LIFE.

ACCORDING TO INVESTIGATORS, HIS

SUICIDE BEARS NO RELATION TO THE

DISAPPEARANCE OF GINNI, KELLY,

OR ERVIN.

BUT NOW, TWO WEEKS INTO THEIR

INVESTIGATION, POLICE FIND

THEMSELVES AT A LOSS, WITH NO

REAL EVIDENCE AND NO LEADS.

>> RIGHT NOW, THE SKY IS THE

LIMIT AS FAR AS THE

POSSIBILITIES.

THERE'S JUST TOO MANY UNKNOWNS

WHEN YOU CROSS OVER INTO MEXICO

FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT WE

HAVE A SOLID THEORY.

>> THERE IS A CHANCE THAT

ERVIN WILLIAMS CAN BE A VICTIM

IN ALL OF THIS, AS WELL.

THERE'S A CHANCE THAT ALL THREE

OF THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE FELL

VICTIM TO FOUL PLAY.

>> Narrator: FURTHER CONFOUNDING

THE INVESTIGATION IS THE FACT

THAT KELLY AND ERVIN MAY STILL

BE ON THE RUN.

>> WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH

PEOPLE WHO ARE WANTED AND ARE

TRYING TO AVOID CAPTURE, OF

COURSE, THAT COMPLICATES THE

INVESTIGATION BECAUSE THESE ARE

PEOPLE THAT DO NOT WANT TO BE

FOUND.

>> Narrator: COMING UP...

JUST WHEN THINGS ARE LOOKING

HOPELESS, TAMMY FINDS AN ALLY

IN THE SEARCH FOR GINNI AND

KELLY.

>> I DON'T HAVE ANY FORMAL IN

INVESTIGATIONS, BUT I'VE NEVER

SEEN A GOOD SUBSTITUTE FOR

ACTUAL LEGWORK.

>> GET MORE "DISAPPEARED" ONLINE

AT investigationdiscovery.com.

>> Narrator: THREE WEEKS AFTER

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF 19-YEAR-OLD

GINNI WOOD, INVESTIGATORS

RECOGNIZE THAT HER TWO

COMPANIONS, KELLY GASKINS

AND ERVIN WILLIAMS, ARE

FUGITIVES FROM THE LAW.

>> THAT ALONE PUTS A TWIST IN

THE INVESTIGATION.

THE PEOPLE THAT WE BELIEVE

VIRGINIA WAS WITH WHEN SHE LEFT

THE COUNTRY DON'T WANT TO BE

FOUND.

>> Narrator: ERVIN IS ON THE RUN

FROM FELONY CHARGES OF ARSON AND

ASSAULT.

GINNI'S MOTHER BELIEVES THAT HE

MIGHT BE USING SYMPATHY TO

MANIPULATE THE TWO GIRLS INTO

STAYING WITH HIM.

>> HIS DAD'S NO LONGER AROUND,

SO HE PROBABLY MADE IT APPEAR TO

THE GIRLS, YOU KNOW, THAT HIS

DAD DID THIS BUT HE HAPPENED TO

BE THERE, BUT HE'S GONNA BE THE

FALL GUY.

AND SO YOU GOT TWO TEENAGE

GIRLS, AND THEY'RE FEELING SORRY

FOR HIM, YOU KNOW?

I CAN SEE THAT HAPPENING.

>> Narrator: THEN NEW

INFORMATION SURFACES THAT COULD

VALIDATE TAMMY'S WORST FEARS

ABOUT ERVIN.

ONE OF KELLY'S FRIENDS TELLS HER

MOTHER, DENISE, THAT SHE HEARD A

DISTURBING STORY INVOLVING

KELLY, ERVIN, AND THE MEXICAN

DRUG TRADE.

>> THEY HAD SAID THAT THEY WERE

GONNA GO DOWN THERE AND SELL

DRUGS, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT

WAS MEANT AS A JOKE OR IF KELLY

HAD ACTUALLY SAID THAT.

I CAN'T IMAGINE GOING DOWN THERE

AND THINKING YOU'RE GONNA STEP

ON SOME DRUG DEALER'S TOES.

THAT COULD LEAD REALLY BAD

PLACES.

>> Narrator: BECAUSE OF ERVIN'S

PRIOR DRUG CHARGES IN

BEAUFORT COUNTY, INVESTIGATORS

CAN'T RULE OUT THAT HE CONTINUED

ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES IN MEXICO.

>> OUR CONCERN IS THAT IF HE'S

GONE TO MEXICO AND DONE THOSE

TYPE OF ACTIVITIES, HE MAY HAVE

BEEN PUNISHED VERY SEVERELY.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S THE POTENTIAL

THERE THAT HE COULD'VE LOST HIS

LIFE OR, YOU KNOW, ANYBODY THAT

WAS WITH HIM COULD'VE LOST THEIR

LIFE.

>> Narrator: BUT THEY'RE UNABLE

TO BUILD THE DRUG-DEALING TIP

INTO A VIABLE LEAD.

THE INVESTIGATION INTO GINNI'S

DISAPPEARANCE IS ALSO HAMSTRUNG

BY THE VAST AREA SHE COVERED IN

HER TRAVELS.

>> IT'S FRUSTRATING BECAUSE

YOU'RE LIMITED AS TO WHAT YOU

CAN DO AS A LAW-ENFORCEMENT

OFFICER, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU

HAVE MULTI-JURISDICTIONS.

WE HAD NORTH CAROLINA.

WE HAD BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS.

WE HAD MEXICO AND ANY STATE THAT

THEY CROSSED INTO BETWEEN HERE

AND TEXAS AND MEXICO.

>> Narrator: AND IF THE THREE

KIDS DID CROSS THE BORDER FROM

BROWNSVILLE TO MATAMOROS,

MEXICO, NORTH CAROLINA LAW

ENFORCEMENT CLEARLY HAS NO

JURISDICTION.

>> THE STORY KIND OF PLAYS OUT

WHERE THEY'VE ENTERED A NO MAN'S

LAND.

WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH MEXICO,

IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT BALLGAME.

WE'RE NOT DEALING WITH AGENCIES

OR ORGANIZATIONS THAT OPERATE

UNDER THE SAME POLICIES AND

PROCEDURES THAT WE DO.

IT'S LITERALLY A DIFFERENT

WORLD.

>> Narrator: GINNI'S MOTHER,

TAMMY, IS BOTH SADDENED AND

CONFUSED BY HER DAUGHTER'S

SUDDEN DISAPPEARANCE.

TO HER, GINNI'S BEHAVIOR IS

TOTALLY OUT OF CHARACTER.

>> EITHER SHE WAS GETTING

PRESSURE OR I DON'T KNOW.

I CAN'T IMAGINE WHY SHE WOULDN'T

COME BACK.

SHE HAD A BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD OF

HER.

>> Narrator: AS THE WEEKS WEAR

ON AND GINNI DOESN'T RETURN,

TAMMY IS FORCED TO CONFRONT THE

FACT THAT HER DAUGHTER MAY BE

GONE FOREVER.

>> I WAS DEVASTATED.

I CRIED FOR DAYS, YOU KNOW,

SO...

BUT THE TEARS ARE...

I DON'T CRY AS MUCH ANYMORE.

>> Narrator: TAMMY'S DISTRESS IS

AGGRAVATED BY THE LACK OF

MOVEMENT IN THE INVESTIGATION.

>> THEY CROSSED STATES, CROSSED

COUNTRIES.

IT WAS TOUGH, AND I DON'T THINK

THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S

DEPARTMENT KNEW HOW TO HANDLE

IT.

>> Narrator: TAMMY DECIDES TO

TAKE MATTERS INTO HER OWN HANDS.

SHE TRACKS DOWN A HOUSTON-BASED

ATTORNEY, GILBERT ARRAZOLO, WHO

HAS HELPED OUT IN THE PAST ON

MISSING-PERSONS CASES ALONG THE

TEXAS BORDER WITH MEXICO.

>> I'VE NEVER MET GINNI,

OBVIOUSLY, NOR KELLY, NOR ERVIN,

BUT, YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO --

I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED

TO THEM.

>> Narrator: AS A MEXICAN

NATIONAL WHO GREW UP NEARBY,

GILBERT IS WELL-SUITED TO

INVESTIGATE IN AND AROUND

MATAMOROS.

>> I KNEW THE LOCATION.

I WAS COMFORTABLE WITH THAT

SURROUNDING.

AND I ALSO KNEW THAT SOMEONE IN

THEIR POSITION WOULD NOT BE

COMFORTABLE IN THAT SURROUNDING

OR BE ABLE TO MOVE AROUND

EFFECTIVELY TO TRY TO GATHER

INFORMATION.

>> Narrator: GILBERT AND HIS

BROTHER PUT TOGETHER A

MISSING-PERSONS POSTER WITH A

SPANISH LANGUAGE DESCRIPTION OF

BOTH GINNI AND KELLY, AS WELL AS

PHOTOS OF BOTH GIRLS.

>> AND THE POSTER ALSO HAD A

NOTE AT THE BOTTOM, AND IT WAS

JUST BASICALLY SAYING SOMETHING

TO THE EFFECT THAT "GINNI, YOUR

FAMILY LOVES YOU.

THEY WANT TO FIND YOU."

>> Narrator: HE ALSO OFFERS A

$500 REWARD FOR INFORMATION.

>> $500 IS NOT A WHOLE LOT HERE,

BUT IT'S TWO MONTH'S PAY FOR

YOUR AVERAGE MEXICAN CITIZEN.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT HAS SOME

SIGNIFICANCE.

>> Narrator: GILBERT AND HIS

BROTHER POST THE FLYERS ALL OVER

BROWNSVILLE.

THEN THEY CROSS THE BORDER AND

DO THE SAME IN MATAMOROS.

>> I DON'T HAVE ANY FORMAL

TRAINING IN INVESTIGATIONS, BUT

I'VE NEVER SEEN A GOOD

SUBSTITUTE FOR ACTUAL LEGWORK.

I BELIEVE THAT IF YOU WANT TO

FIND SOMEONE, YOU GOT TO HAVE A

PICTURE, AND YOU'VE GOT TO DO

LEGWORK.

WE WOULD STOP PEOPLE ON THE

STREET.

WE WOULD SHOW THEM THESE

PICTURES.

WE WOULD PUT UP THESE POSTERS.

AND INVARIABLY, PEOPLE WOULD,

YOU KNOW, SEE YOU PUTTING UP A

POSTER, AND YOU ASK THEM, YOU

KNOW, "HAVE YOU SEEN THESE

PEOPLE?"

>> Narrator: GILBERT HAS ONE

SOLID CLUE THAT HE HOPES COULD

LEAD HIM TO KELLY AND ERVIN OR

AT LEAST TO PEOPLE WHO MIGHT

KNOW THEM.

>> PART OF THE LEAD THAT WE HAD

WAS THAT KELLY WAS WORKING AS A

MAID AT THE FONTANA INN IN

MATAMOROS AND THAT ERVIN WAS

DOING WORK FOR THEM AS LIKE A

MAINTENANCE PERSON.

BUT WHEN I WENT TO THAT HOTEL,

THE PEOPLE CLAIMED THEY HAD

NEVER SEEN THEM BEFORE.

AND I STAYED THERE FOR A WHILE

AND DID NOT SEE THEM IN THE

AREA.

>> Narrator: GILBERT FINDS IT

HARD TO BELIEVE THAT NO ONE AT

THE FONTANA INN KNOWS KELLY OR

ERVIN.

>> IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF

SOMEONE CAME UP WITH THIS LEAD

FOR, YOU KNOW, TINY, LITTLE

MOTEL IN MATAMOROS AND THE

PLACE ACTUALLY EXISTS THAT THERE

WAS SOMETHING TO IT.

>> Narrator: SADLY, ALL OF THE

SEARCHES AROUND BROWNSVILLE AND

MATAMOROS END IN FRUSTRATION.

>> I WAS FAIRLY CERTAIN THAT WE

WOULD GET SOMETHING.

THERE WAS JUST NOTHING.

IT'S VERY, VERY DISAPPOINTING.

>> Narrator: NOW, TAMMY AND

GILBERT THINK HARDER ABOUT

SOMETHING THAT GINNI'S COLLEGE

FRIENDS HAD SAID.

GINNI MENTIONED GOING TO CANCúN,

MEXICO WITH HER FRIENDS AND

LIVING DOWN THERE.

>> AFTER I WENT TO MATAMOROS AND

CAME UP EMPTY, I SUGGESTED TO

TAMMY THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO

EXPLORE THE CANCúN, OPTION.

>> Narrator: CANCúN IS AT THE

YUCATAN PENINSULA -- A

1,500-MILE DRIVE FROM MATAMOROS.

>> I WAS LIKE...

"CANCúN?"

AND I LOOKED AT WHAT THEY HAD

MapQuested, AND I WAS LIKE, "OH,

MY GOSH, I JUST DON'T SEE HOW

THEY COULD POSSIBLY DO THAT."

>> Narrator: GILBERT KNOWS THAT

ROAD TRAVEL INTO THE INTERIOR OF

MEXICO IS NOTHING LIKE AN

AMERICAN ROAD TRIP.

>> YOU'VE GOT THREE AMERICAN

KIDS TRAVELING WITH LIMITED

RESOURCES AND WHAT APPEAR TO ME

LIMITED EXPERIENCE WITH MEXICO.

AND SO THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE

VERY WELL-VERSED IN HOW TO GET

AROUND IN MEXICO.

>> Narrator: THE LAND ROUTE FROM

MATAMOROS IS CONSIDERED

EXCEEDINGLY DANGEROUS DUE TO THE

ONGOING DRUG WARS.

>> IN MEXICO, YOU WILL NOT SEE

ANY MILITARY PERSONNEL WITHOUT A

MACHINE GUN.

YOU CAN DEDUCE THAT IF THERE'S

THAT TYPE OF PRESENCE, THAT

THERE IS A REASON FOR IT.

>> Narrator: DESPITE HER FEARS,

TAMMY AND GILBERT PREPARE TO FLY

TO CANCúN, MEXICO, TO CONTINUE

THEIR SEARCH FOR GINNI.

>> I'M GOING TO FIND THE

ANSWERS, ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

I'M MORE OF A LEADER THAN A

FOLLOWER.

I JUST HAVE ALWAYS DONE THAT.

THAT'S JUST ME.

THIS IS MY CHILD.

THIS IS MY YOUNGEST CHILD.

SHE'S MY BABY.

I HAVE TO FIND HER.

SO I HAVE TO KEEP LOOKING, AND I

DO.

>> Narrator: COMING UP...

SHOCKING RUMORS RAISE SUSPICIONS

BACK IN NORTH CAROLINA.

>> A PERSON WOULD CALL IN AND

SAY, "I SAW ERVIN DRIVING A

WHITE TRUCK WITH TEXAS PLATES."

HE COMES AND GOES AS HE PLEASES.

>> Narrator: GINNI WOOD HAS

BEEN MISSING FOR ALMOST TWO

MONTHS.

NOW HER MOTHER, TAMMY WOOD, AND

GILBERT ARRAZOLO, AN ATTORNEY

WHO INVESTIGATES MISSING-PERSONS

CASES, FLY DOWN TO CANCúN,

MEXICO, TO SEARCH FOR GINNI AND

HER FRIENDS, KELLY GASKINS AND

ERVIN WILLIAMS.

>> I THOUGHT IT WAS FAR-FETCHED

THAT THEY COULD GO DOWN 'CAUSE

IT SEEMED SO FAR, BUT THEY

TALKED ABOUT GOING TO CANCúN,

SO I THOUGHT, "WELL, I'LL GO

LOOK."

>> Narrator: AS A FIRST STEP,

GILBERT AND TAMMY SCOUR THE

RESORT BEACHES AND RESTAURANTS.

>> WE DISTRIBUTED FLYERS, PUT UP

POSTERS ON LIGHT POSTS, AND WE

DID QUITE A BIT OF WALKING,

ALSO, THAT WHOLE STRIP AND INTO

FIRST SET OF BEACHES.

WE JUST WALKED.

>> Narrator: OFF THE TOURIST

TRAIL, TAMMY IS SHOCKED TO SEE

THE CHALLENGES THREE YOUNG

AMERICANS WOULD FACE LIVING IN

CANCúN.

>> THAT LITTLE PART OF DOWNTOWN

WAS OKAY, BUT ONCE YOU GOT PAST

THAT, THEN IT WAS -- IT WAS

SOMETHING ELSE.

>> Narrator: TAMMY SEES THAT

MANY LOCAL RESIDENTS OF CANCúN,

LIVE IN ABJECT POVERTY.

>> IT WAS JUST A DIFFERENT

WORLD FROM WHAT I WAS USED TO.

IT WAS SCARY.

>> Narrator: THEY GO TO THE

POLICE STATION AND DESCRIBE THE

CASE TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES, BUT

NO ONE THERE KNOWS ANYTHING

ABOUT GINNI, KELLY, OR ERVIN.

>> THAT'S BASICALLY WHERE WE,

YOU KNOW, ENDED THE POSSIBILITY

OF OUR SEARCH.

AS THE TIME WORE, I STARTED TO

BECOME, YOU KNOW, MORE CONCERNED

THAT GINNI AND KELLY HAVE FALLEN

VICTIMS TO SOMEONE.

>> Narrator: BACK IN

CHOCOWINITY, NORTH CAROLINA, A

LEAD RIVETS THE ATTENTION OF

GINNI'S MOTHER, TAMMY.

FOUR MONTHS AFTER GINNI AND

KELLY DISAPPEARED, SEVERAL TIPS

COME INTO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE

THAT ERVIN WILLIAMS HAS BEEN

SEEN IN TOWN.

>> A PERSON WOULD CALL IN AND

SAY, "I SAW ERVIN WILLIAMS

DRIVING A WHITE TRUCK WITH TEXAS

PLATES."

>> Narrator: TAMMY WOOD IS

CONVINCED THAT ERVIN HAS BEEN

BACK IN TOWN.

ACCORDING TO A FRIEND OF HERS,

HE'S MADE MORE THAN ONE VISIT TO

A LOCAL CONVENIENCE STORE.

>> HE JUST COMES AND GOES AS HE

PLEASES.

MIKE TOLD ME THE LAST TIME HE

CAME THAT HE'S CHANGED HIS LOOK

SO MUCH THAT THEY PROBABLY

WOULDN'T RECOGNIZE HIM.

HE JUST, I THINK, PERIODICALLY

COMES BACK TO BEAUFORT COUNTY

AND SEES HIS MOM AND THEN GOES

BACK TO WHEREVER IT IS.

>> Narrator: BUT SHERIFF'S

OFFICE INVESTIGATORS SAY THEY

FOLLOW UP ON EACH REPORTED

SIGHTING, AND TO DATE, NONE CAN

BE CONFIRMED TO BE ERVIN.

>> WE'VE ACTUALLY SEARCHED

ERVIN'S HOME HERE IN

BEAUFORT COUNTY WHERE HE LIVED

WITH HIS MOTHER MULTIPLE TIMES.

>> WE WENT TO THE CONVENIENCE

STORES, LOOKED AT THE VIDEO

SURVEILLANCE TAPE FROM THAT

PERIOD OF TIME AND NEVER WERE

ABLE TO LOCATE A SINGLE VEHICLE

WITH TEXAS PLATES ON IT AS THE

TIP WAS MENTIONED.

>> AND I BELIEVE WITH THE AMOUNT

OF TIME THAT HE'S FACING AS A

RESULT OF HIS CHARGES, I FIND IT

UNLIKELY THAT HE WOULD RETURN TO

BEAUFORT COUNTY.

>> Narrator: THE SHERIFF'S

OFFICE HASN'T HAD HAD A

CONSTRUCTION LEAD IN THE CASE

FOR YEARS.

THEIR INVESTIGATION IS AT A DEAD

END.

>> SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE KNOWS

WHAT'S HAPPENED TO THEM.

IF IT'S IN THE UNITED STATES, I

THINK WE STAND A REALLY GOOD

CHANCE OF FINDING OUT.

IF IT HAPPENED IN MEXICO...

NOT SO GOOD.

>> Narrator: THE FACT THAT GINNI

AND KELLY HAVE NOT CONTACTED

THEIR PARENTS IN THE LAST FOUR

YEARS IS OF GRAVE CONCERN TO

INVESTIGATORS.

>> YOU WOULD REALLY THINK THAT

SOMEHOW THEY WOULD REACH OUT TO

LET SOMEONE KNOW THAT, "HEY, I'M

OKAY.

DON'T WANT TO TELL YOU WHERE I'M

AT, DON'T WANT TO COME BACK, BUT

DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME."

YOU KNOW, IT REALLY MAKES YOU

WONDER AND WORRY ABOUT ALL THOSE

POSSIBILITIES THAT INCLUDES THEM

DYING.

YOU KNOW, AND THAT IS

UNFORTUNATELY JUST SOMETHING WE

CAN'T RULE OUT RIGHT NOW.

>> I'M NEVER GONNA BE ABLE TO

JUST STOP THINKING ABOUT THIS

CASE UNTIL THERE IS SOME SORT OF

RESOLUTION.

>> Narrator: ATTORNEY

GILBERT ARRAZOLO CAN'T LET GO OF

THE CASE EITHER.

SO HE IS NOW OFFERING A MORE

SUBSTANTIAL REWARD FOR

INFORMATION.

>> I DON'T LIKE HAVING

UNFINISHED BUSINESS OUT THERE.

I'D BE WILLING TO GO INTO

MEXICO AND MEET WITH SOMEONE WHO

I THOUGHT HAD RELIABLE

INFORMATION AND PAY THEM $10,000

IN CASH SO I COULD CLOSE THIS

BOOK.

THESE PARENTS DESERVE TO KNOW

WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR KIDS.

>> Narrator: AS THE MONTHS AND

YEARS PASS, GINNI AND KELLY'S

MOTHERS STRUGGLE TO MAKE SENSE

OF WHAT COULD'VE HAPPENED TO

THEIR DAUGHTERS.

>> FOR US TO HAVE GONE THIS LONG

WITHOUT HEARING ANYTHING,

EITHER, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE WON

THE LOTTERY SOMEWHERE OR THEY'RE

NOT -- THEY'RE NOT ALIVE.

YEAH, YOU KNOW, YOU HATE TO SAY

THAT.

YOU HATE TO COME RIGHT OUT AND

SAY IT.

I TRIED TO BE POSITIVE FOR A

LONG TIME AND THINK THAT, YOU

KNOW, THAT'S TOTALLY OUT OF THE

QUESTION, BUT I THINK AFTER A

WHILE, YOU HAVE TO BE HONEST

WITH YOURSELF.

I'M A REALIST.

AND I THINK THAT'S THE REALITY

OF IT.

>> Narrator: GINNI'S MOTHER,

TAMMY, GETS THROUGH THE DAY BY

HOPING FOR THE BEST.

>> I HAVE TO THINK THAT SHE'S

ALIVE OUT THERE AND DOING

SOMETHING THAT SHE WANTS TO DO.

THAT'S HOW I GO THROUGH EVERY

DAY AND KEEP SMILING.

I CAN'T THINK ABOUT ALL THE

MORBID THINGS THAT COULD'VE

HAPPENED TO HER.

YOU ALWAYS ASK WHY, BUT WE'RE

PUT ON THIS EARTH TO LIVE, SO

WE ALL HAVE TO GET UP EACH

MORNING AND DO THE BEST WE CAN.

AND THAT'S WHAT I DO.