All language subtitles for Disappeared.S04E04.WEBRip.x264-ION10

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.