A few days later, a mysterious call demanded $750 for information on their location. The call was traced to Washington, D.C., but the caller was gone by the time police arrived.

Initially, police thought the teens ran away, but their families knew this wasn’t like them. While one teen had a minor past offense, the others had clean records.

The case went cold for decades until a witness came forward in 2008. In 2010, Evans and his cousin, Philander Hampton, were charged with their murder and arson. A third cousin was also suspected, but he died before charges could be filed.

Investigators believe the teens were killed because Evans and Hampton suspected them of stealing marijuana. They allegedly forced the boys into an empty house, restrained them, locked them in, and set the building on fire. The bodies were never found, despite searches.

Hampton pleaded guilty to felony murder and testified against Evans, claiming the boys were locked in a closet. However, without physical evidence, Evans was acquitted. Hampton received a 10-year sentence but, due to time served and parole guidelines, could be released very soon. He’ll also receive $15,000 for relocation.

Because of the circumstances, police strongly suspect foul play in the disappearance of the five teenagers.