A ransom call was made a few days later, demanding money for information about the boys’ whereabouts. The call was traced to Washington, D.C., but the caller was never caught.

Initially, police thought the teens ran away, but their families said that wasn’t like them.

Years later, in 2010, Evans and his cousin Philander Hampton were charged with their murder and arson. A third cousin, Maurice Woody-Olds, was also suspected but died before he could be charged.

Police believe Evans and Hampton killed the teens because they suspected the boys had stolen marijuana. They allegedly forced the boys into an empty house, locked them inside, and set it on fire. The house burned down completely. The boys’ bodies have never been found, despite searches of the site.

Hampton pleaded guilty to the murders in 2011 and testified against Evans, claiming Evans was the mastermind and that the boys were locked in a closet. However, Evans was acquitted due to lack of physical evidence, and Hampton’s credibility as a career criminal was questioned. Because of the suspicious circumstances and lack of other explanations, police believe foul play was involved in the disappearance of the five teens. Hampton served a short prison sentence and was released.