In a haunting incident, a father received the shocking news live on television that his missing son had been discovered alive in the basement of their Detroit home.
Charles Bothuell IV had reported his 12-year-old son, Charles Bothuell V, missing, and the case gained widespread attention as the FBI joined the eleven-day search.
The disturbing twist came when HLN Nancy Grace, during a live broadcast, informed Bothuell IV that his son had been found in the basement.
A brief moment of silence followed, and Grace asked Bothuell IV, “Sir, did you check your basement?”
Bothuell IV replied, stating that he, the FBI, the Detroit Police, and his wife had all searched the basement multiple times. He vehemently denied any knowledge of his son’s presence in the basement, dismissing reports that he was aware as “absurd.”
The subsequent police investigation revealed that the 12-year-old boy had never been truly missing and had been hiding from his father and stepmother, Monique Dillard-Bothuell. The FBI had previously searched the basement, suggesting that the boy had moved there afterward.
When Charles Bothuell V was discovered, he confessed that he had hidden in the basement out of fear of his father’s reaction upon realizing that he hadn’t exercised as instructed.
Court documents revealed disturbing details about the treatment of the young boy.
Bothuell IV allegedly forced him to endure an arduous workout regimen twice a day, including intense exercises like push-ups, sit-ups, jumping jacks, weightlifting, and using an exercise machine. Failure to complete the routine within an hour resulted in starting over.
In April 2015, Bothuell IV and Dillard-Bothuell were arrested and charged with torture and second-degree child abuse. However, the torture charge was later dismissed in court. If convicted, the couple could have faced life sentences.
During the trial in 2016, Bothuell IV pleaded guilty to fourth-degree child abuse in exchange for the dismissal of the second-degree child abuse charges.
Prosecutors revealed that Bothuell V was emaciated and had visible marks on his body when found.
Bothuell IV admitted to physically assaulting his son with a PVC pipe and was sentenced to 18 months of probation along with mandatory anger management classes.
He also lost custody of his son and was prohibited from having further contact.
Details of any plea deal accepted by Dillard-Bothuell were not disclosed to the public.
As the video footage resurfaced on social media, users expressed their reactions, with some unfamiliar with the story expressing doubt about its authenticity.
However, the incident remains a chilling reminder of the ordeal that Charles Bothuell V endured and the subsequent legal consequences faced by his father.
