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Missing Detroit Child Found Alive In His Basement

Twelve-year-old Charlie Bothuell V was found alive in his basement after missing for a week and a half.
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A 12-year-old Detroit boy was reported missing more than a week ago, and thankfully he's now been found — in the basement of his own home.

Nancy Grace was actually interviewing the boy's father when she revealed his son had been found.

"What?"

"We're getting reports that your son has been found alive in your basement."

"What?" (Via HLN)

But what happened here is a mystery. WXYZ reports Charlie Bothuell V was found in the basement alive, behind a barricade authorities don't believe he could have built himself.

"During the 11-day investigation, police tell Action News they searched inside the home at least four times, and once with a cadaver dog."

"I thought my son was dead, man."

WDIV reports police had returned to the home again, this time in search for evidence of a potential homicide. Instead, they found the boy alive.

"Police came to the Bothuell home ... to serve a search warrant, believing young Charlie was dead."

"They already found blood in the home and a PVC pipe they believe was used to discipline young Charlie."

Charlie's father says he received a call from his wife just before 10 p.m. on June 14. She told him Charlie left the house and hadn't come home yet. After that, police were called.

WXYZ says, according to its sources, Charlie's father failed a polygraph test. His stepmother has refused to take one.

It's still not clear whether Charlie ran away from home. The Detroit Free Press says the investigation is ongoing, and the Detroit Police Chief said he isn't ruling out any possibilities.

"It would be hard for me to sit here and tell you that someone didn't know Charlie was there."

Charlie's father did say his son ran away from home one other time two years ago, but he was found after only a few hours. At last report, Charlie was undergoing medical evaluation.