Police Wednesday afternoon found 12-year-old Charlie Bothuell, missing since June 14, in the basement of his family's Lafayette Park home, near boxes, a storage drum and evidence of food.
Police Chief James Craig approached reporters, grinning, and said: "You know why I'm smiling? We have Charlie."
The discovery left many unanswered questions and touched off an emotional series of events amid the middle-class enclave's tree-covered Nicolet Place, as Craig held an impromptu news conference that was interrupted by the arrival of Charlie's father, Charlie Bothuell, who was returning from a taping for the Nancy Grace show.
Sobbing, the dad gave WDIV-TV's Guy Gordon a long, powerful hug.
His father had told investigators Charlie was last seen after he stopped a workout for a bathroom break and failed to return.
Craig told reporters he found a lot about the case "odd." He also said it is unlikely Charlie could have erected the barricade with a 44-gallon barrel by himself. Stephen Clark of WXYZ indicated in a social media post that he was in the barrel when found.
Craig said he would not rule out the possibility that Charlie's parents knew the child was hidding in the basement, yet the townhouse was searched four times, Craig said, and even a cadaver dog had failed to find evidence the boy had been there.
Earlier in the day, George Hunter of the Detroit News reported police were looking at the father and Charlie's stepmother as persons of interest in the case, which is not unusual when a child has disappeared or been harmed.
The father took a polygraph test that proved inconclusive, the News reported. The stepmother refused to take the test.
As Craig talked to reporters on the street, a car pulled up and out stepped Bothuell, the father. Reporters immediately deserted Craig and peppered Bothuell with questions as Craig stood by and watched.
Bothuell said he was stunned that his son had been found in the basement.
"I'm shocked," he said.
Asked if he had any idea Charlie might have been hiding, Bothuell said:
"No, I did not know he was in the basement. Any intimation that I knew he was in there somehow is absurd."
Charlie appeared to be in good shape, but was taken for a examination.
Watch the 24-minute tape of the live feed from Fox 2's Amy Lange below:
