Ashley Flowers

Carl told police that in the time between when he dropped the boys off at the theater and then went to pick them up, he had gone back to Fort Bragg.

He said he had to check to see if he could keep his friend's car another night.

Now, we don't know if police checked that claim out, but they did search Fort Bragg itself.

Although, according to Lieutenant Locklear, it would have been impossible to thoroughly search because of its sheer size.

But I know they checked local ponds as well and woods.

Everyone from state investigators to the FBI to Army investigators helped with the search.

But still, there was zero sign of the boys.

Not even a single stitch of clothing was found.

And therefore, there was nothing that connected Carl to their disappearance.

Honestly, there wasn't even a super strong motive.

This is the closest that detectives got to a why for Carl, if he was involved.

That his and Margie's failing relationship may have been a factor.

But why she wanted out of the marriage or what preceded this day in September seems to be unknown all these years later.

Carl did have one criminal charge in his history, according to news reports.

He was arrested earlier in his military career on either a robbery charge or for assault.

He served some time but was eventually allowed to return to active duty.

But was he violent to Margie?

Was she scared of him?

Would he do something to her sons just to get back at her for leaving him?

I don't know.