In a bizarre ending to the search for a missing Detroit boy, the father was told during a live TV interview with Headline News' Nancy Grace that his son was found alive in his basement.

Detroit police said 12-year-old Charlie Bothuell V was found behind a makeshift barricade.

Charlie's father, Charles Bothuell IV, appeared stunned as Grace told him his missing son was alive.

NANCY GRACE: We are getting reports that your son has been found alive in your basement. CHARLES BOTHUELL IV: What? GRACE: Yes, that's — can you hand me that wire really quickly? We're getting that right now, from — how could your son be alive in your basement? BOTHUELL: [Expletive], I have no idea.

Questions are swirling around the discovery of 12-year-old Charlie Bothuell V. What should have been a happy ending to a missing child case is now shrouded in mystery.

The boy's father told Grace it's impossible for his son to have been in the basement for the nearly two weeks he was missing.

GRACE: Sir, did you check your basement? BOTHUELL: I checked my basement, the FBI checked my basement, the Detroit police checked my basement, my wife checked my basement. I've been down there several times. We've all been checking.

Detroit police confirmed that investigators saw no signs of the boy after searching the home four times, including once with a cadaver dog.

"The FBI searched, Detroit police searched, we've all searched," Bothuell said, still shocked. "They brought dogs, everything. Everybody has searched. Oh, God, my son."

According to the police, Charlie was found barricaded behind boxes and a large, five-gallon drum, raising suspicions as to whether someone might have hidden him.

"There's no way he could have erected this makeshift area of concealment," said Detroit police Chief James Craig. "It would be hard for me sit here and tell you that someone didn't know that Charlie was there."

In an impromptu press conference held as Bothuell arrived home from Nancy Grace's show, Charlie's father vehemently denied having any knowledge of his son's whereabouts.

"For anybody to imply that I somehow knew my son was in the basement is absurd and wrong," said Bothuell. "I love my son. I'm glad that he's home. Man, I thought my son was dead."

According to police, Charlie was not shocked or scared when he was found. He smiled at police, and they said he didn't appear like he was held captive.



Police believe he had only recently been in the basement — not for the entire 11 days — and cereal and soda were found in the area.



Investigators said evidence recovered from the home includes a PVC pipe and bloody clothing. Police said they have not ruled out child abuse charges in the case.

