He picked up a man asking for a ride the passenger later killed his mom. he was later caught while in prison on a unrelated charge.

I have always believed there is more to the whole story, How would the killer know where he lived or that his mom lived next door over,

I think Holden may have left something out,not necessarily out of being an accomplice maybe he feels guilty he may have stopped off at his place and visited his mom with the killer and Holden and the killer leave and argue Holden kicked him out of the truck, Killer heads back to Holdens moms home where he is spotted leaving

I don't think Charles Holden is guilty or has anything to hide. While his story does seem incredibly bizarre at first, several people at the restuarant came forward and confirmed that there was a man fitting that description asking for rides to the hospital. Charles, probably figuring that rural Delaware is the last place that would attract such criminals, decided to give him a ride as far as his desination took him. While the part about the criminal finding his mom's house seems too much to be a coincidence: Charles probably just drove him to an area that was near their house so he wouldn't be going too far out of his way. Charles lived next to his mother, so I can't imagine what motive he would have. I think it was just an unfortuante circumstance and that the killer was whacked out on drugs.

yes, i belive this case happened in Georgetown DE or Bridgeville(45 mins to 1hr. from Ocean City, MD) I've passed through that town a number of times, and you are right...absolutely nothing seems out of the ordinary there, just a bunch of normal folks. But I do always think about this case when I am there, and I do believe that the killer was on drugs, and probably just found the house by happenstance, or they stopped for a minute at either home. Don't think Holden had anything to do with it.

I also find his whole story hard to believe. whether it is true or not that's just flat out creepy. Didn't he say he drove away from his house so the guy didn't know where he lived? I don't think any sane person(especially someone that close to his mom could brutally murder their mother like that.

I don't think Charles Holden is guilty or has anything to hide. While his story does seem incredibly bizarre at first, several people at the restuarant came forward and confirmed that there was a man fitting that description asking for rides to the hospital. Charles, probably figuring that rural Delaware is the last place that would attract such criminals, decided to give him a ride as far as his desination took him. While the part about the criminal finding his mom's house seems too much to be a coincidence: Charles probably just drove him to an area that was near their house so he wouldn't be going too far out of his way. Charles lived next to his mother, so I can't imagine what motive he would have. I think it was just an unfortuante circumstance and that the killer was whacked out on drugs.

I pretty much feel the same way. Besides, one of the interviewees in the segment noted that the blood evidence at the scene did not match Charles Holden.

By the way, here is 2007 article about Dorothy Donovan's killer, Gilbert Cannon, being sentenced to prison. It includes the police sketch, as well as the actual photo of Gilbert Cannon.

http://www.doverpost.com/PostArchives/05-02-07/Pages/newscannon.html

I also find his whole story hard to believe. whether it is true or not that's just flat out creepy. Didn't he say he drove away from his house so the guy didn't know where he lived? I don't think any sane person(especially someone that close to his mom could brutally murder their mother like that.

yes, after Charles managed to ditch the hitchhiker, he drove in the opposite direction of their houses in order to throw off the hitchhiker. I think that the reason Charles dropped him off so close to their house in the first place is because he had no idea that would happen.

yes, after Charles managed to ditch the hitchhiker, he drove in the opposite direction of their houses in order to throw off the hitchhiker. I think that the reason Charles dropped him off so close to their house in the first place is because he had no idea that would happen.
ok now i remember. so obviously when he left the guy he wasn't too far from his house. that story was freaky. If he had drove back home he could of helped his mom or he could of easily been killed as well. just an unfortunate situation. that has to be one of the most weird UM segments i've ever seen.

I get the feeling that Holden is innocent regarding his mother's murder, but there has to be more regarding the murderer reaching Donovan's home. I suspect that Holden either inadvertently revealed his name (perhaps to be found on a mailbox); or, he and the murderer were somehow related beyond strangers in a truck (drug deal?).

Or, perhaps, it was one absolutely terrible coincidence.

Though I have no idea, of course, my guess would be the suspect grabbed an ownership or insurance or something out of the truck. Still, I don't see how/why that extrapolates to murder. Nonetheless, a bizarre case, but it looks like it was solved.

I always figured Holden dropped the guy off pratically right in front of his driveway. Since he was going home, he probably told the guy this is where I have to let you out. After he attacked Charles, the guy simply walked up the driveway to his mother's residence, unfortunately. I think Charles' story is 100% accurate, and I don't see exactly what he would have to hide. The killer was probably on PCP (or some other drug) at the time which would explain his bizarre, and brutal behavior.

For some odd reason, I thought I heard that the authorities found out that Charles Holden hired the man to kill his mother and used the story as a alibi for his own innocence in the whole situation.

For some odd reason, I thought I heard that the authorities found out that Charles Holden hired the man to kill his mother and used the story as a alibi for his own innocence in the whole situation.

I don't think this is true. For one when the man was caught he never said Holden hired him to kill his mother. He just said he was looking to break into a house that didn't have the lights on, which unfortunately was Holden's mother's house. Had Holden hired him he would have sang like a bird after being apprehended.

I don't think this is true. For one when the man was caught he never said Holden hired him to kill his mother. He just said he was looking to break into a house that didn't have the lights on, which unfortunately was Holden's mother's house. Had Holden hired him he would have sang like a bird after being apprehended.

Not to mention that Dorothy was murdered in a very brutal fashion, which is inconsistent with a contract hit. Hired killers don't spend that much time and effort killing someone. Instead, they kill their victims more efficiently.

what I love about this case is that the police actually relied on science and investigation to solve this case instead of just going after Holden based on "gut feeling". If only all police were like this!


Though I have a feeling Holden must have let slip where he lived to the stranger, it is the only possible explanation

I pretty much feel the same way. Besides, one of the interviewees in the segment noted that the blood evidence at the scene did not match Charles Holden.

By the way, here is 2007 article about Dorothy Donovan's killer, Gilbert Cannon, being sentenced to prison. It includes the police sketch, as well as the actual photo of Gilbert Cannon.



recently saw this case on Mystery Detectives and remembered it from UM

Gilbert told the police he had been high on meth and marijuana and went to the first house he saw with the lights off - thinking no one was home.

until the police told he had no idea that the woman he killed was the mother of the guy who gave him a ride

eerily creepy weird coincidence

his DNA was in the database for exactly a week when it was found to bew a match to the bloody palm print on the night switch

found a transcript from another HLN show that did this story
http://livedash.ark.com/transcript/forensic_files-(stranger_in_the_night_(the_dorothy_donovan_case))/5712/TRUTVP/Saturday_July_10_2010/364757/

One of the unluckiest men alive.

UM made it out like Holden dropped him off a ways away from his house, but I think it was a lot closer than viewers were led to believe. I think Holden was going to let him out and then go on home, which makes believe that his house was probably out of sight, but not that far out of sight. Once the killer started freaking out and demanding the truck, Holden decided he should probably not head immediately home. That scenario makes this story believable.

So Holden takes off in the opposite direction and the killer is stuck where he's dropped off. He probably starts walking, unknowingly, in the direction of Holden's house. He sees Holden's mom's residence and decides that it looks like a good target for a home break-in. It's a weird coincidence, but not near as improbable as the segment made it seem.

It's possible that Holden is withholding information, but I'd imagine whatever he's hiding is due to not wanting to appear like he almost enabled his mother's murder more than not wanting to implicate himself in the commission of said murder.

Forensic Files profiled this case as well. You actually get to see Holden's interrogation...I felt so bad for him when I watched that. It's on FilmRise's youtube channel (FilmRise is legit so I think it's ok that I mentioned that...right mods?)

Forensic Files profiled this case as well. You actually get to see Holden's interrogation...I felt so bad for him when I watched that. It's on FilmRise's youtube channel (FilmRise is legit so I think it's ok that I mentioned that...right mods?)

I've watched it many times. Disgraceful. They tell him them have evidence against him. The only thing they have is an unusual story and a simpleton determination to send him away for life, so they can check it off and move onto another case.

I feel bad for the countless people over the decades/centuries who were in Holden's situation yet weren't fortunate enough to have exonerating evidence. In that scenario the Kelly Siegler types would have no shame at all in putting on a performance in front of that jury, complete with animated recreations of every stab.

UM made it out like Holden dropped him off a ways away from his house, but I think it was a lot closer than viewers were led to believe.

This is what I believe exactly. I think Charles dropped him off super close to his house, and the perp had watched where Charles had parked, or Charles stopped at/or super close to his house and told him "I live right here, I'm not going any further"

I don't think he just randomly found Charles house after running past a slew of other houses. He either watched where Charles had parked, or Charles told him where he lived on accident, not thinking much of it.

This is what I believe exactly. I think Charles dropped him off super close to his house, and the perp had watched where Charles had parked, or Charles stopped at/or super close to his house and told him "I live right here, I'm not going any further"

I don't think he just randomly found Charles house after running past a slew of other houses. He either watched where Charles had parked, or Charles told him where he lived on accident, not thinking much of it.

Originally, I thought something similar but in the Forensic Files episode, they show bits and pieces of the killers interrogation. He gives the same exact story as Holden. In fact, when the officers tell him that the woman he murdered was the mother of the man who had given him a ride, he was shocked. He told them he just stumbled upon the house and broke in because there weren't any lights on inside or outside. He basically says that he thought no one was home and he wanted a place to sleep IIRC.

Does anyone know if Charles Holden is still alive? He was not interviewed for Forensic Files and I'm curious if he was able to see his mothers killer brought to justice.

Originally, I thought something similar but in the Forensic Files episode, they show bits and pieces of the killers interrogation. He gives the same exact story as Holden. In fact, when the officers tell him that the woman he murdered was the mother of the man who had given him a ride, he was shocked. He told them he just stumbled upon the house and broke in because there weren't any lights on inside or outside. He basically says that he thought no one was home and he wanted a place to sleep IIRC.

Does anyone know if Charles Holden is still alive? He was not interviewed for Forensic Files and I'm curious if he was able to see his mothers killer brought to justice.

I seen that episode. I'm convinced he didn't remember everything from that night, and he was fed bits and pieces about the case from the police, and when he confessed he just said he saw a random house with light.

It's been a while but it was said he was high on crack I think, so I doubt he remembered exactly what happened. I'm not making excuses for the guy, he's pure scum, but I think he was told details about the case prior, and just admitted to everything they said (i.e. running past multiple houses to get to Charles mother house).

Maybe I'm wrong, but Charles didn't seem that sharp, and seems like he could've told him where he lived, or stopped close enough to his house. Maybe I'm wrong though.

Originally, I thought something similar but in the Forensic Files episode, they show bits and pieces of the killers interrogation. He gives the same exact story as Holden. In fact, when the officers tell him that the woman he murdered was the mother of the man who had given him a ride, he was shocked. He told them he just stumbled upon the house and broke in because there weren't any lights on inside or outside. He basically says that he thought no one was home and he wanted a place to sleep IIRC.

Does anyone know if Charles Holden is still alive? He was not interviewed for Forensic Files and I'm curious if he was able to see his mothers killer brought to justice.

Did not search in depth but a random search lists a Charles Holden age 65+ living in DE. Could be him...

Maybe I'm wrong, but Charles didn't seem that sharp, and seems like he could've told him where he lived, or stopped close enough to his house. Maybe I'm wrong though.

I agree, seemed like a nice guy and all but kind of naïve in a way as well.

Hopefully he is doing well today.

The more I think about this case, I feel like Charles Holden, and Tim McClure cases are so coincidental it hurts.

Here we have two not so bright men, who's mothers took insurance policies out on them both, and then both of their mothers are murdered shortly afterwards, but both of the sons claim they're innocent. Strange.

Thinking outside the box a little bit, I still think Charles possibly had set this up, but indirectly. I know I said Charles seemed dense, and he did, but maybe he's smarter than he lets on. What if Charles picked up the man from Hardees knowing he was out of his mind, and possibly a drug addict. He picks him up and drops him close to his mothers home on purpose, with intent that the man will go in there. I wonder if he had pointed to his mother's house stating that it was his house, trying to get the man to kill his mother indirectly without getting his hands dirty?

I still think he could've led the man indirectly to his mothers house on purpose. The man was high on crack/cocaine, so I wonder if he remembers everything they had talked about in the car? I wonder if Charles had said his mother's house was his house, and dropped the perp off close knowing that he would go in there? Easy insurance money, and his hands are kept clean.

Also, remember how he reports that he seen the man running towards his mother's house but drove to a pay phone instead? That's really odd. If I seen someone running to my mother's house, then I'm chasing them. Weird.

I seen that episode. I'm convinced he didn't remember everything from that night, and he was fed bits and pieces about the case from the police, and when he confessed he just said he saw a random house with light.

It's been a while but it was said he was high on crack I think, so I doubt he remembered exactly what happened. I'm not making excuses for the guy, he's pure scum, but I think he was told details about the case prior, and just admitted to everything they said (i.e. running past multiple houses to get to Charles mother house).

Maybe I'm wrong, but Charles didn't seem that sharp, and seems like he could've told him where he lived, or stopped close enough to his house. Maybe I'm wrong though.

Could be. I always felt bad for Charles. I figured he was just in the wrong place, at the wrong time and gave a ride to the wrong person.

Did not search in depth but a random search lists a Charles Holden age 65+ living in DE. Could be him...

Nice. I just figured he had passed away by the tone in the Forensic Files episode when investigators would talk about him. Almost as though they were saying they wished they could have come to a conclusion earlier for him. Plus, other family members were interviewed for that segment and he was not.

The Charles Holden story is one of the reasons I am not too quick to judge a defendant.

He was a farmer, I believe. I think he was just naive towards law enforcement, because he did nothing wrong.

I think there's a chance he indirectly set this up. I also find it weird that he'd just drop him off near his home. If it was me, and if I saw him freaking out at Hardees, I wouldn't want him close to my home at all.

If you knew you couldn't drive him all the way home, then why bother? He was better off at Hardees than in the middle of nowhere. I think Charles enticed him to kill his mother indirectly, maybe he said something racial to fire him up, and pointed towards his mother's house as his house.

I think there's a chance he indirectly set this up. I also find it weird that he'd just drop him off near his home. If it was me, and if I saw him freaking out at Hardees, I wouldn't want him close to my home at all.

If you knew you couldn't drive him all the way home, then why bother? He was better off at Hardees than in the middle of nowhere. I think Charles enticed him to kill his mother indirectly, maybe he said something racial to fire him up, and pointed towards his mother's house as his house.

As in "hey, I think the lady who lives in that house is a racist"? I doubt that because the killer made no effort to implicate Charles as an accomplice to the crime. He'd have every reason to deflect the blame if he could. He didn't though, because he had no idea that the victim was Charles's mother until authorities told him that was the case.

As in "hey, I think the lady who lives in that house is a racist"? I doubt that because the killer made no effort to implicate Charles as an accomplice to the crime. He'd have every reason to deflect the blame if he could. He didn't though, because he had no idea that the victim was Charles's mother until authorities told him that was the case.

Bingo.

As in "hey, I think the lady who lives in that house is a racist"? I doubt that because the killer made no effort to implicate Charles as an accomplice to the crime. He'd have every reason to deflect the blame if he could. He didn't though, because he had no idea that the victim was Charles's mother until authorities told him that was the case.

Hence "indirectly". If Charles wanted him to kill his mother without saying anything, of course he wouldn't say it's his mother, that's my point. My point being that Charles didn't say it was his mother's house, but possibly his house. He could have alluded to something that made him want to go in the house.

And like what I said previously, if the dude was on hard drugs, then his memory could be shot. It's possible he doesn't remember anything but what spoonfed bits about the case, and agreed it was him when confronted with the forensic evidence.

Also, keep in that mind that Charles had claimed to see him running towards his mother's house, but drove to a payphone instead of chasing him. That doesn't make sense.

Also, keep in that mind that Charles had claimed to see him running towards his mother's house, but drove to a payphone instead of chasing him. That doesn't make sense.

It's makes sense. It might be a little cowardly, but it's not illogical. The guy had already attacked him once and obviously he wanted to call the cops rather than confront him himself.

With the benefit of hindsight I think it is more likely that mark Nichols is not violent than it is possible that Charles was involved with his moms death. As complicated as this looked at first...Charles reluctantly gave a stranger a ride. Charles not being the smartest guy drove to his point of no return thinking that the stranger would be ok. And Charles and his mother then became victims of violence. This mirrors the Phillip Fraser case moreso than the Tim McClure.

I think there's a chance he indirectly set this up. I think Charles enticed him to kill his mother indirectly, maybe he said something racial to fire him up, and pointed towards his mother's house as his house.

https://media.giphy.com/media/Fjr6v88OPk7U4/giphy.gif

It's makes sense. It might be a little cowardly, but it's not illogical. The guy had already attacked him once and obviously he wanted to call the cops rather than confront him himself.

Does it? A guy just attacked you in a violent rage and he runs directly to your house that has your wife, and two children in it. Would it make sense to drive after him stopping him from getting in and attacking your family, or just going to a payphone?

Point being, most people who give a damn about their loved one, would give chase to the perp. I would. If he just attacked me, then no doubt he would attack who's ever in my house. When it showed Charles driving off, and the dude running towards his mothers house, the first thing that popped in my head was "go after him". I understand that someone else would go to a payphone to call the police, but I still find it weird considering that it was his mother. She was elderly, I would be even more concerned giving chase to help her seeing as how she couldn't help herself.


This mirrors the Phillip Fraser case moreso than the Tim McClure.

It mirrors both depending on how you look at it. Given the fact that Charles was in serious debt, and had an insurance policy waiting for him, he looks more guilty to me than Tim. We have a clear motive here. Not so much with Tim.

Does it? A guy just attacked you in a violent rage and he runs directly to your house that has your wife, and two children in it. Would it make sense to drive after him stopping him from getting in and attacking your family, or just going to a payphone?

Point being, most people who give a damn about their loved one, would give chase to the perp. I would. If he just attacked me, then no doubt he would attack who's ever in my house. When it showed Charles driving off, and the dude running towards his mothers house, the first thing that popped in my head was "go after him". I understand that someone else would go to a payphone to call the police, but I still find it weird considering that it was his mother. She was elderly, I would be even more concerned giving chase to help her seeing as how she couldn't help herself.




It mirrors both depending on how you look at it. Given the fact that Charles was in serious debt, and had an insurance policy waiting for him, he looks more guilty to me than Tim. We have a clear motive here. Not so much with Tim.
motives are irrelevant here in my opinion when connecting those two. I understand the questions beforehand when this was still unsolved as it was for many years. the insurance policy and circumstances would no doubt make Charles a suspect as it did. but it has been proven that charles was not involved with his mother's death whereas tim McClure's case is still unsolved. the only thing in common is that they both had a very close relationship with their mother so yes they did stand to inherit something I suppose... if you want to look at it that way. Someone could easily argue for McClure in the sense that random violent acts are very possible(as seen with holden). if law enforcement cannot trace the random act angle they will lock on to a family member if anything looks suspect. Luckily for Charles the killer left evidence at the crime scene that kept detectives from charging Charles for the crime directly.

I feel bad for Charles and personally feel as if he went through a lot. I don't think he knew that he had a chance of being attacked much less having his mother killed... before he gave the guy a ride. In my opinion there's no way to connect him now that the truth has come out.

motives are irrelevant here in my opinion when connecting those two. I understand the questions beforehand when this was still unsolved as it was for many years. the insurance policy and circumstances would no doubt make Charles a suspect as it did. but it has been proven that charles was not involved with his mother's death whereas tim McClure's case is still unsolved. the only thing in common is that they both had a very close relationship with their mother so yes they did stand to inherit something I suppose... if you want to look at it that way. Someone could easily argue for McClure in the sense that random violent acts are very possible(as seen with holden). if law enforcement cannot trace the random act angle they will lock on to a family member if anything looks suspect. Luckily for Charles the killer left evidence at the crime scene that kept detectives from charging Charles for the crime directly.

I feel bad for Charles and personally feel as if he went through a lot. I don't think he knew that he had a chance of being attacked much less having his mother killed... before he gave the guy a ride. In my opinion there's no way to connect him now that the truth has come out.

The motive isn't irrelevant, that is too fat of a coincidence. The case is closed, and the perp confessed, I got it, but something still stinks.

I'm not saying this alternative theory actually happened, but I do think it is interesting. Perhaps Charles told the truth 100% and had bad luck, but I don't know, something doesn't sit right.

I did some digging and found the pertinent locations to this segment. You can see them on the map here (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Delaware+Auto+Vault/535+Killens+Pond+Rd,+Harrington,+DE+19952/Hardee's/@38.932529,-75.5640872,14z/data=!4m20!4m19!1m5!1m1!1s0x89b89ab798540001:0xe464242786123e5e!2m2!1d-75.5173201!2d38.927925!1m5!1m1!1s0x89b89ac945d0254b:0x43719bb6e3a460c6!2m2!1d-75.5207891!2d38.9347643!1m5!1m1!1s0x89b8857a4f4a32bd:0xdb5276257baa07bd!2m2!1d-75.5671792!2d38.9236575!3e0). Charles gave Cannon a ride from the Hardee's and was heading home. The Delaware Auto Vault is where Charles attempted to drop Cannon off (and it looks like the same building used in the segment). When Holden escaped, Cannon walked down the road until finding Dorothy Donovan's house and murdering her. I know it seems "suspicious" that he walked for a half a mile before finding Dorothy's house, but by his own admission, he was high and thought the house was abandoned. You'll also notice that the other houses prior to Dorothy's were covered up by trees and bushes, so it's also possible that Cannon simply missed them. Or maybe they had their lights on.

I do wonder what would have happened if Holden had agreed to take Cannon the entire distance to Georgetown, DE. Was his motive to steal Holden's truck or rob him? Or did he really need to get to Georgetown to see his sister?

Looking back at my previous comments in this thread......yikes. :eek:

Sorry if I said this already - I did not reread the whole thread, but the Forensic Files episode "Stranger In the Night" is definitely worth checking out. It has parts of the interrogations of Holden as well as the killer, Gilbert Cannon.

Looking back at my previous comments in this thread......yikes. :eek:
Yes I wanted to share that I was reading through this thread yesterday and started laughing uncontrollably at work for at least 4 whole minutes at the "said something racial to fire him up and pointed to his mother's house." I just started laughing again as I typed this. Really good stuff man. I loved it. Humor is a good thing.

Yes I wanted to share that I was reading through this thread yesterday and started laughing uncontrollably at work for at least 4 whole minutes at the "said something racial to fire him up and pointed to his mother's house." I just started laughing again as I typed this. Really good stuff man. I loved it. Humor is a good thing.


:lol::lol::lol::lol:

that was so damn dumb. atleast someone found some humor out of my stupidity

Don't be too hard on yourself @freakbook. These threads would be boring if everyone agreed

Don't be too hard on yourself @freakbook. These threads would be boring if everyone agreed

True, but I was trying TOO hard to find Charles story suspicious that I was just saying any ol dumb thing

All I know is if a guy attacked me and then I saw him near my mom to where he could hurt her, no way would I drive off and leave her.

I probably would have ran him over at that point.

All I know is if a guy attacked me and then I saw him near my mom to where he could hurt her, no way would I drive off and leave her.

I probably would have ran him over at that point.

That's why I kept saying his story was suspicious, plus how the killer skipped all of those houses and found his.

Maybe Charles was just an unlucky coward.

If you check out the map that I posted back on page 3, Charles's house was further down the road (in the direction that Cannon was walking) than his mother's, so when Charles saw him, Cannon was loitering near his trailer. His trailer was about 400 feet away from his mom's house. So I could see how he wouldn't be overly alarmed if this guy was wandering around his property and then he went and immediately called the police.

I honestly think that when Charles saw Cannon near his trailer that by that point he had already murdered Dorothy Donovan. Because Charles drove around for about 20-30 minutes so the guy wouldn't be able to follow him home. So in reality, he couldn't have done anything differently that would have prevented his mother from being murdered.

If you check out the map that I posted back on page 3, Charles's house was further down the road (in the direction that Cannon was walking) than his mother's, so when Charles saw him, Cannon was loitering near his trailer. His trailer was about 400 feet away from his mom's house. So I could see how he wouldn't be overly alarmed if this guy was wandering around his property and then he went and immediately called the police.

I honestly think that when Charles saw Cannon near his trailer that by that point he had already murdered Dorothy Donovan. Because Charles drove around for about 20-30 minutes so the guy wouldn't be able to follow him home. So in reality, he couldn't have done anything differently that would have prevented his mother from being murdered.

Ahh, I see. Thanks for clearing that up

I think Charles was telling the truth, and it seems he was. It was just unlucky. The killer was looking for a place to crash, and I guess he stumbled upon Charles' mother's house and he ended up killing her. Probably got caught by surprise too. Charles was a trusting guy, he also didn't seem overly bright and I can sense maybe he got really freaked out by the guy and didn't want to approach him again. Remember, he was attacked by the guy and he had a knife if I recall. If I was driving and I saw him again I would approach him, but I don't think most people would, especially if they know it is close to their home. Charles went right to the police thinking the guy was after him. I don't think he ever thought his mother would be the target by any chance.

Yeah, just very unlucky, and I agree that this could have shades of Tim McClure in it as well as men whose mothers died and they look like suspects. There always seemed to be more truthfulness to Charles though.

I think Charles was telling the truth, and it seems he was. It was just unlucky. The killer was looking for a place to crash, and I guess he stumbled upon Charles' mother's house and he ended up killing her. Probably got caught by surprise too. Charles was a trusting guy, he also didn't seem overly bright and I can sense maybe he got really freaked out by the guy and didn't want to approach him again. Remember, he was attacked by the guy and he had a knife if I recall. If I was driving and I saw him again I would approach him, but I don't think most people would, especially if they know it is close to their home. Charles went right to the police thinking the guy was after him. I don't think he ever thought his mother would be the target by any chance.


Agreed. I read through the thread and cannot believe the amount of people that think that there is some conspiracy or that there has "got to be more to the story".

As I remember it being explained, Charles basically dropped the man off on a main road right near his street. The man, not familiar with the area and wanting to crash for the night walked down the first street he saw...all the homes had a light on or or other signs of living EXCEPT for Dorothy's home which was behind Charles. Thinking it was vacant the man entered expecting to probably get some free shelter for the night and was surprised by Dorothy, in which a tragic confrontation and murder ensued.

Look at picture...The man was dumped at red X...with no where else to go he walked down the first street he saw which was Charles' St. and after walking a bit he went into the first house with no lights. Unfortunately this was Dorothys home. Its not that far fetched or coincidental:

https://i.imgur.com/eQNSc1m.jpg