Need Help Identifying Something!!!!!! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

NOTANEWSBROADCAST · 07-27-2008, 08:23 PM

You guys (and gals) are the only group that can help me not identify not an episode of UM but possibly a tv movie possibly based on a true story in the late 70's - 80's (so think grainy, old 70's/80s style) that I have been searching for for the longest time. I saw it when I was a little kid and still to this day cannot identify its name...(on a side note this may have been perfect for an episode)

It was about young student(college?) who said bye to his parents and brother(out on his driveway ?) and left his suburban home for a road trip maybe? the kid had curly hair glasses (early 80' look) and drove sort of a hippie 60's style van (loud music was playing as he was very happy as he left)-

He was abducted somehow en route during the trip by 1 or 2 guys (1 of these guys played on an early episode(S) of MARRIED WITH CHILDREN - again shaky memories of that and searched like crazy through the lisitng on IMDB - all I remember was that he had a mean face and only played in 1 or very few episodes - again i search everyone on IMDB! ) - that is what i can remember from that part - but later...

The parent and others? go through the whole "how come he hasn't called? " situation - but i blank out there...but then....

the victims brother? i think - does an investigation and meets up with a guy who shows him the now beat up van his brother was last seen in...later..

It turns out the guy who showed the van was apprehended as the killer and confessed and as he was confessing he voice overedthe scenes of the last moments of this kids life...

All I can remember was that the kid was killed and had his hands tied and his legs tied and was thrown in the river...

The end was in classic tv movie form with real photos and a closing narration.....

PLEASE PLEASE HELP WITH THIS THANK YOU SO SO MUCH!!!!!!!

Ireneparalegal · 07-27-2008, 10:43 PM

The movie you are referring to is INTO THIN AIR and it starred Ellen Burstyn.

Here is the movie info:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089345/

slasherman · 07-28-2008, 02:44 AM

I think you made somebody very happy

NOTANEWSBROADCAST · 07-28-2008, 03:23 AM

OH WOW - IM BUYING THIS NOW!!! HOW DID YOU FIND THIS OUT SO QUICK???? DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABAOUT THE CASE???

AND THANK YOU!!!!

Ireneparalegal · 07-28-2008, 11:43 AM

Glad to have been the one to help.

I love that movie. For some reason, the first time I seen it, it stuck in my mind. It was horrific and because it was based on a true story (my favorite kind of crime movies) it really made in impact I guess. I couldn't remember the title but I did know it starred Ellen Burstyn. So I checked her IMDB. Also, the actor you are referring to who appeared on Married W/Children, I don't know his name off-hand, but he also appeared in the tv movie based on the Aileen Wournos killings. He is a character actor and he is almost always playing a bad guy or killer. He has that kind of face.

Hope you find the movie!

crystaldawn · 07-28-2008, 02:01 PM

I think the actor you're talking about it John Dennis Johnston.

Does anyone know if Brian Walker was the real name of the victim or a made up name they used for the movie? If so anyone know the victim's real name? Sounds like an interesting (and sad) case.

Ireneparalegal · 07-28-2008, 04:16 PM

I was unable to find anything relating to the actual case. I seen the movie twice, but don't believe the real names were used. I am curious myself since I do remember when the murder was mentioned in the news but can't recall details since it has been so long.

Cori aka ChrisSCrush · 07-29-2008, 03:35 AM

Here http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/missingkid/ is a website on the case.

I remember one kind of like it on Unsolved Mysteries--a young man about 19 years old, good-looking, dark-haired. His mother said she was destroyed either way--if he was the person she thought, he would never go off without a word, meaning he was dead. If he was alive, he was either in terrible trouble or not at all the person she thought.

crystaldawn · 07-29-2008, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cori aka ChrisSCrush

Here http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/missingkid/ is a website on the case.

I remember one kind of like it on Unsolved Mysteries--a young man about 19 years old, good-looking, dark-haired. His mother said she was destroyed either way--if he was the person she thought, he would never go off without a word, meaning he was dead. If he was alive, he was either in terrible trouble or not at all the person she thought.

Thanks a lot for finding that. You can even watch a 90 minute documentary on the case on that website.

Ireneparalegal · 07-29-2008, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cori aka ChrisSCrush

Here http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/missingkid/ is a website on the case.

I remember one kind of like it on Unsolved Mysteries--a young man about 19 years old, good-looking, dark-haired. His mother said she was destroyed either way--if he was the person she thought, he would never go off without a word, meaning he was dead. If he was alive, he was either in terrible trouble or not at all the person she thought.

Thank you for that link/info. With that information I was able to find more sites talking abt this young boy and it talks abt the murderer:

http://mylifeofcrime.wordpress.com/2...d-junction-co/

Cori aka ChrisSCrush · 07-29-2008, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crystaldawn

Thanks a lot for finding that. You can even watch a 90 minute documentary on the case on that website.

You're welcome. Truly each such sad case should be remembered.

mphs95 · 07-30-2008, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crystaldawn

I think the actor you're talking about it John Dennis Johnston.

Does anyone know if Brian Walker was the real name of the victim or a made up name they used for the movie? If so anyone know the victim's real name? Sounds like an interesting (and sad) case.

I did some research on the net today and found out the movie was based on Eric Wilson, a 19 year old from Ottawa, Canada who was murdered in Colorado by two drifters in 1978.

Anna Karenina · 07-07-2018, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Thank you for that link/info. With that information I was able to find more sites talking abt this young boy and it talks abt the murderer:

http://mylifeofcrime.wordpress.com/2...d-junction-co/

Irene's last post here...anybody know why she left here?

justins5256 · 07-07-2018, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anna Karenina

Irene's last post here...anybody know why she left here?

Wow...weird timing as I was just thinking about her the other day. She was probably the most prolific poster for years and then she just disappeared. What did she have 38k+ posts?

Anna Karenina · 07-07-2018, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justins5256

Wow...weird timing as I was just thinking about her the other day. She was probably the most prolific poster for years and then she just disappeared. What did she have 38k+ posts?

I guess she is SOL's very own Unsolved Mystery...

She posted about nearly every topic, then boom...she left without any
explanation...

07-27-2008, 08:23 PM	#1
NOTANEWSBROADCAST Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 05, 2004 Location: brooklyn , ny Posts: 13	Need Help Identifying Something!!!!!! You guys (and gals) are the only group that can help me not identify not an episode of UM but possibly a tv movie possibly based on a true story in the late 70's - 80's (so think grainy, old 70's/80s style) that I have been searching for for the longest time. I saw it when I was a little kid and still to this day cannot identify its name...(on a side note this may have been perfect for an episode) It was about young student(college?) who said bye to his parents and brother(out on his driveway ?) and left his suburban home for a road trip maybe? the kid had curly hair glasses (early 80' look) and drove sort of a hippie 60's style van (loud music was playing as he was very happy as he left)- He was abducted somehow en route during the trip by 1 or 2 guys (1 of these guys played on an early episode(S) of MARRIED WITH CHILDREN - again shaky memories of that and searched like crazy through the lisitng on IMDB - all I remember was that he had a mean face and only played in 1 or very few episodes - again i search everyone on IMDB! ) - that is what i can remember from that part - but later... The parent and others? go through the whole "how come he hasn't called? " situation - but i blank out there...but then.... the victims brother? i think - does an investigation and meets up with a guy who shows him the now beat up van his brother was last seen in...later.. It turns out the guy who showed the van was apprehended as the killer and confessed and as he was confessing he voice overedthe scenes of the last moments of this kids life... All I can remember was that the kid was killed and had his hands tied and his legs tied and was thrown in the river... The end was in classic tv movie form with real photos and a closing narration..... PLEASE PLEASE HELP WITH THIS THANK YOU SO SO MUCH!!!!!!!
	__________________ .....WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO SEE IS NOT A NEWS BROADCAST.

07-27-2008, 10:43 PM	#2
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	The movie you are referring to is INTO THIN AIR and it starred Ellen Burstyn. Here is the movie info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089345/
	__________________ DALLAS COWBOYS ARE HERE AT TRAINING CAMP!!!

07-28-2008, 02:44 AM	#3
slasherman Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 20, 2008 Location: Norway Posts: 104	I think you made somebody very happy

07-28-2008, 03:23 AM	#4
NOTANEWSBROADCAST Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 05, 2004 Location: brooklyn , ny Posts: 13	OH WOW - IM BUYING THIS NOW!!! HOW DID YOU FIND THIS OUT SO QUICK???? DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABAOUT THE CASE??? AND THANK YOU!!!!

07-28-2008, 11:43 AM	#5
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Glad to have been the one to help. I love that movie. For some reason, the first time I seen it, it stuck in my mind. It was horrific and because it was based on a true story (my favorite kind of crime movies) it really made in impact I guess. I couldn't remember the title but I did know it starred Ellen Burstyn. So I checked her IMDB. Also, the actor you are referring to who appeared on Married W/Children, I don't know his name off-hand, but he also appeared in the tv movie based on the Aileen Wournos killings. He is a character actor and he is almost always playing a bad guy or killer. He has that kind of face. Hope you find the movie!

07-28-2008, 02:01 PM	#6
crystaldawn Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 17, 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,261	I think the actor you're talking about it John Dennis Johnston. Does anyone know if Brian Walker was the real name of the victim or a made up name they used for the movie? If so anyone know the victim's real name? Sounds like an interesting (and sad) case.

07-28-2008, 04:16 PM	#7
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	I was unable to find anything relating to the actual case. I seen the movie twice, but don't believe the real names were used. I am curious myself since I do remember when the murder was mentioned in the news but can't recall details since it has been so long.

07-29-2008, 03:35 AM	#8
Cori aka ChrisSCrush Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 30, 2001 Location: USA and still trying to be proud of it! Posts: 2,071	Here http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/missingkid/ is a website on the case. I remember one kind of like it on Unsolved Mysteries--a young man about 19 years old, good-looking, dark-haired. His mother said she was destroyed either way--if he was the person she thought, he would never go off without a word, meaning he was dead. If he was alive, he was either in terrible trouble or not at all the person she thought.