Narrator: A 16-YEAR-OLD GIRL HAS EVERYTHING GOING FOR HER...
ALI WAS ALWAYS PRETTY FUN LOVING,
ENERGETIC, AND VERY CREATIVE.
Narrator: ...UNTIL ONE DAY AFTER SCHOOL SHE VANISHES
WHILE HEADING TO HER JOB.
THIS CASE BEGINS AND ENDS RIGHT THERE
WHERE SHE GOT OFF THE BUS.
ALI HAD NEVER WALKED TO WORK BEFORE.
Narrator: BAFFLING LEADS STEER THE INVESTIGATION
IN CONFLICTING DIRECTIONS...
IF JAY WAS THE LAST PERSON THAT SHE HAD TALKED TO,
HE WOULD BE THE LAST PERSON TO SEE HER.
BRANDON HAD BURNED A WHITE TRUCK JUST NORTH OF SPRING.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING REALLY DOES EXIST.
YOUNG GIRLS ARE RECRUITED THROUGH THAT UNDERWORLD.
Narrator: ...UNTIL A STRANGE TURN OF EVENTS
FORCES HER PARENTS INTO A PERILOUS RESCUE MISSION
FOR THEIR DAUGHTER.
YOU COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING. ALL YOU HEARD WAS GUNFIRE.
♪
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
SPRING, TEXAS -- MONDAY APRIL 26, 2010.
IT'S 7:00 A.M. IN A SUBURB NORTHWEST OF HOUSTON
WHEN JO ANN LOWITZER WAKES HER DAUGHTER ALEXANDRIA.
ALI, AS THE 16-YEAR-OLD PREFERS TO BE CALLED,
IS STARTING ANOTHER WEEK OF HER SOPHOMORE YEAR.
Jo Ann: I WOULD ALWAYS GO IN THERE AND I WOULD JIGGLE HER.
I WAS LIKE, "ALI, IT'S TIME TO GET UP."
ALI NEVER LIKED TO WAKE UP.
SHE LIKED TO SLEEP UNTIL THE VERY LAST MINUTE.
Narrator: NOT WANTING TO BE LATE FOR CLASS
AT SPRING HIGH SCHOOL, ALI RUSHES TO GET
DRESSED IN HER SIGNATURE STYLE.
ALI MADE QUITE A TRANSITION IN HER TEENAGE YEARS.
THERE WAS A TIME WHERE SHE KIND OF WENT THROUGH
A REAL GIRLY STAGE.
AND THEN SHE KIND OF FOUND LIKE, A MORE REBELLIOUS STAGE ALMOST.
BLACK MAKEUP, BLACK CLOTHES.
Jo Ann: ONCE SHE KNEW HOW TO PUT THAT EYELINER ON,
IT WAS THERE TO STAY.
Narrator: THE LOWITZER FAMILY HAS ALWAYS BEEN CLOSE-KNIT
BUT NOT WITHOUT CERTAIN STRUGGLES.
ALI'S PARENTS, JOHN AND JO ANN,
HAVE BEEN SEPARATED FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS.
FAMILY'S ALWAYS BEEN REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME
AND I ALWAYS MADE IT A PRIORITY THOUGH,
EVEN THOUGH JOHN DIDN'T LIVE WITH US ANYMORE,
THAT HIM AND THE KIDS STAYED VERY CONNECTED WITH EACH OTHER.
Narrator: JO ANN'S 18-YEAR-OLD SON, MASON, IS FROM A PREVIOUS RELATIONSHIP.
THOUGH SHE AND JOHN HAVE RAISED HIM SINCE HE WAS A TODDLER,
THEIR PARENTS SAY THAT MASON AND ALI LOVE EACH OTHER
EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE THEIR MOMENTS.
I CALL IT TYPICAL TEENAGE SIBLING RIVALRY.
LOVE-HATE RELATIONSHIP.
IT WAS OFF AND ON.
SOME BICKERING AND PETTY, STUPID, "DID YOU TAKE THIS?"
"NO, I DIDN'T TAKE THAT."
YOU KNOW, TYPE OF THING.
Narrator: BOTH JOHN AND JO ANN
WORK FOR SHIPPING LOGISTICS COMPANIES IN HOUSTON
AND TAKE THEIR JOBS AS PARENTS SERIOUSLY.
THEY'RE OVERJOYED TO WATCH ALI TURN INTO A WELL-ROUNDED
YOUNG WOMAN.
John: ALI WAS ALWAYS PRETTY FUN-LOVING.
MADE YOU LOOK!
SHE WAS ALWAYS ENERGETIC.
SHE PLAYED SOFTBALL IN HER EARLY TEEN YEARS.
SHE DID LIKE READING AND BOOKS AND STUFF LIKE THAT
AND SHE REALLY LIKED HER ART.
IN HIGH SCHOOL, IT WAS BECOMING A PASSION FOR HER.
ART WAS HER FAVORITE SUBJECT, OF COURSE,
SO I KNEW THAT SHE HAD DREAMS OF FURTHERING HER ART
BY GOING TO COLLEGE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL
TO DO SOMETHING WITH HER ART SKILLS.
SHE COULD SHARE HER FEELINGS AND HER THOUGHTS
THROUGH SOMETHING THAT SHE DREW
AND I ALWAYS FOUND THAT REALLY AWESOME.
John: ALI WAS VERY CREATIVE.
SHE HAD A VERY GOOD VOICE.
[ SUSTAINING NOTE ]
SHE DID THE "STAR SPANGLED BANNER" FOR A SMALL RODEO,
I THINK IT WAS, IN THE AREA HERE.
SHE GOT UP THERE AND SHE BELTED OUT THE NATIONAL ANTHEM.
NO MUSIC OR ANYTHING.
I WAS VERY PROUD OF HER THAT DAY.
Narrator: ALI'S ALSO VERY SOCIAL.
SHE HAS A LARGE GROUP OF FRIENDS
WHO SHE OFTEN CHATS WITH OVER TEXT MESSAGE.
ALI WAS ALWAYS ON HER PHONE. SHE WAS NON-STOP TEXTING.
Narrator: AND ALI EVEN HAS A BUDDING ROMANCE
WITH A 16-YEAR-OLD BOY FROM HER SCHOOL.
Jo Ann: HIS NAME WAS D.J.
HE WAS AT THE HOUSE THE DAY BEFORE.
THAT WAS ON A SUNDAY.
HIM AND ALI HAD BEEN SKATEBOARDING OUT FRONT.
HE SEEMED LIKE A VERY SWEET KID.
♪
Narrator: ON THAT MONDAY MORNING IN APRIL,
ALL SIGNS WERE POINTING TO A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR ALI LOWITZER.
AT 7:30 A.M., SHE LEAVES THE FAMILY HOME ON LOW RIDGE ROAD
AND HEADS TO SCHOOL.
SHE WOULD ALWAYS SAY, "BYE, MOM!"
AND I WOULD HEAR THE DOOR SHUT.
AND THAT WAS EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING.
THE BUS, WHEN IT WOULD COME TOWARDS
OUR END OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD,
ALI WOULD GET ON RIGHT THERE AND SHE'D GET OFF RIGHT THERE.
Narrator: AROUND 2:30 P.M.,
AFTER AN UNEVENTFUL DAY AT SCHOOL,
ALI RIDES THE BUS HOME.
SHE CALLS HER MOTHER JO ANN AT WORK
TO LET HER KNOW THAT SHE FORGOT HER HOUSE KEYS
SO JO ANN CALLS HER SON, MASON,
BEFORE HE HEADS OUT TO MEET A FRIEND.
SO I REMINDED MASON, I SAID,
"JUST WHEN YOU LEAVE, LEAVE THE DOOR UNLOCKED."
Narrator: ALI'S OLDER BROTHER GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL
A YEAR EARLIER, BUT STILL LIVES AT HOME.
ALI TELLS HER MOM THAT SHE'D LIKE TO STOP AT WORK
AT THE BURGER BARN BEFORE COMING HOME.
ALI HAS HAD THE FOOD SERVICE JOB FOR THE PAST FIVE WEEKS
TO EARN HER OWN SPENDING MONEY.
IT'S THE 16-YEAR-OLD'S VERY FIRST JOB.
TYPICALLY, WHENEVER ALI NEEDS A RIDE TO OR FROM WORK
FAMILY IS ON-HAND TO HELP.
ALI WAS GONNA COME HOME FROM SCHOOL,
GET OFF THE BUS, AND THEN WALK UP THERE TO SEE IF SHE
CAN GET HER PAYCHECK.
Narrator: ALI TELLS HER MOM
THAT BESIDES COLLECTING HER MONEY,
SHE WANTS TO SEE IF SHE CAN PICK UP A SHIFT
THAT AFTERNOON.
BUT JO ANN VETOES HER DAUGHTER'S PLAN.
ALI HAD NEVER WALKED TO WORK BEFORE.
ME TELLING HER NO, THAT SHE COULDN'T WALK TO WORK,
WAS ME BEING MOM.
Narrator: THE BURGER BARN IS ONLY A 10-MINUTE WALK
FROM THE BUS STOP, BUT IT RUNS ALONG TREESHWIG ROAD,
WHICH DOESN'T HAVE A SIDEWALK.
JO ANN TELLS ALI TO JUST GO HOME,
BUT SHE WON'T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER.
Jo Ann: ALI KNOWING HOW TO PUSH MY RIGHT BUTTONS
AND BEG, I FINALLY GAVE IN AND I TOLD HER OKAY.
I SAID, "TEXT ME AND LET ME KNOW IF YOU'RE GONNA STAY AND WORK
OR JUST GOT YOUR CHECK AND YOU'RE COMING HOME."
Narrator: AT 5:30 THAT EVENING, JO ANN RETURNS FROM WORK.
ALI!
I GUESS I WASN'T TOO SURPRISED THAT SHE WASN'T HERE.
I WAS KIND OF TICKED OFF A LITTLE BIT
THAT SHE HADN'T TEXTED ME ALREADY
TO TELL ME WHAT SHE WAS DOING.
I DID SEND HER A TEXT AND I SAID,
"WELL, I GUESS YOU'RE WORKING.
LET ME KNOW WHEN I NEED TO COME AND PICK YOU UP."
Narrator: BUT ALI DOESN'T RESPOND TO THE TEXT.
THE REASON IN MY HEAD FOR NOT GOING INTO FULL PANIC MODE
WAS THAT THEY HAD JUST LET HER WORK
AND SHE PROBABLY WASN'T ALLOWED TO BE ON HER PHONE.
IT WAS A LITTLE BIT BEFORE 9:00 I DECIDED
I SAID SCREW IT, I'M JUST GONNA DRIVE UP THERE.
Narrator: AS JO ANN PULLS UP TO THE BURGER BARN,
THE HAIR RAISES ON THE BACK OF HER NECK.
Jo Ann: ALL THE LIGHTS WERE OUT,
THE CHAIRS WERE UP ON THE TABLES,
AND THERE WAS NOBODY THERE.
AND THEN THAT'S WHEN MY GUT INSTINCT TOLD ME
SOMETHING WAS WRONG.
NARRATOR: AT THIS POINT, SHE HASN'T HEARD FROM HER DAUGHTER
FOR MORE THAN SIX HOURS
AND HAS NO IDEA WHERE SHE COULD BE.
I GOT A CALL THAT NIGHT FROM JO ANN IN A PANIC
AND OBVIOUSLY UPSET BECAUSE SHE HADN'T HEARD FROM ALI.
SO I WAS TELLING HER IT'S OKAY,
MAYBE SHE'S GOT A RIDE HOME OR SOMETHING,
JUST TRYING TO RATIONALIZE WHY ALI WOULDN'T BE THERE.
Jo Ann: AND HE'S TRYING TO CALM ME DOWN.
HE'S LIKE, "ALI'S PROBABLY WITH A FRIEND.
MAYBE THE BATTERY ON HER PHONE HAD DIED.
CALL SOME OF HER FRIENDS AND SEE IF THEY'D HEARD FROM HER."
Narrator: BUT NONE OF ALI'S GIRLFRIENDS HAVE RECENTLY
SPOKEN TO HER.
TRYING NOT TO BECOME HYSTERICAL,
JO ANN DRIVES TO ALI'S BOYFRIEND'S HOUSE.
AND HE HAD ALSO TOLD ME THAT HE HAD BEEN CALLING
AND TEXTING ALI
AND COULDN'T GET ANY RESPONSE FROM HER, AS WELL.
WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE ALI COULD BE
OR HOW TO GET AHOLD OF HER.
JO ANN DRIVES ALL AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD,
BUT ALI IS NOWHERE TO BE SEEN.
SHE GETS BACK TO HER HOUSE AROUND 11:00 P.M.
HER DAUGHTER'S NOT THERE EITHER,
SO JO ANN IS FORCED TO PLACE THE MOST TERRIFYING PHONE CALL
OF HER LIFE.
John: JO ANN CALLED THE POLICE THAT NIGHT
AND ASKED THEM TO COME OVER TO REPORT HER MISSING.
SEE IF THEY COULD HELP OUT.
Narrator: JUST BEFORE MIDNIGHT,
A PATROL DEPUTY FROM PRECINCT FOUR
OF THE HARRIS COUNTY CONSTABLE'S OFFICE ARRIVES AT JO ANN'S.
BY THIS TIME, ALI'S DAD HAS ALSO SHOWN UP TO HELP.
SHE JUST HAD A LITTLE PIECE OF PAPER
THAT SHE WROTE OUR NAMES DOWN WITH OUR PHONE NUMBERS.
THE LOWITZERS DESCRIBE THEIR DAUGHTER
AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HER DISAPPEARANCE.
THE DEPUTY ASKS PERMISSION TO HAVE A LOOK IN ALI'S BEDROOM.
SHE WAS ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT ALI
AND SHE'S LIKE, "ARE YOU SURE Y'ALL DIDN'T HAVE A FIGHT
AND SHE TOOK OFF?"
SHE JUST KIND OF TOOK A QUICK LITTLE REPORT AND SAID,
"SHE'LL BE FINE, SHE'LL BE BACK SOON.
CALL US IN THE MORNING WHEN SHE COMES HOME."
I ASKED HER WHAT DO WE DO IF SHE DOESN'T COME HOME?
AND SHE SAID, "WELL, JUST CALL US TOMORROW."
Narrator: JO ANN AND JOHN RACK THEIR BRAINS,
TRYING TO THINK OF WHERE ALI COULD BE.
I WAS LIKE, LOOK, MAYBE SHE'S JUST BEING
A REBELLIOUS TEENAGER.
MAYBE SHE IS OUT SOMEWHERE AND SHE'LL BE BACK IN THE MORNING
AND THEN WE'LL ADDRESS IT AT THAT TIME.
Jo Ann: MASON GOT A COUPLE OF FRIENDS
AND THEY DROVE AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE WERE FULLY EXPECTING HER TO WALK THROUGH THE DOOR.
I DON'T REMEMBER HOW LATE JOHN STAYED OVER,
BUT HE EVENTUALLY LEFT AND WENT HOME
TO TRY TO GET SOME SLEEP.
I WAITED UP ALL NIGHT.
John: THE NEXT MORNING, AROUND 5:00,
JO ANN CALLED ME AND SAID SHE'S STILL NOT HOME.
IT WAS DEVASTATING.
WHEN YOU THINK OF A PARENT'S WORST NIGHTMARE,
I WOULD SAY IT WAS AT THAT MOMENT.
♪
Narrator: IT'S BEEN 18 HOURS SINCE 16-YEAR-OLD ALI LOWITZER
WENT MISSING AFTER GETTING DROPPED OFF
ON HER STREET BY THE SCHOOL BUS.
AT 9:00 A.M., HER PARENTS JO ANN AND JOHN CALL POLICE
A SECOND TIME.
ADAMANT THAT THEIR DAUGHTER IS A MISSING PERSON.
THEY SPENT A LOT OF TIME TRYING TO CONVINCE US
THAT ALI WAS A RUNAWAY.
AND WE SPENT JUST AS MUCH TIME TRYING TO CONVINCE THEM
THAT SHE WASN'T 'CAUSE WE KNOW OUR DAUGHTER.
Jo Ann: IF SHE WAS GOING TO LEAVE THIS HOUSE OF HER OWN FREE WILL
THEN I WOULD DEFINITELY NOTICE THINGS MISSING,
ESPECIALLY HER MAKEUP, HER CELLPHONE CHARGER, HER MONEY,
OF ALL THINGS.
IF YOU WERE GONNA LEAVE INTENTIONALLY,
YOU WOULD MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAD MONEY.
Narrator: BUT IN SPITE OF THE LOWITZERS CONCERNS,
POLICE DON'T OPEN A MISSING-PERSON CASE.
SO JOHN AND JO ANN DECIDE TO DO SOME INVESTIGATING
OF THEIR OWN.
IF ALI DID RUN AWAY,
IT'S POSSIBLE SHE WASN'T TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT
WHERE SHE WAS HEADING AFTER SCHOOL.
SO JOHN TRACKS DOWN THE SCHOOL BUS COMPANY.
John: FORTUNATELY, THEY HAD CAMERAS ON THE BUS
AND THEY SHOWED ME FOOTAGE FROM THE TIME
THAT SHE WALKED OUT OF THE SCHOOL
TO THE TIME THAT SHE GOT ON THE BUS
ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE WHOLE ROUTE
TO THE BUS STOP WHERE SHE GOT OFF,
SO I WAS ABLE TO VALIDATE THAT SHE WAS ON THE BUS
THE WHOLE TIME.
TIME STAMPS AND EVERYTHING.
Narrator: ON THE VIDEO, JOHN SEES THAT TWO OTHER BOYS
EXIT AT THE SAME TIME AS ALI.
THE LOWITZERS RECOGNIZE ONE OF THEM AS A NEIGHBOR
AND GET HIS ACCOUNT OF WHAT HAPPENED NEXT.
Jo Ann: ALI DID GET OFF THE BUS WITH THEM
BUT INSTEAD OF HER WALKING DOWN THE STREET WITH THEM,
SHE TURNED AROUND TO WALK OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD,
WHICH WOULD PUT HER ON THE PATH TO THE BURGER BARN.
Narrator: THE BOY'S ACCOUNT INDICATES
THAT ALI TOLD HER MOTHER THE TRUTH.
SHE WAS GOING TO WORK.
THAT SAME AFTERNOON, HER FATHER GOES TO THE BURGER BARN
TO TALK TO THE OWNER.
John: IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT,
IF SHE WAS GOING TO THE BURGER BARN TO WORK THAT NIGHT,
AND MAYBE SHE GOT THERE AND MAYBE SOMETHING HAPPENED.
Narrator: BUT THE OWNER DELIVERS TROUBLING NEWS.
HE NEVER SAW ALI THE DAY BEFORE.
SHE DIDN'T COME TO THE RESTAURANT
AND SHE DIDN'T PICK UP HER PAYCHECK.
AS JOHN LEAVES, HE NOTICES A BUSINESS JUST ACROSS THE STREET
FROM THE BURGER BARN.
I HAD A THOUGHT OF,
WELL, LET ME GO TO THE CORNER GAS STATION
TO SEE IF THEY HAVE ANY VIDEO SURVEILLANCE
EXTERNAL CAMERAS THAT MIGHT SHOW HER WALKING
TO THE BURGER BARN.
THAT WOULD PROVE THAT SHE ACTUALLY WENT THAT ROUTE.
Jo Ann: IF YOU'RE LOOKING FROM THE CAMERA POINT-OF-VIEW,
YOU COULD VIEW THE ENTIRE FOUR-WAY RED LIGHT.
AND SHE NEVER PASSED IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA.
Narrator: THE VIDEO APPEARS TO CONFIRM
THE RESTAURANT OWNER'S ACCOUNT.
ALI NEVER MADE IT THERE.
BY NOW, MORE THAN 24 HOURS HAVE PASSED
SINCE ANYONE HAS SEEN OR HEARD FROM ALI LOWITZER.
HER PARENTS HAVE LEFT NUMEROUS VOICEMAILS AND TEXTS,
BUT THEY'VE ALL GONE UNANSWERED.
THEN, HER MOTHER JO ANN REMEMBERS SOMETHING CRUCIAL.
Jo Ann: AT&T HAD WHAT WAS CALLED A FAMILY MAP PLAN,
LIKE A GPS TRACKING WHERE YOU COULD LOOK ON A MAP
AND IT'LL TELL YOU EXACTLY WHERE YOU ARE ON THE MAP
AND THE LAST PLACE IT SHOWED ALI
WAS RIGHT HERE JUST ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
Narrator: IT'S ALMOST AS IF RIGHT AFTER SHE EXITED
THE SCHOOL BUS, ALI VANISHED OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH.
ON MONDAY, MAY 3rd, SHE'S BEEN MISSING FOR A WEEK
WHEN JOHN AND JO ANN GIVE DEPUTIES FROM THE LOCAL
CONSTABLE'S OFFICE ALL THE INFORMATION THEY'VE GATHERED.
INCLUDING THE SECURITY FOOTAGE FROM THE SCHOOL BUS
AND THE GAS STATION.
ALTHOUGH POLICE STILL CLASSIFY ALI AS A RUNAWAY,
THEY HEAD BACK TO THE LOWITZER HOME
FOR ANOTHER LOOK AROUND.
LAW ENFORCEMENT LOOKED THROUGH HER ROOM, SEE IF THEY COULD
PICK UP ON ANY CLUES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
THEY DID FIND SOME JOURNALS THAT SHE HAD WRITTEN IN.
Narrator: DETECTIVES PAGE THROUGH ALI'S JOURNALS
AND COME ACROSS AN ENTRY WHERE SHE ALLUDES TO PLANS
TO RUN AWAY, BUT ALI'S PARENTS BELIEVE HER WRITING
DIDN'T ALWAYS REFLECT HER TRUE FEELINGS.
I THINK WHAT THEY FOUND IN THE JOURNALS,
THEY KIND OF STARTED TO REST THEIR HAT ON
AND SAID, "WELL, SHE WROTE RIGHT HERE
THAT SHE WAS GONNA DO THIS."
BUT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHERE ALI WAS.
YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHO SHE WAS
AND THE STORIES THAT SHE WOULD FABRICATE
THAT SHE WOULD MAKE UP IN THOSE JOURNALS.
Cooke: SHE HAD NO HISTORY OF BEING A RUNAWAY.
A RUNAWAY IS SOMEONE WHO, IN MY OPINION,
AND FROM MY EXPERIENCE,
SEPARATES THEMSELVES FAIRLY WELL FROM HOME
AND THE INTENT IS TO BE GONE MORE THAN JUST A FEW HOURS.
FOR A 16-YEAR-OLD GIRL TO LEAVE HER WHOLE LIFE BEHIND,
ALL OF HER CLOTHES, ALL OF HER MONEY,
CELLPHONE, STUFFED ANIMALS,
ANYTHING THAT WAS NEAR AND DEAR TO HER,
HER JOURNALS EVEN.
FOR A GIRL TO LEAVE ALL OF THAT BEHIND?
THAT'S NOT RIGHT.
Narrator: POLICE CHANGE ALI'S STATUS FROM RUNAWAY
TO ENDANGERED RUNAWAY.
EVERY KID THAT IS RUNAWAY OR MISSING IS ENDANGERED.
Narrator: POLICE HAVE SINCE EXPLAINED
THE CLASSIFICATION OF ENDANGERED RUNAWAY
INDICATES A MISSING CHILD WHO LEAVES WITHOUT WARNING
AND THAT DANGEROUS ISSUES COULD BE AT PLAY
SUCH AS MENTAL ILLNESS OR SUICIDE.
THE THOUGHT OF ALI HURTING HERSELF
HAS NEVER ENTERED MY MIND.
I DON'T THINK THAT SHE WOULD BE CAPABLE OF DOING THAT.
SHE WAS TOO KIND-HEARTED.
♪
Narrator: MORE DAYS PASS WITH NO LEADS
COMING INTO THE LOWITZERS.
EVERY NIGHT, HER MOTHER JO ANN SENDS A TEXT
TO HER DAUGHTER'S PHONE
AND EVERY NIGHT SHE GETS NO REPLY.
IN THE DAYS THAT FOLLOW,
THE LOWITZERS ENLIST THE HELP OF THE LAURA RECOVERY CENTER,
AN ORGANIZATION THAT TRIES TO FIND
MISSING AND ABDUCTED CHILDREN.
Jo Ann: FOR ME, IT WAS A LIFE SAVER BECAUSE
THEY SEEMED TO REALLY CARE THAT ALI WAS MISSING.
WE STARTED BECOMING A LITTLE MORE ORGANIZED.
MADE AN OFFICIAL FLIER FOR ALI
AND I PRINTED OFF HUNDREDS OF PAGES.
Narrator: THE FAMILY OFFERS A REWARD OF $25,000
TO ANYONE WITH PERTINENT INFORMATION.
AND I STARTED RUNNING AROUND TOWN LIKE A MADMAN
SLAPPING THESE PICTURES ON ANYTHING I COULD.
I WAS IN AWE OF WHAT MY COMMUNITY DID FOR ALI.
♪
Narrator: BY THE THIRD WEEK OF ALI'S DISAPPEARANCES,
THE GROUND SEARCHES CONDUCTED BY LAURA RECOVERY CENTER
HAVE GOTTEN THE MEDIA'S ATTENTION
AND BY LATE MAY, ALI'S CASE IS TRANSFERRED
TO THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
WITHIN HOURS WE HAD HOMICIDE GUYS KNOCKING ON OUR DOOR
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW THEY CAN HELP US OUT
AND BASICALLY STARTING THE INVESTIGATION.
Jo Ann: ONCE THE HOMICIDE DEPARTMENT HAD THE CASE,
IT WAS KIND OF LIKE DOING EVERYTHING ALL OVER AGAIN.
WE NEED TO FILL THEM IN ON WHAT THEY NEED TO KNOW
SO THAT THEY CAN FIND ALI.
Narrator: EXCEPT NOW THE INVESTIGATION
TAKES A DIRECTION THAT THE LOWITZERS HADN'T EXPECTED.
HOMICIDE DETECTIVES BEGIN THEIR PROBE WHERE THEY ALWAYS DO.
CLOSE TO HOME.
I GUESS TYPICAL PROCESS OF ELIMINATION.
THEY'RE GONNA START FROM INSIDE OUT
AND INTERVIEW THE FAMILY.
THEY CALLED ME DOWN TO THE STATION AND INTERROGATED ME
FOR HOURS.
Jo Ann: THE QUESTIONS, JOHN DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO TELL ME
SOME OF THE QUESTIONS 'CAUSE HE KNEW IT WOULD UPSET ME.
John: WHAT DO YOU KNOW? WHO DO YOU KNOW?
WHERE WERE YOU?
EVERYTHING ABOUT IT.
THEY ACTUALLY ASKED ME, "DO YOU BELIEVE THAT ALI'S DEAD?"
HOW, AS A FATHER OF THE MISSING CHILD,
DO YOU ANSWER SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
♪
Narrator: FOR THE PAST THREE WEEKS,
JOHN AND JO ANN LOWITZER HAVE STRUGGLED TO GET POLICE
TO INVESTIGATE THE CASE OF THEIR MISSING DAUGHTER, ALI.
NOW THEY HAVE THE FULL ATTENTION
OF HARRIS COUNTY HOMICIDE DETECTIVES,
BUT THE LOWITZERS LEARN THAT THE INCREASED SCRUTINY
COMES AT A COST.
I COULD ONLY IMAGINE WHAT JOHN WENT THROUGH
DURING THE INTERROGATION
AND HOW HE'S ONE OF THE STRONGEST PEOPLE THAT I KNOW.
♪
Narrator: JOHN TELLS POLICE THAT SINCE HE AND JO ANN
SEPARATED TWO YEARS EARLIER,
HIS DAUGHTER HAS BEEN VERY ANGRY WITH HIM.
ALI AND I WERE KIND OF AT OUR DIFFERENCES
BECAUSE JO ANN AND I HAD SPLIT UP
AND I BELIEVE ALI TOOK IT PRETTY HARD AND...
[Voice breaking] JUST AS SHE WAS GETTING BETTER
IS WHEN ALL THIS HAPPENED.
Narrator: DETECTIVES ALSO TAKE A LONG AND SERIOUS LOOK
AT ALI'S OLDER BROTHER, MASON.
AND THEY HAD TAKEN MASON FOR SEVERAL HOURS
TO INTERROGATE HIM.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS ASK MASON TO EXPLAIN
WHERE HE WAS WHEN ALI WENT MISSING.
John: SO, YEAH, AT THAT TIME OF DAY,
MASON WAS HOME AND HE SAID THAT SHE NEVER SHOWED UP
OR HE HAD HEARD THE BUS COMING
AND SHORTLY AFTER THAT HE HAD LEFT, LEFT THE HOUSE.
SO HE NEVER SAW HER.
WELL, SEEING BOTH OF THEM...
[Voice breaking] IT BROKE MY HEART
BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IT BROKE THEM.
♪
NARRATOR: DETECTIVES ASK BOTH FATHER AND SON
TO TAKE POLYGRAPH EXAMS.
♪
Cooke: JOHN LOWITZER WAS FOUND NOT TO BE DECEPTIVE
TO THE QUESTIONS HE WAS ASKED.
AND MASON WAS FOUND NOT TO BE DECEPTIVE
TO THE QUESTIONS HE WAS ASKED.
Narrator: AND AFTER THE INTERVIEWS ARE COMPLETED,
DETECTIVES SAY THAT JOHN IS CLEARED OF ANY INVOLVEMENT
IN HIS DAUGHTER'S DISAPPEARANCE.
BUT EVEN THOUGH MASON ALSO PASSED THE POLYGRAPH,
POLICE SAY THEY DON'T OFFICIALLY CLEAR HIM FROM SUSPICION.
CLEARING IS SAYING THAT THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO WAY
THIS PERSON CAN BE INVOLVED
AND SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T EVER GET THERE.
Jo Ann: I KNOW IT'S VERY HARD FOR MASON.
AT THE TIME HE WAS 18 YEARS OLD.
AUTHORITIES SAY THAT MASON
REFUSES TO TALK TO THE POLICE OR REPORTERS
ABOUT HIS SISTER AND MAINTAINS
THAT HE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ALI'S DISAPPEARANCE.
THEN, AS DETECTIVES SCOUR THE FAMILY'S CELLPHONE RECORDS,
AN UNEXPECTED CLUE SURFACES.
ALI'S MOTHER, JO ANN, WAS NOT THE LAST PERSON TO COMMUNICATE
WITH HER THAT DAY.
AT APPROXIMATELY 2:50 P.M.,
JUST MINUTES BEFORE SHE GOT OFF THE SCHOOL BUS,
ALI TEXTED A FRIEND.
AN OLDER BOY FROM SPRING HIGH SCHOOL NAMED JAY.
ALI WAS WANTING HIM TO COME OVER AFTER SCHOOL
TO HANG OUT.
JAY AND ALI HAD BEEN FRIENDS FOR MORE THAN A YEAR
BECAUSE JAY WAS THE LAST ACTUAL PHONE NUMBER
ON ALI'S RECORDS, WE HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
John: IF JAY WAS THE LAST PERSON THAT SHE HAD TALKED TO,
IT WOULD SEEM THAT HE WOULD BE THE LAST PERSON TO SEE HER.
Narrator: DETECTIVES IMMEDIATELY TRACK JAY DOWN AT HIS HOME.
THE GUYS THAT SPOKE TO HIM HAD SOME EXPERIENCE.
JAY EXPLAINS THAT HE NEVER MET UP WITH ALI
AFTER SHE TEXTED HIM.
HE SAID, "NO, HE HAD OTHER PLANS."
AND THEIR OPINION WAS THAT HE WAS EASILY MARKED OFF,
AND ALIBI-WISE, HE DID HAVE ONE.
♪
Narrator: WEEKS TURN TO MONTHS.
THE GROUND SEARCHES STOP.
THE NEWS STORIES SLOW DOWN.
AND ALI'S INVESTIGATION GOES COLD.
THE LOWITZERS STILL HAVE A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR
WORKING THE CASE, WHO THEY HAD HIRED IN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS
WHEN POLICE WEREN'T ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR ALI.
IF I WERE A PARENT, EVEN WORKING WITH GOOD POLICE
THAT KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING AND SEEMED TO CARE,
I WOULD PROBABLY STILL USE MY OWN RESOURCES
TO TRY TO AUGMENT THAT BECAUSE I WOULD NOT BE ABLE
TO LET A DAY GO BY NOT KNOWING WHAT HAPPENED
OR WHERE MY CHILD WAS.
Narrator: TWO YEARS AFTER ALI'S DISAPPEARANCE,
THE PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR TAKES NOTE OF A RECENT
AND HIGHLY PUBLICIZED BRUTAL CRIME
250 MILES AWAY THAT HE THINKS COULD HAVE DIRECT TIES
TO ALI'S DISAPPEARANCE.
ON AUGUST 17, 2012, A MAN NAMED BRANDON LAVERGNE
PLEADS GUILTY TO KILLING 20-YEAR-OLD COLLEGE STUDENT
MICKEY SCHUNICK IN LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA.
WHEN THE MICKY SCHUNICK CASE REALLY KIND OF BROKE LOOSE,
IT GOT A LOT OF MEDIA ATTENTION.
SHE WENT TO THE LOCAL COLLEGE IN LAFAYETTE,
SO SHE RODE HER BIKE EVERYWHERE.
HE HAD SIDESWIPED HER AND MADE HER FALL OFF OF HER BIKE
AND HE HAD STOPPED TO OFFER HER HELP.
SHE ENDED UP GETTING IN HIS TRUCK,
PUTTING THE BIKE IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK.
Narrator: SCHUNICK'S KILLER, BRANDON LAVERGNE,
DROVE A WHITE PICKUP TRUCK THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER.
THE LOWITZER'S P.I. RECALLS READING ABOUT A SIMILAR VEHICLE
IN ALI'S CASE FILE.
THE PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR WAS GOING THROUGH
ALL OF HIS NOTES AND SAID,
"WELL, THERE'S A WHITE TRUCK THAT SOMEBODY
GAVE A LEAD OR A TIP ON FOR ALI'S CASE."
Jo Ann: SOMEBODY AT THE BEGINNING WHEN ALI WAS MISSING,
SAID THAT THEY SAW A GIRL TALKING TO SOMEONE
IN A WHITE TRUCK.
Narrator: ACCORDING TO AN EYEWITNESS,
THE ENCOUNTER OCCURRED ON THE ROAD TO THE BURGER BARN.
THE P.I. DISCOVERS ANOTHER REMARKABLE FACT --
THE KILLER HAS TIES TO THE SPRING COMMUNITY.
BRANDON LAVERGNE, HE HAD FAMILY HERE IN THE AREA,
NOT TOO FAR FROM WHERE ALEXANDRIA LOWITZER LIVED.
Narrator: AND THERE'S A THIRD, OMINOUS CONNECTION,
BETWEEN THE TWO CASES.
POLICE REALIZE THAT AFTER HIS CRIME,
LAVERGNE DUMPED HIS TRUCK JUST 50 MILES FROM ALI'S HOMETOWN.
HE HAD BURNED A WHITE TRUCK JUST NORTH OF SPRING.
♪
Narrator: BY THE SUMMER OF 2012,
ALI LOWITZER HAS BEEN MISSING FOR TWO YEARS
AND HER PARENTS, JOHN AND JO ANN,
HAVE HIRED A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR
TO ASSIST IN THEIR SEARCH.
NOW THE P.I. IS LOOKING AT A CHILLING NEW LEAD.
THE CONVICTED KILLER OF ANOTHER YOUNG WOMAN
COULD'VE BEEN IN THE AREA WHEN ALI WENT MISSING.
BRANDON LAVERGNE HAD STARTED BEING LOOKED AT
AS MAYBE HAVING SOMETHING TO DO WITH ALI.
John: WE NEEDED TO LOOK AT IT,
YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE WE CAN'T LEAVE ANY STONE UNTURNED.
Narrator: POLICE QUESTION BRANDON LAVERGNE IN STATE PRISON,
BUT HE DENIES ANY CONNECTION TO ALI LOWITZER.
AND ALTHOUGH HE DID FREQUENT THE SPRING, TEXAS AREA
WHERE ALI LIVED,
HE'S ABLE TO PROVE THAT WHEN SHE WENT MISSING
IN APRIL OF 2010, HE WAS OUT OF STATE IN LOUISIANA.
I CONTACTED HIS EMPLOYER AND THROUGH THE SUBPOENA PROCESS
FOUND OUT HE WAS OUT OFFSHORE WORKING ON DIESEL ENGINES
AND HE DIDN'T HAVE HIS OWN LITTLE BOAT TO GO TO SHORE
AND RUN TO SPRING, TEXAS.
♪
Jo Ann: THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A DISAPPOINTMENT ON MY END
AND A LITTLE BIT OF RELIEF AT THE SAME TIME
AFTER WE LEARNED THAT HE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT.
Narrator: IN THE FALL OF 2012,
THE LOWITZERS HIRE A SECOND PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR
NAMED AMBER CAMMACK, WHO TAKES ALI'S CASE
IN AN ENTIRELY NEW AND DISTURBING DIRECTION.
AMBER WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT WAS REALLY LOOKING FOR
AN ALIVE ALI AND SHE WAS BASICALLY THE FIRST ONE
TO COME UP WITH MAYBE ALI WAS KIDNAPPED
AND IS BEING TRAFFICKED.
WELL, HUMAN TRAFFICKING REALLY DOES EXIST,
THERE'S NO JOKE ABOUT THAT.
BEING A BORDER STATE THERE'S A LOT OF MOVEMENT THAT WAY.
Narrator: THE I-10 INTERSTATE,
TWO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS, AND A MASSIVE PORT
ALL CONVERGE IN THE HOUSTON AREA,
MAKING IT ONE OF THE LARGEST HUBS FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING
IN THE NATION.
TRAFFICKERS TYPICALLY GROOM THEIR VICTIMS FIRST.
♪
YOUNG GIRLS USUALLY ARE RECRUITED
THROUGH THEIR CONTACTS WITH THAT UNDERWORLD GROUP
IN SOME WAY OR ANOTHER.
Narrator: ONCE TFFICKERS HAVE LURED THEM IN
THEY KIDNAP AND FORCE THEM INTO THE SEX TRADE,
WHERE TEENAGE GIRLS HAVE THE HIGHEST VALUE.
John: FOR ALI'S PHONE TO JUST SHUT OFF
AT 2:54 IN THE AFTERNOON, 10 MINUTES AFTER
SHE GOT OFF THE BUS TELLS ME THAT WHOEVER DID IT
KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE DOING.
Narrator: IF ALI WAS KIDNAPPED BY TRAFFICKERS,
IT MEANS SHE COULD NOW BE ANYWHERE.
IN OCTOBER 2012, JO ANN RECEIVES A CALL
FROM A WOMAN WHO HAD SEEN ALI'S MISSING-PERSON WEBSITE,
WHICH LEADS THE SEARCH OVER 1,000 MILES NORTH,
TO COLUMBUS, OHIO.
Jo Ann: IT WAS A LADY FROM OHIO SAYING THAT SHE THOUGHT
THAT SHE HAD SEEN ALI AT A CHURCH FUNCTION
FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE.
SHE KIND OF DESCRIBED ALI AND HOW QUIET SHE WAS
AND SHE JUST FELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS WRONG
WITH THIS GIRL, LIKE SHE WAS BEING FORCED
TO BE QUIET AND NOT LOOK ANYBODY IN THE EYES.
Narrator: PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR AMBER CAMMACK
CONTACTS LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT IN COLUMBUS
AND DISCOVERS THAT BOTH DRUG AND SEX TRAFFICKING
RUN RAMPANT IN THE COLUMBUS AREA.
CAMMACK TAKES THE NEXT FLIGHT TO OHIO.
WITHIN DAYS SHE DEVELOPS A WORKING RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE COLUMBUS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SHE EVEN STARTS GOING UNDERCOVER FOR THEM
AND GAINS ACCESS TO SEVERAL CRACK HOUSES AND BROTHELS.
AND SO I PRETTY MUCH STARTED LIVING A DOUBLE LIFE.
GAINING THE TRUST OF EVERYBODY ON THE STREETS,
WE COULD FIND THE UNDERAGE GIRLS.
MY GOAL, MY MOTIVE WAS JUST TO FIND ALI.
Narrator: OVER A PERIOD OF FOUR WEEKS,
CAMMACK POSES AS A STREET PERSON
WHO'S LOOKING TO SELL SEX OR BUY DRUGS.
ONCE SHE SENSES SHE'S BEEN ACCEPTED,
SHE STARTS ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT ALI.
THERE WAS AN UNDERCOVER COP
THAT PRETENDED TO BE A PEDOPHILE.
I'M STANDING THERE, I GO "HEY, DO YOU KNOW THIS GIRL?"
Narrator: THE OFFICER DOESN'T YET KNOW AMBER
IS ALSO WORKING UNDER COVER.
Cammack: AND HE GOES "YEAH, THAT'S ALI CATS."
NO ONE KNEW THAT ALI'S NICKNAME ACTUALLY WAS ALI CAT.
HE GOES, "I KNEW SHE WAS FROM TEXAS
BUT I DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS MISSING."
Narrator: CAMMACK SAYS FINDING ALI CAT
COULD BE A PROMISING LEAD, BUT SHE KNOWS SHE'LL NEED MORE
TO BRING BACK TO JOHN AND JO ANN.
IN LATE NOVEMBER, 2012, COLUMBUS POLICE STEER CAMMACK
TO A PROSTITUTE NAMED AMY
WHO WORKS WITH DETECTIVES AS AN INFORMANT.
CAMMACK SHOWS AMY A PHOTO OF ALI LOWITZER.
Cammack: DO YOU KNOW THIS GIRL, THEY'RE LIKE "YEAH, THAT'S ALI."
SHE WAS ABLE TO GIVE SOME PERSONAL DETAILS.
Narrator: AMY RECALLS A SCAR ON ALI'S FOREHEAD,
AND ALSO REFERS TO HER AS ALI CAT.
IN EXCHANGE FOR MONEY, CAMMACK ASKS AMY TO TAKE HER
TO ALI SO SHE CAN SEE FOR HERSELF.
I WENT WITH AMY INSIDE THESE HOUSES.
NOW THE POLICE WERE ALL SUPPLYING US
WITH PRESCRIPTION DRUGS TO GET THE DRUG DEALERS
BASICALLY TO MAKE A DEAL SO WE COULD GET INTO THESE HOUSES.
Narrator: AS AMBER WALKS THROUGH THE DRUG DEN,
SHE LOOKS AROUND AT THE DIFFERENT WOMEN,
AND SEES A YOUNG GIRL WHO LOOKS JUST LIKE
THE PHOTOS SHE'S SEEN OF ALI.
IT'S LIKE MY EYES IMMEDIATELY WENT TO HER.
I KNEW THAT IT WAS THE GIRL THAT WE HAD BEEN CHASING,
BUT I HAD NO WAY TO ACCESS HER.
Narrator: CONVINCED THAT SHE'S SEEN
THE LOWITZER'S DAUGHTER,
AMBER HEADS BACK TO TEXAS, AND BRINGS JOHN AND JO ANN
UP TO SPEED ON HER INVESTIGATION.
WHEN JO ANN HEARD ALI CAT, SHE GOES
"OH MY GOD. THAT'S HER NICKNAME."
Narrator: JOHN IS INTRIGUED BY AMY'S DESCRIPTION
OF THE SCAR ON ALI CAT'S FOREHEAD.
ALI HAD A CHICKEN POX SCAR LOCATED BETWEEN HER EYES.
THAT DECEMBER, HOPING THAT THEY WILL SOON BE REUNITED
WITH THEIR LONG-LOST DAUGHTER, JOHN AND JO ANN FLY WITH CAMMACK
TO COLUMBUS, OHIO.
I WENT ON THE PREMISE THAT MAYBE IT IS TRUE.
WE HAVE TO LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED,
SO IT WASN'T GOING TO HURT ANYTHING,
AND IF IT BECAME A RECOVERY MISSION,
THEN IT WOULD BE A WIN.
Narrator: IN COLUMBUS, CAMMACK INTRODUCES
JOHN AND JO ANN TO AMY.
TOGETHER, THEY DEVISE A STRATEGY TO RESCUE ALI FROM THE BROTHEL.
THE GAME PLAN AT THAT TIME WAS TO TRY TO BUY HER BACK.
Narrator: BUT THEY WILL NEED HELP.
CAMMACK BRINGS HER FINDINGS BACK TO THE DETECTIVES
SHE'S BEEN WORKING WITH OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS.
IT'S ENOUGH TO GET A WARRANT AND BACKUP FROM POLICE.
THE LOWITZERS RETURN TO TEXAS
WHILE AMBER STAYS AND PREPARES FOR HER MISSION.
BY JANUARY 2013, THE OPERATION TO RECOVER ALI IS READY TO GO.
WITH THE SWAT TEAM WAITING IN THE WINGS AROUND THE CORNER
AMBER RE-ENTERS THE CRACK HOUSE,
WEARING A WIRE, POSING AS A MADAME.
IT'S PRETTY DANG TRAUMATIZING, YOU KNOW,
GOING THROUGH THERE FOR SOMEONE,
"WHAT THE HELL DID I GET MYSELF INTO?"
♪
Narrator: BY JANUARY 2013, 16-YEAR-OLD ALI LOWITZER
HAS BEEN MISSING FOR THREE YEARS,
AND PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR, AMBER CAMMACK,
BELIEVES SHE COULD HAVE BEEN SEX TRAFFICKED
FROM HER HOME TOWN IN TEXAS TO COLUMBUS, OHIO.
NOW CAMMACK IS ENTERING A CRACK HOUSE
DISGUISED AS A MADAME IN A RUSE
TO RESCUE ALI FROM HER ALLEGED CAPTORS.
I WAS AFRAID FOR AMBER'S LIFE BECAUSE I KNEW
THAT SHE COULD BE KILLED IF THEY FOUND OUT
WHY SHE WAS THERE.
Narrator: JO ANN AND JOHN ARE WAITING
BACK AT HOME IN TEXAS, PRAYING FOR THE SAFE RETURN
OF THEIR CHERISHED DAUGHTER.
John: I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO FEEL.
IT COULD BE A MISTAKE OR IT COULD BE TRUE.
AND SO WE HAD NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO TRY TO PROVE IT.
Narrator: THROUGH AMBER'S WIRE, COLUMBUS POLICE
HEAR CONFIRMATION THAT A DEAL IS BEING MADE
AND THEY RAID THE HOUSE.
Cammack: BASICALLY THEY TOLD ME WHEN YOU HEAR KNOCKERS,
YOU HIT THE FLOOR AND YOU DON'T LOOK BACK UP,
SO YOU COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING. ALL YOU HEARD WAS GUNFIRE.
[ GUNFIRE ]
Narrator: S.W.A.T. MAKES SEVERAL ARRESTS
FOR PROMOTING PROSTITUTION
WHILE SEIZING ILLEGAL DRUGS AND WEAPONS.
THE RAID SUCCEEDS IN RESCUING EIGHT WOMEN
WHO HAD BEEN TRAFFICKED AND FORCED INTO THE SEX TRADE,
BUT ALI LOWITZER IS NOT AMONG THEM.
I ALREADY KNEW SHE WASN'T THERE,
BECAUSE WE HAD GONE THROUGH ALL THE HOUSE
AND I DIDN'T SEE HER.
CAMMACK STILL THINKS SHE SAW ALI IN THIS SAME HOUSE
THE MONTH BEFORE, BUT THAT HER CAPTORS
MAY HAVE BEEN TIPPED OFF
BEFORE AUTHORITIES ARRIVED ON THE SCENE.
♪
Cammack: THESE HUMAN TRAFFICKERS,
THEY GET WIND OF THE POLICE
BEFORE THE POLICE EVEN HIT THE NEIGHBORHOOD,
AND THEY'RE DRIVING IN, AND THEY HAD SWITCHED UP
ALL THE GIRLS IN THE HOUSES.
JOHN AND JO ANN SAY THEY HAD LET THEMSELVES
BELIEVE THAT ALI MIGHT BE COMING HOME,
SO THE NEWS FROM AMBER IS A CRUSHING BLOW.
Jo Ann: GETTING THE PHONE CALL SAYING
THAT ALI WASN'T IN THAT HOUSE, IT WAS DEVASTATING.
I HAD REALLY LET MY HOPES GET HIGH,
AND BEING LET DOWN, YOU KNOW, I TOLD MYSELF I WAS NEVER
GONNA GET THAT HIGH AGAIN.
Cammack: JO ANN LOVES HER DAUGHTER,
JUST LIKE I LOVE MINE.
YOU BECOME SO CLOSE WITH THEM
THAT IT'S ALMOST LIKE FINDING YOUR OWN FAMILY.
AND IT WAS LIKE LOSING HER AGAIN.
Narrator: FIVE MORE YEARS PASS WITH
NO NEW LEADS IN ALI'S DISAPPEARANCE.
THE LOWITZERS ENDURE MORE FAMILY BIRTHDAYS
AND HOLIDAYS WITHOUT HER.
HER BROTHER MASON HAS MOVED TO SEATTLE.
ALI'S FRIENDS FROM HIGH SCHOOL ARE ALL GROWN UP NOW.
I'LL SEE MY FRIENDS WHO ARE GETTING MARRIED
AND THEY HAVE BRIDESMAID'S PICTURES
AND I THINK, "IT COULD HAVE BEEN ALI,"
OR, "THAT COULD BE US RIGHT NOW."
Narrator: JO ANN REFUSES TO DISRUPT ALI'S ROOM.
IT REMAINS EXACTLY AS IT WAS WHEN SHE LEFT
FOR SCHOOL THAT MONDAY MORNING.
Jo Ann: [Crying] EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY IN HERE,
IT DEFINITELY SCREAMS ALI AND WHO SHE IS AS A PERSON
AND HER PASSION AND HER CREATIVITY IS ALL AROUND YOU
AND YOU JUST KNOW WHO SHE IS AS A PERSON
AND WHO SHE WANTED TO BE ONE DAY.
AS THE YEARS HAVE GONE BY, I JUST CAN'T --
I CAN'T TOUCH IT, I CAN'T CHANGE IT.
FOR ME, THAT WOULD BE PART OF ADMITTING
THAT MAYBE SHE MIGHT NOT COME HOME ONE DAY.
♪
Narrator: PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR AMBER CAMMACK
IS STILL CONVINCED ALI HAS BEEN TRAFFICKED,
AND WAS, AT LEAST AT SOME POINT, IN COLUMBUS OHIO.
BUT DETECTIVE CHRIS COOKE RUNS ALI'S FINGERPRINTS
THROUGH NUMEROUS CRIMINAL DATABASES
AND HE SAYS THE LACK OF ANY POSITIVE RESULT
MAKES HIM QUESTION CAMMACK'S THEORY.
WE SENT IT OUT FAIRLY WELL, INTERPOL, EVERYTHING,
TO SEE IF MAYBE SHE HAD BEEN ARRESTED
FOR A FORGED CHECK OR ANYTHING.
AGAIN IF SHE'S TRAFFICKED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES
I WOULD THINK THAT EVENTUALLY THINGS LEAK,
PEOPLE GET OUT, PEOPLE MAKE MISTAKES,
SHOPLIFT, WHO KNOWS WHAT?
AND IT WAS NOTHING.
Narrator: ACCORDING TO DETECTIVE COOKE,
HIS INVESTIGATION IS CURRENTLY AT A STANDSTILL,
WAITING FOR A SOLID LEAD TO MATERIALIZE.
THIS CASE BEGINS AND ENDS
RIGHT THERE WHERE SHE GOT OFF THE BUS.
WE WOULD LOVE FOR SOMETHING VIABLE TO RUN ON,
BUT RECENTLY, I HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANYTHING VIABLE.
Narrator: MORE THAN ANYTHING
JO ANN AND JOHN LOWITZER YEARN FOR ANSWERS.
THEY SAY THEY REFUSE TO BELIEVE
THAT THEIR 16-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER JUST DISAPPEARED
WITHOUT ANYBODY SEEING WHAT HAPPENED TO HER.
♪
SO MUCH TIME HAS PASSED.
IT'S BEEN ALMOST EIGHT YEARS.
IT STILL HURTS.
IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THAT THE PICTURES
FROM THE BUS WHEN SHE WAS GETTING ON AND OFF THE BUS
ARE THE LAST ONES THAT I HAVE OF HER.
AND IT KILLS ME,
AS HER FATHER, THAT THE DAY THAT THAT HAPPENED
THAT I WASN'T THERE TO PROTECT HER.
Narrator: THE LOWITZERS SAY THEY'RE CERTAIN
THAT SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE, KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED
TO ALI AND WHERE SHE IS,
AND THEY WILL DO ANYTHING TO FIND THOSE ANSWERS.
♪
Jo Ann: FINDING MY DAUGHTER WOULD CHANGE MY ENTIRE LIFE.
YOU WANT TO PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN, YOU KNOW?
AT THE SAME TIME, YOU HAVE TO GIVE THEM
THE FREEDOM TO GROW,
BUT WHEN YOU ALLOW THEM THESE FREEDOMS,
IT ALLOWS IN THE EVIL.
IF THERE'S ANY ONE REGRET IN MY LIFE,
IT'S THAT GIVING THAT ONE LITTLE INCH.
♪
I WOULDN'T BE SITTING HERE RIGHT NOW,
YOU KNOW, I WOULD HAVE MY DAUGHTER.
Narrator: IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION
ABOUT ALI LOWITZER, OR HER DISAPPEARANCE,
PLEASE CONTACT THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
AT 713-274-9100.