ABOUT THIS EPISODE
In August 1976, ten-year-old Angelo “Andy” Puglisi walked into Higgins Memorial Pool in Lawrence, Massachusetts, just like countless other children on a hot summer afternoon. He never came home.
Nearly fifty years later, Andy's disappearance remains one of New England's most haunting unsolved mysteries. Despite one of the largest search efforts in Lawrence history involving thousands of volunteers, law enforcement, search dogs, divers, and the National Guard, no trace of Andy was ever found.
In this episode of Extinguished, David McClam and LaDonna Humphrey examine the events surrounding Andy's final known day, the massive community search that followed, and the decades-long quest for answers. They explore the witness accounts, investigative theories, and controversial individuals whose names have become linked to the case over the years, including Wayne Chapman and Charles Pierce.
The episode also highlights the extraordinary work of Melanie Perkins, Andy's childhood friend, who dedicated years of her life to keeping his story alive through research, interviews, and documentary work. Her determination helped ensure that Andy would not become just another forgotten name in an old missing persons file.
At its heart, this is not simply a story about suspects or theories. It is a story about a little boy who vanished, a family left without answers, and a community that has refused to forget.
Nearly five decades later, the questions remain:
What happened to Andy after he left the pool?
Who knows the truth?
And will the answers ever be found?
If you have information regarding the disappearance of Angelo "Andy" Puglisi, please contact law enforcement in Massachusetts.
Because every missing child deserves to be remembered, and every family deserves answers.
