In the winter of 1987, a family's concern grew for a loved one who had seemingly vanished without a trace. Male Charles Southern Jr., a 39-year-old English professor at a community college in Chicago, Illinois, was last heard from on December 1, 1987. He had told his mother of his plans to travel to India for two weeks during his college's winter break. When he declined her offer to visit him before his trip, he mentioned that he was simply not feeling well. That phone call would be their last communication. After his scheduled return date passed with no word, his worried family went to his home to check on him, only to be met with an unsettling scene that deepened the mystery of his disappearance.
The hope of finding Charles safely returned from his travels was quickly extinguished by the discoveries inside his residence. His passport was found inside the house, containing no entry stamps from India, indicating he had never left the country. The scene within his home was laden with strange and symbolic items. His winter dress hat and coat were found folded inside-out and placed on a ceremonial stool, a gesture his family would later learn was a Nigerian tribal symbol for death. Investigators also located two poorly-written notes that appeared to be wills, as well as a vial containing a substance similar to the poison curare. These findings suggested a planned disappearance, but the circumstances surrounding his life at the time pointed toward more complex possibilities.
Prior to his disappearance, Charles had experienced a period of emotional distress, having been found wandering the streets of Chicago speaking incoherently, which led to a hospitalization. He was a prominent member of a spiritual organization called Conscious Development of Body, Mind and Soul, founded by Terri Hoffman. This group, which many considered to be a cult, saw Charles rise in status to the point where he was teaching classes and leading meditation groups. Although friends noted that he seemed disenchanted with Hoffman after his hospitalization, he remained an active member. The discovery that Hoffman was named in the apparent wills found in his apartment raised further questions, as she denied any involvement in his disappearance. The case is complicated by the fact that nearly a dozen of Hoffman's associates died under untimely circumstances over the years, with Hoffman often being a beneficiary. Authorities have been unable to determine if Charles chose to leave on his own, suffered another emotional breakdown, or if other forces were involved. His case remains an unsolved and deeply troubling mystery.
Last Seen: Dec 01, 1987
