On a summer evening in August 1978, seventeen-year-old Ernest Taylor vanished from Newark, New Jersey, along with four of his friends: Randy Johnson, Michael McDowell, Melvin Pittman, and Alvin Turner. The group of teenagers, who would become known as the 'Clinton Avenue Five,' were last seen together after playing basketball in a local park. They were reportedly offered odd jobs by a local carpenter, Lee Anthony Evans, and were seen getting into his pickup truck.
Evans later told police he had dropped the boys off, but they were never seen or heard from again. The disappearance of the five boys launched a case that would remain a painful mystery for their families and the community for decades.
For years, the investigation into the disappearance of Ernest Taylor and his friends yielded few answers. The case was initially treated by some as a runaway situation, a theory the boys' families vehemently disputed, stating it was uncharacteristic of their sons. The contractor who was last seen with them was questioned and passed a polygraph test, leading the case to grow cold. The families were left in a state of agonizing uncertainty, with no solid leads to follow. The Social Security numbers of the missing teenagers were never used, and none of them ever applied for a driver's license, deepening the fear that they had met with foul play. Decades passed, and with them, the hope of finding the boys alive dwindled, though the quest for justice and closure never fully ceased.
A significant break in the case finally came in 2008 when a witness came forward with information. This new lead led to the arrests of Lee Anthony Evans and his cousin, Philander Hampton, in 2010. They were charged with five counts of murder and arson. Authorities alleged that the teenagers were lured to an unoccupied house, restrained at gunpoint, and left inside as the building was set on fire. The motive was believed to be retaliation for a stolen quantity of marijuana. Hampton eventually pleaded guilty to felony murder and agreed to testify against Evans in exchange for a 10-year prison sentence. Despite Hampton's confession and testimony, Evans, who represented himself at trial, was acquitted of the charges. A third suspect had passed away before charges could be brought against him. The remains of Ernest Taylor and his four friends have never been found. The case of the Clinton Avenue Five is a heartbreaking saga of five young lives cut short and a search for answers that, for many, remains unresolved.Last Seen: Aug 20, 1978
