Swayze Lake

They had money, respect, and two beautiful little boys.

They decided to take a holiday down to Swayze Lake in St. Landry Parish, looking to catch some fish and escape the punishing summer heat.

Little Bobby was just four years old, a bright-eyed, blond-haired cherub who was running around the camp, chasing whatever caught his fancy.

One minute, he was laughing, his bare feet slapping against the damp earth.

Hundreds of men waded through the water with torches and shotguns.

When they couldn't find a body, they got desperate.

They started throwing sticks of dynamite into Swayze Lake, hoping the shockwaves would float the boy's body to the surface.

When that didn't work, they started hunting the alligators.

They had money, respect, and two beautiful little boys.

They decided to take a holiday down to Swayze Lake in St. Landry Parish, looking to catch some fish and escape the punishing summer heat.

Little Bobby was just four years old, a bright-eyed, blonde-haired cherub who was running around the camp, chasing whatever caught his fancy.

One minute, he was laughing, his bare feet slapping against the damp earth.

Hundreds of men waded through the water with torches and shotguns.

When they couldn't find a body, they got desperate.

They started throwing sticks of dynamite into Swayze Lake, hoping the shockwaves would float the boy's body to the surface.

When that didn't work, they started hunting the alligators.

This would prove to be a mistake that marked the beginning of a mystery that would last for more than 90 years.

Everything that led up to this point began the previous year on August 23rd, 1912 at Swayze Lake, which is a swampy fishing area near Opelousa.

Percy and Lessie Dunbar had gone there with their two sons, four-wheeled Bobby and his younger brother Alonzo.

Not much is known about what exactly happened next, but at some point during the family's stay, Bobby wandered away from his family unnoticed and vanished.

After finding the footprints, the search rapidly became more desperate.

Men began dragging the lake and using dynamite in hopes that an explosion might force a submerged body to the surface.

Alligators, of which there were many in Swayze Lake, were even caught, killed and cut open to determine whether one of them had eaten the boy.

The surrounding woods, camps and waterways were examined repeatedly, but no remains were found.

They had money, respect, and two beautiful little boys.

They decided to take a holiday down to Swayze Lake in St. Landry Parish, looking to catch some fish and escape the punishing summer heat.

Little Bobby was just four years old.

A bright-eyed, blonde-haired cherub who was running around the camp, chasing whatever caught his fancy.

Hundreds of men waded through the water with torches and shotguns.

When they couldn't find a body, they got desperate.

They started throwing sticks of dynamite into Swayze Lake, hoping the shock waves would float the boy's body to the surface.

When that didn't work, they started hunting the alligators.

They had money, respect, and two beautiful little boys.

They decided to take a holiday down to Swayze Lake in St. Landry Parish, looking to catch some fish and escape the punishing summer heat.

Little Bobby was just four years old.

A bright-eyed, blonde-haired cherub who was running around the camp, chasing whatever caught his fancy.

Hundreds of men waded through the water with torches and shotguns.

When they couldn't find a body, they got desperate.

They started throwing sticks of dynamite into Swayze Lake, hoping the shock waves would float the boy's body to the surface.

When that didn't work, they started hunting the alligators.

They had money, respect, and two beautiful little boys.

They decided to take a holiday down to Swayze Lake in St. Landry Parish, looking to catch some fish and escape the punishing summer heat.

Little Bobby was just four years old.

A bright-eyed, blonde-haired cherub who was running around the camp, chasing whatever caught his fancy.

Hundreds of men waded through the water with torches and shotguns.

When they couldn't find a body, they got desperate.

They started throwing sticks of dynamite into Swayze Lake, hoping the shockwaves would float the boy's body to the surface.

When that didn't work, they started hunting the alligators.