A security guard disappears after his car is torched in an arson fire.
CASE DETAILS For 10 years, Curtis Pishon cherished his career as a police officer. Then he was stricken with multiple sclerosis, a painful muscular disorder that severely limited his mobility. The disease progressed to the point where Curtis could no longer fire his gun accurately. He had no choice but to turn in his badge. His brother, Mark Pishon, believed this devastated Curtis:
According to his family, Curtis became depressed and withdrawn. But when he got a job as a factory security guard in Seabrook, New Hampshire, his self-esteem slowly returned. On the night of July 5, 2000, everything seemed normal. Curtis was already well into his shift when at 1:42 AM, he called Seabrook firefighters complaining that his car was on fire. Jeff Brown, a Deputy Chief at the Seabrook Fire Department, was on call that night:
After interviewing Curtis, Deputy Chief Brown found him to be very accepting that his car had been torched. This was puzzling to his brother Mark because Curtis had the odd habit of using his car to store what he treasured most:
After the fire was extinguished, the factory’s security supervisor checked on Curtis. He appeared to be alright. Then 20 minutes later, at 3:45 AM, a factory worker noticed that Curtis was missing. An exhaustive search of the factory and the surrounding area turned up nothing. Curtis’ brother, Nicolas Pishon Jr., immediately suspected the worst:
Curtis had recently purchased a 9-millimeter gun from his father, so suicide seemed like a likely theory. However, police found no trace of the gun in his car or apartment. Investigators next focused on the possibility that Curtis had a mental breakdown. They believed Curtis accidentally started the fire, and then became so despondent over losing his prize possessions, that he simply walked away. Nicholas Pishon disagreed with that theory:
It was also possible that Curtis called for a taxi or hitched a ride on a truck leaving the factory. But investigators discovered that no cabs or company trucks left the plant during his shift. That left a disturbing possibility for investigators–Curtis Pishon was abducted or even worse, murdered. While exploring the possibility of foul play, investigators found that a door and two vending machines inside the factory where Curtis worked were damaged during his shift. But no one knows who caused the damage. For Nicholas Pishon, any possibility that his brother is alive has faded:
The case remains unsolved but Curtis’ family and friends hope he will someday be found. Watch this case now on Amazon Prime in season eleven with Robert Stack and in season three with Dennis Farina. Also available on YouTube with Dennis Farina. Various seasons available now on Hulu. SUBMIT A TIP |
Blue bird
I think Curtis was murdered because he knew too much!!!!
June
Facebook page for Curtis Pishon:
https://www.facebook.com/Curt-Pishon-They-Need-Answers-108874788120197/?ref=pages_you_manage
Emily
To Adam: in that episode, they state that the gun *was* found in his home, which is why suicide kept seeming more and more unlikely, along with the fact that it’s difficult to imagine him being able to kill himself in a manner that hid his body.
Nancy Drew
Not understanding why Robert April hasn’t been properly investigated, or why investigators haven’t scoured more than just a few basements or backyards! We all understand that investigations are not free, but we are talking about a loss of life that was worth more than the cost of an investigation. Just as important, if April IS guilty of murder, (it is well known that he has a history of physically aggressive behavior), What’s to stop him from killing again?
Adam
Maybe I’m just confused by the phrasing, but why was suicide deemed not to be a viable explanation just because the gun they assumed he used wasn’t found in his apartment or car? Why would it be? Wouldn’t it..ya know…be with his body, which obviously wasn’t in his apartment or car?
Anonymous
I Get THE Taxi, and the Taxi driver, led to his demise, sorry, I see the driver took him to a remote place, sort of end of a road, and bet him, the drive was a old foe, from 9yrs and 3 days, 12 days, 17, days, and it goes on, many run in with him. if it is the same case I see him at the end of the road and a protection to stop any car to go over the cliff, and he the victim was flung off the cliff.
Georgia
Puff much!?!
Main mystery
The damage to the vending machine may seem like an innocuous crime but it could be more important to the story than one might expect. The mafia often has a large stake in the vending and juke box business especially back then. Hoods will often rob and vandalize rival machines not only for a quick buck but more so to intimidate and muscle in on their routes. It is at least a possibility Curt witnessed something like this and they torched his car to intimidate him. Then he either saw these guys mean business and beat feet out of town or the suspects decided to leave no loose ends and snatched him up. The thing is I don’t know how prevalent the mafia is in seabrook, NH haha.
n/a
What is on South Main Street??
Harriet
R.A. is on South Main Street
Harriet
Has anyone from your team looked into the Albany, NY sighting? If so, why hasn’t it been posted or updated? It’s been a couple of months
unsolved
Hi Harriet – we passed the tip on to the authorities handling the case. We have not heard any new information from them unfortunately.
Harriet
There are people in prison doing time for crimes they didn’t commit. The person of interest in this case was reported to the Seabrook Police for admitting that he killed Curtis and wasn’t afraid to do it again. Fearful of the consequences, the reporter recanted. Everyone who knows this person of interest knows that he’s mentally unstable and they’re afraid to come forward
Tj
I saw someone that looks like him last night. He is around age 55 with severe scoliosis. Working as a manager at The Outback on Wolf Road Albany NY. I think it would be worth checking out…
unsolved
Thank you TJ – we have passed your tip on to the authorities handling this case.
ToniAnn
What episode of unsolved mysteries talks about this I’m newly friends with the family and they were talking about it and my I’m interested in learning more about it
Anonymous
Investigators next focused on the possibility that Curtis had a mental breakdown, Becuse of using drugs, cocaine, and he was to be a mule.
South Main sounds correct
Occam’s razor. Simplest explanation is always correct. Let’s do some more digging…literally.
Taylor
I hope they find him if he’s still out there somewhere, but the reality of the case looks as if he was unfortunately murdered.
A
The answer is still on South Main Street.
Anonymous
Where and how do you know this?
Anonymous
Who are you and why do you say that?
Harriet
Sure is!!!
Meh
Was he blackmailed? Do they know if he was in trouble with someone? Maybe he got the gun to protect himself from someone and he was happy that he could live another day. Then that night, he didn’t bring his gun because he felt safe. Maybe the blackmailer threatened to first burn his car then kidnap him. (Something along those lines maybe) Maybe when he saw his car on fire and his possessions inside of it, he thought that his time was up and he knew he would die, so he just let them have him. Maybe the broken vending machine and all that were a sign that we’re here.
absurd
If you are so smart and know who did it solve it. …The police are pointing fingers in this individuals face because they don’t want anyone to know that the allowed the real suspects to drive right of the property….There was a car with a bunch of people seen recklessly driving off the property that evening that was never pursued. …why not….
RyeGuy
The notion Curt simply walked off is, at this point, pretty absurd. Curt was murdered plain and simple. The sad thing is, if you’ve followed the story for the past 14 years, it seems pretty clear the Pishon family and the Seabrook police department know exactly who did it but have no direct evidence and no one brave enough to come forward with a statement. It’s a shame but hopefully someday there will be resolution.