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Davis returned with a direct question about business partners. Doris remembered Charles meeting several times with a man who owned a trucking company. She saw them talking in a car near their house late at night. Doris could not remember the name, but recalled seeing Collins written on a truck parked nearby. Davis checked records and found Collins Trucking, which operated in Augusta in 1987, owned by James Collins.
Davis ran background checks on James Collins. In 1985, Collins was 42. His company’s office stood three blocks from the Thompson home. In 1992, Collins was arrested for fraud, serving three years. After release, he moved to Atlanta. By 2014, he was 71. The journalist drove to Atlanta and located Collins at a small house.
The man agreed to talk. Davis did not immediately mention the Thompson case, presenting himself as writing about Augusta businesses in the 80s. Collins discussed his company and challenges. Then Davis mentioned Captain Harris’s name. Collins visibly tensed. Davis spoke directly, explaining he had financial documents showing Harris spent more than he officially earned in April 1987.
Around that time, Harris closed the case of two missing 17-year-old twins and destroyed investigation materials. Collins’s office was three blocks from their home. Harris’s widow remembered her husband meeting with Collins Trucking’s owner in March 1987. A long silence followed. Collins turned pale and said he would not speak to a journalist.
Davis responded he could publish what he knew or Collins could tell the truth. The family had waited 30 years for answers. Collins sat quietly, then spoke about living with a crushing burden his entire life. He almost went to police in 1995. When his wife died in 2010, he wondered if it was punishment, but fear proved stronger.
Now at 71, with children barely speaking to him and no money, what did he have to lose? Perhaps his conscience could finally be clear. Collins stated if he spoke, it would only be to police after understanding legal consequences. Davis asked if Collins knew what happened. Collins looked down and nodded. Davis asked if he knew where they were. Collins nodded again.
He said to arrange a meeting with the prosecutor. He would give testimony after understanding the legal situation. Davis returned to Augusta and delivered all information to police. Detective Kevin Johnson opened an official investigation. He contacted the prosecutor who analyzed the situation.