Ep 5. Every Mother's Son

Every Mother's Son is the fifth episode of the eighth season of Disappeared, a true crime television series that documents the mysterious disappearance of people. The episode follows the case of 37-year-old Richard Petrone and 34-year-old Danielle Imbo, who vanished after leaving a bar on South Street in Philadelphia on February 19, 2005.

The episode begins with eyewitness testimonies that place Richard and Danielle leaving the bar together around 11:45 pm. Richard was driving his black 2001 Dodge Dakota, and Danielle was in the passenger seat. They were heading towards Richard's home in South Jersey after spending the evening with friends. However, they never made it there. When they didn't show up at Richard's home, their families began to worry.

The next day, Richard and Danielle's families filed missing persons reports with the Philadelphia Police Department. The authorities began to investigate their disappearance immediately, but they found no leads. The episode details the tireless work of detectives who interviewed friends, family members, and patrons of the bar. They also searched the Delaware River, where Richard's truck could have fallen in, but they found no clues.

As the days turned into weeks, then months and years, Richard and Danielle's families' hopes of finding them alive dwindled. However, they remained steadfast in their efforts to bring their loved ones home. The episode features heart-wrenching interviews with Richard and Danielle's family members, who recount their painful journey of searching for them.

The families also hired private investigators and conducted their own searches. They put up flyers around the city, created billboards with their pictures, and offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to Richard and Danielle's whereabouts. However, there were no credible leads.

The episode also delves into the lives of Richard and Danielle, who were both parents of young children. We learn that Richard worked as a computer technician, and Danielle was a pharmaceutical sales representative. They were described as loving parents, family-oriented, and loyal friends.

Theories about Richard and Danielle's disappearance began to emerge. Some speculated that they were involved in the drug trade or that Richard was murdered for reasons unknown. Others believed that they had left voluntarily, possibly to start a new life together. However, there were no concrete evidence to support any of these theories.

Years went by without any answers until the case took an unexpected turn in 2018. The episode details the startling discovery of human remains in a grave in a rural part of Camden County, New Jersey. The remains were found during a routine audit of the cemetery, where Richard's parents had purchased plots to bury him and Danielle if they were ever found.

DNA testing confirmed that the remains belonged to Richard and Danielle, and their families finally received closure. However, their deaths were ruled homicides, and the investigation into their deaths is ongoing.

In conclusion, Every Mother's Son is a heartbreaking episode of Disappeared that showcases the emotional toll of missing loved ones. The episode highlights the tireless efforts of law enforcement and the families of Richard Petrone and Danielle Imbo in searching for answers. While their deaths were devastating, their families can now rest assured that they have been found, and justice is being sought.