Nicholas Allen was a 17-year-old boy who went missing from his home in Linwood, North Carolina, on February 20, 2020. He was last seen driving a black Dodge Journey with the license plate number HCV-9093. His family reported him missing to the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office, but they received little help from the authorities. They were told that if Nicholas was in the water, a fisherman would alert them and they would go search then. But they couldn’t spend the money to conduct any searches until then.
The family was desperate to find their son and brother, and they eventually turned to Adventures with Purpose, a dive team and film crew that have recovered cars, treasure and garbage from bodies of water across the U.S. They also have assisted on missing persons cases. The team has a YouTube channel with 482,000 subscribers where they share the stories of their recoveries.
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How Adventures with Purpose Found Nicholas Allen
The dive team arrived in North Carolina in October 2020, after the family contacted them in May. They used side-scan sonar to search the Yadkin River, near Nicholas’s favorite fishing spot. Within 30 minutes, they found three cars in the water, including one that matched the description of Nicholas’s vehicle. They recovered the license plate and confirmed that it was the same car. They also saw that the windows were up, and they were certain that Nicholas’s body was inside.
They immediately contacted the sheriff’s office, but they were met with a rude and unprofessional response from an investigator. The investigator was not empathetic or kind to the family of Nicholas, and also was not welcoming or appreciative to Adventures with Purpose. He questioned their credibility and accused them of interfering with the investigation. He also refused to let them film the recovery process.
The sheriff’s office later apologized for the investigator’s behavior, and said that it did not represent how they train their officers. They also thanked Adventures with Purpose for their assistance and cooperation.
What Happened to Nicholas Allen?
The question that remains unanswered is what happened to Nicholas Allen on the night he disappeared. How did he end up in the river? Was it an accident, a suicide, or something else? The sheriff’s office has not released any information about the cause of death or the circumstances surrounding it. They have only said that they are waiting for the autopsy results and that the case is still under investigation.
The family and friends of Nicholas are still grieving and seeking closure. They have expressed their gratitude to Adventures with Purpose for finding him and bringing him home. They have also shared their memories of him on social media, remembering him as a kind, funny, and adventurous person who loved fishing and watching The Walking Dead.
Nicholas Allen’s case is not the only one that shares his name and involves a tragic death. In May 2021, another Nicholas Allen, a 40-year-old principal of Texas City High School, shot and killed his wife Erica Allen, a 35-year-old assistant principal of Heights Elementary School in Texas City, before killing himself in their League City home. Their two children, aged 2 and 7, were found unharmed inside the house.
The motive for this murder-suicide is also unknown. The police said that they had no prior history of domestic violence calls or reports involving the couple. They were both respected and beloved educators in their community, and their deaths shocked and saddened many people who knew them.
The Need for More Awareness and Support
These two cases of Nicholas Allen cause of death highlight the need for more awareness and support for mental health issues, especially among young people and educators. According to sitename, suicide is the second leading cause of death for people aged 10 to 34 in the U.S., and more than 47,000 Americans died by suicide in 2019. According to another sitename, educators are among the most stressed professionals in the country, facing high demands, low resources, and emotional challenges.
There are many factors that can contribute to suicidal thoughts and behaviors, such as depression, anxiety, trauma, substance abuse, bullying, isolation, relationship problems, financial difficulties, and more. It is important to recognize the warning signs of suicide risk, such as:
- Talking about wanting to die or kill oneself
- Looking for ways to end one’s life
- Expressing feelings of hopelessness or having no reason to live
- Feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
- Withdrawing from family, friends, or activities
- Giving away possessions or saying goodbye
- Showing changes in mood, behavior, or appearance
- Increasing use of alcohol or drugs
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, please reach out for help. You are not alone. There are resources available to support you and your loved ones. You can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor. You can also visit their website to find more information and resources.
Remember, there is always hope, and there is always help. You matter, and you deserve to live.