Introducing Chameleon: Wild Boys

Summary

Wild Boys: A Detailed Summary

Wild Boys is a compelling episode from The Binge series, hosted by Sam Mullins and produced by Campside Media in collaboration with Sony Music Entertainment. Released on July 7, 2022, this episode delves into the mysterious story of two brothers who emerged from the wilderness in 2003, captivating a small Canadian community with their tale of survival. However, as Sam Mullins uncovers, the truth behind their story was far more sinister and complex than anyone could have imagined.

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1. The Mysterious Arrival in Vernon (00:01 – 01:27)

In the summer of 2003, Vernon, British Columbia, a serene town known for its skiing, beaches, and hockey, became the unlikely setting for an extraordinary event. Sam Mullins recounts his personal experience as a teenager working at a video rental store:

"There are these two boys walking through the orange haze along the shoreline who I'd never seen before. And as it turned out, neither had anyone else." [00:01]

The emergence of these two boys puzzled the community. Sam describes Vernon as a town that "didn't get FM radio until the year 2001," making it an ideal place to conceal secrets. The boys were consistently seen together—barely clothed, without a home, and seemingly out of place.

Tom: "These two wild children appear in our community. They're always together, they're never apart, rags on their back and they don't have a home." [01:01]

2. Community Reactions and Early Observations (01:27 – 02:17)

The townspeople of Vernon were intrigued and concerned by the boys' presence. Sam notes that even among the observant residents, something felt "off" about them.

Rachel: "I don't want to say cult-like, but it just seemed weird. It just wasn't normal. I had no idea what was going on with those two. One just looked so, he was just so emaciated." [01:28]

Tom adds:

"They were kind of odd." [01:27]

The community speculated about the boys' origins:

Tom: "Never seen a telephone, no access to media. They were unfamiliar with television. They were like almost non-existent. You know, it was like finding the lost tribe in New Guinea." [02:03]

3. The Boys' Story and Community Support (02:17 – 02:45)

Responding to the boys' plight, Vernon residents extended their support. The boys claimed they were from the bush, having had no contact with civilization, school, or modern amenities.

Sam Mullins: "The boys said this was their first ever contact with civilization. So the good people of Vernon took them in, made it their mission to help these boys navigate society. Gave them food, clothes, a place to live. Someone even gave them a credit card." [02:17]

This act of kindness quickly turned Vernon into an international media hotspot, drawing attention from far and wide.

4. Unraveling the Truth (02:45 – 03:44)

As the community invested more in the boys' story, inconsistencies began to surface. Rachel expresses her skepticism:

Rachel: "Two young men who said they were raised in the wilds. Their tale was a poignant one, but it simply wasn't true." [02:45]

The situation escalated when it became evident that one of the boys was a danger to himself:

Tom: "It was becoming apparent that he was a danger to himself." [03:09]

Rachel: "No, you have to let me in here." [03:20]

Will, another community member, reflected on the deteriorating situation:

Will: "Where it all started for me was like my acne. And we also have this thing where we're taking you to court for custody. I'm afraid of the government. I'm afraid of cops. Anyone who has the power makes me afraid." [04:05]

The facade the boys had maintained began to crumble, revealing deeper issues beneath their fabricated story.

5. The Departure and Lingering Mysteries (03:44 – 04:05)

With the truth exposed, the boys made a swift exit from Vernon, leaving unanswered questions and a town grappling with the aftermath.

Sam Mullins: "Leaving the people of Vernon wondering for nearly 20 years, what was that all about? What was really going on there? Whatever happened to those boys?" [03:51]

6. Sam Mullins' Quest for Answers (04:05 – End)

Driven by the unresolved mystery, Sam Mullins embarked on a journey to uncover the fate of the boys two decades later. His investigation aims to shed light on the enigmatic encounter that left a lasting impact on Vernon.

Sam Mullins: "I'm Sam Mullins, your host for season three of Chameleon Wild Boys, coming in January from Campside Media and Sony Music." [04:38]

Rachel reflects on the disbelief surrounding the entire episode:

Rachel: "If anyone was to ever hear about it, they'd be like, it's unbelievable. It really is. It's so unbelievable." [04:48]

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Conclusion

Wild Boys: Introducing Chameleon: Wild Boys offers a riveting exploration of a real-life mystery that intertwines community, deception, and the quest for truth. Through firsthand accounts and investigative narration, Sam Mullins invites listeners to delve into the enigma that has haunted Vernon for years. This episode sets the stage for an in-depth examination of what truly transpired when two boys walked into town, challenging perceptions and leaving a trail of unanswered questions.

For those intrigued by true crime stories that captivate and captivate, The Binge series, including Wild Boys, is an essential listen. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com to feed your true crime obsession.

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Notable Quotes:

• Sam Mullins: "There are these two boys walking through the orange haze along the shoreline who I'd never seen before. And as it turned out, neither had anyone else." [00:01]
• Tom: "These two wild children appear in our community. They're always together, they're never apart, rags on their back and they don't have a home." [01:01]
• Rachel: "Two young men who said they were raised in the wilds. Their tale was a poignant one, but it simply wasn't true." [02:45]
• Will: "Anyone who has the power makes me afraid. They're sort of like Nazis, come and take people away." [04:05]

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Wild Boys masterfully combines narrative storytelling with investigative journalism, making it a standout episode for fans of true crime and mysterious tales. Join Sam Mullins as he unravels the layers of this intriguing story, promising revelations and insights in the episodes to come.

Transcript

[Sam Mullins]

In the summer of 2003, I was a teenager growing up in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. Vernon's a small town, it's a quiet town. It's a ski town, a beach town and a hockey town. It's also a town that didn't get FM radio until the year 2001. And in the summer of 2003, it was the perfect town to hide a secret. That summer I was working at a video rental place, which at the time was a line of work that existed. And one night after my shift, I met up with a friend at the beach to go for a swim at golden hour. I remember it was rec volleyball night, so the courts were kicking up all this dust that made the light seem like it was glowing around us. And that's when I saw them. There are these two boys walking through the orange haze along the shoreline who I'd never seen before. And as it turned out, neither had anyone else.

[Tom]

These two wild children appear in our community. They're always together, they're never apart, rags on their back and they don't have a home.

[Sam Mullins]

Someone said they lived in the woods. Someone else saw them bathing in the creek. My mom remembers seeing them walk down Main Street. And when I saw them, even I, a self absorbed 16 year old, I noticed the same thing as everyone else. Something about these boys was off.

[Tom]

They were kind of odd.

[Rachel]

I don't want to say cult like, but it just seemed weird. It just wasn't normal. I had no idea what was going on with those two. One just looked so, he was just so emaciated.

[Tom]

I literally think he was within days or weeks of starving himself to death. He was that bad.

[Will]

And I said, no, you gotta get something done with no. They needed help.

[Rachel]

I kind of made it a mission to see if I can help them.

[Sam Mullins]

And when people in Vernon reached out to help, the boys started telling an incredible story. These boys were from the bush.

[Tom]

They'd never been to school, they weren't.

[Rachel]

Ever in a hospital. They've never been to dentists, had apparently.

[Tom]

Never seen a telephone, no access to media. They were unfamiliar with television. They were like almost non existent. You know, it was like finding the lost tribe in New Guinea.

[Sam Mullins]

The boys said this was their first ever contact with civilization. So the good people of Vernon took them in, made it their mission to help these boys navigate society. Gave them food, clothes, a place to live. Someone even gave them a credit card. The whole thing turned our tiny town into an international media sensation. But there was a problem. Turns out the boys were very much in need Just not in the way we had originally been led to believe.

[Rachel]

Two young men who said they were raised in the wilds. Their tale was a poignant one, but it simply wasn't true.

[Will]

You could literally see his brain processing that this big lie he'd been living was about to come crashing down. The Jacob's app. Nothing we could do now. Game over.

[Rachel]

Oh, my God. This is actually crazy now. Like, this is turning a corner.

[Sam Mullins]

Very quickly, the whole thing spiraled.

[Tom]

It was becoming apparent that he was a danger to himself.

[Rachel]

Tom called me, freaking out. Will was apprehended by the police.

[Tom]

Put him in the back of my police car and drove them. Rachel, emergency.

[Rachel]

No, you have to let me in here.

[Will]

Where are they? You just need to calm down.

[Rachel]

It was like almost like an out of body experience. Like, is this really happening?

[Sam Mullins]

I guess there's really only one question to ask you. And that's why.

[Will]

Well, I had to protect myself and my brother.

[Tom]

This story raises far more questions than it offers answers.

[Sam Mullins]

When the truth came out, the boys left town.

[Tom]

And he walked up the gangway into the plane, even looked back, and it was gone.

[Sam Mullins]

Leaving the people of Vernon wondering for nearly 20 years, what was that all about? What was really going on there? Whatever happened to those boys? So this past year, I set out to find them.

[Will]

Where it all started for me was like my acne. And we also have this thing where we're taking you to court for custody. I'm afraid of the government. I'm afraid of cops. Anyone who has the power makes me afraid. They're sort of like Nazis, come and take people away. I'm just running and I make a turn. I hop another fence. I didn't even bother looking behind me because I was too afraid. I'm there to help him get away from them. I never agreed with the doctor that he was mentally ill. I just thought he was a fanatic. This is a crazy story. For the record, how I describe everything, that's the real truth.

[Sam Mullins]

I'm Sam Mullins, your host for season three of Chameleon Wild Boys, coming in January from Campside Media and Sony Music.

[Rachel]

If anyone was to ever hear about it, they'd be like, it's unbelievable. It really is. It's so unbelievable.