A 'jaw-dropping' true crime documentary about the bizarre story of a missing boy has come to Netflix. The Imposter follows the case of 13-year-old Nicholas Barclay who disappeared in the 90s and was presumed dead - that was until he showed up again three years later.
The teenager claimed he had been kidnapped and the victim of sex trafficking, but all was not as seemed.
The film, which originally came out in 2012 is directed by Barton Layton, and features interviews with members of the Barclays family as well as archive news footage and re-enacted dramatised scenes.
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Is The Imposter a true story and what is it about?
The Barclays case begins back in 1994 when when Nicholas disappeared from his home town of Texas when he was just 13-years-old. Nicholas failed to return home after a game of basketball in San Antonio and police thought he was kidnapped and murdered as his body was never found.
As if by miracle three years later, the family were contacted by authorities to say Nicholas had been found, alive and well in Spain. He returned to the US, claiming he had been kidnapped and was a victim of sex trafficking. Naturally his family were over the moon to have him back, but things didn't quite add up when they finally reunited.
Despite the fact that their once blonde-haired and blue-eyed child son was now a brown-eyed, brunette who spoke with a French accent, the family were so happy to have their child back that they ignored the red flags. However, it was the diligent work of private investigator, Charles Parker, and an FBI agent, Nancy Fisher that exposed Bourdin's ruse.
It turns out the 23-year-old had a long history of impersonating children and had fooled many Spanish and US officials. When Bourdin was arrested by Interpol he told the police that the family killed the real Nicholas and that is why they accepted him - as it hid the crime.
Where is Frederic Bourdin today?
Bourdin spent six years in prison passport fraud and perjury. In 2007 he got married to a French woman called Isabelle and the pair had five children.
However, it seems as though their relationship is over. On Facebook posted that Isabelle had left him for another man and that she had been unhappy for almost 10 years.
Bourdin, who is known for contacting journalists once told the Daily Mirror that he would “never impersonate anyone again”.
Has Nicholas Barclay been found?
Unfortunately it seems as though the case of Nicholas Barclay has gone cold with his body still yet to be found. However, it is believed that there are some private detectives who are still working on the case and suspect there to be foul play involved.
Nicholas' brother Jason is a prime suspect in the case but he unfortunately passed away due to a drug overdose back in 1998. James had developed a drug addiction.
Some people believe Nicholas was a runaway and is still in the San Antonia area.
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