How the Murder of Charlie Howard inspired Stephen King's IT. Bangor, Maine. 40 Years On. 07 July 84

Charlie Howard was 23 years old when he moved to live in Bangor, Maine in January 1984.
On 7th July 1984, Charlie and his boyfriend Roy were attacked by a gang of teenage boys. Charlie and Roy ran but Charlie, struggling with asthma, was easily caught. The boys grabbed Charlie, pleading for his life, and threw him over the State Street Bridge into the darkness of the water below after prising his fingers off the bridge railings. Charlie drowned.
Sound familiar?
The story of Charlie is immortalised in the Stephen King novel IT, and is also the opening scene in IT Chapter 2 film. King, a Maine resident, was stunned by the events that had transp, as were most of the residents of Bangor. who decided that nothing like this can happen again.
40 years on, this is the story of Charlie Howard. A gay young man who refused to be anything other than the person he was born to be.

[@jeepsthetimebandit]

Thanks for this video.
I didn't know any of this. Poor Charlie.
Oh God. That hit me when you said 'apart from where his tears had ran down his face' 😢

[@matparks08]

Yeah, the imagery that line throws up is a real heartbreaker. Two young lads who just wanted to be themselves, and the World wouldn't allow it 😢
Thanks for watching.

[@carolescutt2257]

Wonderfully sensitively told Matt, i live your dress style ❤

[@matparks08]

@carolescutt2257 thank you....yeah, my wardrobe is definitely different to everyone else's 😉

[@amp1]

Two tragic events. What a horrible world we live in. ❤

[@matparks08]

Thanks for watching. Yeah, in some ways, we live in a more 'accepting' world. In other ways, the World has gone bonkers. All the best.

[@Carhern-gf7kp]

Was that an orb at 12.03? !
Fantastic once again Matt, thank you for passing on your knowledge.

[@matparks08]

Oooo....not sure. I'll watch it back. Wouldn't surprise me though in that spooky hole.
Thanks so much 😊

[@ShaunMurray63]

What a sad sad story , poor lad.

[@matparks08]

Yeah, a tragic one.....but worth telling, I think 😥

[@ShaunMurray63]

@@matparks08 Yes sure is.

[@jeepsthetimebandit]

P.s.. I'm glad your beige days are behind you 😊

[@matparks08]

Awww...cheers. 😊

[@timholcomb9926]

Wow crazy videos infrastructure ticket program people need to mind their own damn business leave people alone

[@matparks08]

Thanks for watching. 🙂