Outstanding Investigative Journalism

Have You Seen Andy?

“A POWERFUL DOCUMENTARY…
AN EXTRAORDINARY FILM”
BBC NEWS
“An absorbing, often tormenting glimpse at the mystery surrounding an unspeakable crime whose reverberations live on.”
RAY RAYMONDHOLLYWOOD REPORTER

“Every minute of 'Have You Seen Andy?' is riveting.”
The Boston Globe
“A distinguished contribution to the true-crime genre… the loving testament of a woman who never allowed herself to forget her ill-fated playmate.”
Tim PageThe Washington Post
 
“…truly terrifying…”
TENLEY WOODMANThe Boston Herald
“A compelling documentary... Stories like Andy’s will never be forgotten and remain the driving force behind the mission of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).”
John RabunNCMEC
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A FRIEND'S SEARCH
FOR THE TRUTH

HYSA OI Web Andy Mandy 2037 x 2479
Andy, age 10
HYSA OI Web Melanie 2037x2479 dress
Melanie, age 9

In a housing project 30 miles outside of Boston ten-year-old Andy Puglisi was looking forward to his upcoming birthday. Andy lived in Lawrence, one of the poorest cities in the country, but for him life was good. He was the oldest of five children. He and his family had just moved into a housing project that included about 300 other kids. There was always someone to play with and, best of all, a new swimming pool had been built just across the street. For 25 cents Andy could swim all day long.

On Sunday August 22, 1976, the temperature soared past 90 degrees. Kids were lined up at the entrance to the pool before the lifeguards had a chance to unlock the gate. This day seemed like any other August day but on this day every child in this neighborhood and almost every child in this city would be forever changed. Under the scorching summer sun, ten-year-old, Andy Puglisi vanished without a trace. More than 30 years later, his childhood friend wants answers.

The Story
DIRECTOR/FILMMAKER

MELANIE PERKINS McLaughlin

“Have You Seen Andy?” was Melanie Perkins directorial debut. With over 20 years experience in broadcast television production Melanie has worked for HBO, ABC, BBC, PBS, A&E, the History and Discovery Channels. She began her career with WGBH in Boston  on national programs like NOVA and The American Experience. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from Fitchburg State College where she majored in Communications / Media and Human Services. As a former ward of the state Melanie knew she wanted to use broadcast media for social justice and systemic change. She believes in the power of telling the truth and shining a light on darkness. Melanie received a MA senate citation for her work with missing and exploited children, an honorary PhD from Fitchburg State University and recently attended Harvard where she earned a graduate degree in education policy. She is a member of the Suffolk County Human Trafficking Task Force.

Director's Statement
Click here
andy-cover
2008 EMMY AWARD WINNER

Outstanding Investigative Journalism

“Have You Seen Andy?” premiered on
HBO/Cinemax in June 2007.

“Have You Seen Andy?” is available on
AMAZON and HBOMax

Watch the trailer
Boston Globe reporter, Judith Gaines, followed filmmaker, Melanie Perkins, for a period of several months documenting the search for Andy in an eight-part series. Read the series here. “Have You Seen Andy?” is the personal story of a childhood friendship abruptly ended by the tragic abduction of a young boy. On a hot summer day in August 1976, ten-year-old Andy Puglisi was playing along with dozens of other children at the Higgins Memorial Pool in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Then suddenly, he disappeared. Twenty-two years later, filmmaker Melanie Perkins, Andy’s childhood friend, begins her search for answers in this feature-length documentary.
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