Adam Walsh case finally solved

Source

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. - Authorities in South Florida announced Tuesday that they've finally solved the 1981 killing of Adam Walsh, whose father later gained fame as the host of "America's Most Wanted."

Hollywood police held a news conference to close the case of the abduction and homicide of 6-year-old Adam. They identified the boy's killer as Ottis Toole, a drifter who confessed to the murder, then recanted before dying in prison in 1996. Toole's niece told the boy's father, John Walsh, her uncle gave a deathbed confession.

Adam's parents, John and Reve Walsh, long ago derided the investigation as botched. Both attended a news conference and gave a tearful account of what's it's been like not knowing for decades who killed their son.

The boy went missing from a Hollywood mall on July 27, 1981. Fishermen discovered his severed head in a canal 120 miles away two weeks later. The rest of his body was never found.

John Walsh said his son's case shows why parents should never give up hope. He said police recently reviewed evidence in the case to come to the conclusion that Toole was the killer.

Walsh said he never had any doubt that Toole was the murderer, even though it took decades to confirm. At the time of the killing, some key evidence had been lost and DNA testing had not yet been developed.

"For us it ends here," Walsh said.

Over the years, Toole had claimed hundreds of murders, but police determined most of the confessions were lies.



I hope this helps The Walshs to finally have a solid answer.

Re: Adam Walsh case finally solved

WOW.....

just... wow. I remember when that story broke.

Re: Adam Walsh case finally solved

Re: Adam Walsh case finally solved

My MIL is slightly obsessed with this story, she was visiting her parents down there and had DH and my BIL at that same mall the day before Adam Walsh was abducted and she's often thought "What if"

Re: Adam Walsh case finally solved

not to nit-pick but they didn't solve the case, they just closed it - they knew for a while that this suspect was the one who committed the murder, but because he changed his story so much and then died in prison (on an unrelated charge) he was enver convicted.

either way, i think this will provide some closure for the family. i have seen many interviews with the dad, he really seems like an amazing person. i wish him and his wife well

ETA: cnn.com story

Message edited 12/16/2008 3:50:36 PM.

Re: Adam Walsh case finally solved

Posted by headoverheels

not to nit-pick but they didn't solve the case, they just closed it

Message edited 12/16/2008 3:56:07 PM.

Re: Adam Walsh case finally solved

May his family get some closure. At least john walsh turned this tragedy into a positive and helped take hundereds of scumbags off the streets

Re: Adam Walsh case finally solved

I cannot image what that is like....only finding your 6-year-old son's severed head...never finding the rest of him...and never being able to see the ******* that committed the crime brought to justice.

I believe the Walsh's have since found peace, but I hope the officiality of this brings them closure. for poor beautiful little Adam Walsh.

Re: Adam Walsh case finally solved

Re: Adam Walsh case finally solved

Re: Adam Walsh case finally solved

I saw this on the news today. The story is just so sad. I am just happy that the case is solved and the family has some closure after 27 years.

Re: Adam Walsh case finally solved

Re: Adam Walsh case finally solved

I remember watching the TV movie of this case years and years ago and how they showed his mom letting him hang out in the toy department while she shopped-my mom used to always let us do that too, you never thought something like this would happen back then.

I cannot imagine how tormented his parents must have been all these years. I hope this brings them some closure.

So much has come from this case, all the other little kids saved through his parents crusading and all the changes to the police departments, etc. at least that is this little boys legacy. May he rest in peace.

I can't believe he would have been 33.

Re: Adam Walsh case finally solved

Posted by headoverheels

not to nit-pick but they didn't solve the case, they just closed it [/L]