Posted on 12/16/2008 12:14:59 PM PST by radar101
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – FOX 5 has confirmed that one of the most famous unsolved murder mysteries in the country will be officially closed today.
The Sun Sentinel Newspaper reports the Adam Walsh murder case will be officially closed, and Ottis Toole will be named by police as his killer. Adam was 6 years old when he disappeared from a Sears store in Hollywood, Florida in July 1981. His severed head was found two weeks later, but his body was never recovered.
Toole confessed twice to killing Adam, but he also recanted those confessions. He later died in prison in 1996.
Authorities aren't saying anything concrete yet, but FOX 5 has learned that a press conference has been scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. Adam's parents, Reve and John Walsh will be there.
John Walsh became an advocate for missing children after his son's disappearance, and he later became the host of FOX's America's Most Wanted.
In 2006, President Bush signed into law the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, which called for tougher monitoring of sex offenders once they're released from prison.
Stay with FOX 5 and myfoxdc.com for updates on this story.
Adam Walsh Murder Case Closed 12/16/2008
Statement From John & Revé Walsh:
It has been more than 27 years since our son Adam was abducted from a Hollywood, Fla. mall, then murdered. The situation that we have endured since then is beyond a parent's worst nightmare.
Despite an ongoing, 27-year investigation, our son's murder case has remained open -- until now.
Although Adam's killer never served one day in prison for destroying our son's life and almost ruining ours, nor will he ever because he died in prison serving time for an unrelated murder, we are satisfied that the main suspect in Adam's murder –- Ottis Toole -- has now been positively identified and that this chapter in our lives is now closed.
There are two agencies we would like to thank for never giving up: the Broward County State Attorney's office; in particular, assistant State Attorney Chuck Morton, and the Hollywood Police Department; and specifically, the courage of Chief Chad Wagner for moving this case to its conclusion.
We want to express our deepest gratitude to two men who worked with us all these years pro bono to get justice for Adam and give us some answers: Kelly Hancock, former Broward County State Attorney Prosecutor and now prominent private attorney with the law firm of Krupnick, Campbell, Malone, Buser, Slama, Hancock, Liberman and McKelly.
From the beginning, Kelly Hancock worked within the Criminal Justice System to make sure that Adam’s case did not fall through the cracks and to ensure that there was a resolution for Adam and our family.
Secondly, former Miami Beach Police Homicide Detective Joe Matthews, who worked this case tirelessly for 27 years and developed so much of the crucial evidence to close this case.
From all of the evidence presented to us, we agree with the conclusion shared by the key investigators that it is clear and irrefutable that Ottis Toole was the abductor and killer of our son, Adam.
We can now move forward knowing positively who killed our beautiful little boy. We, along with our children, Meghan, Callahan and Hayden, pray for the thousands of parents of murdered and still-missing children. We continue to fight for their safety, and to make sure that no child -- especially Adam -- died in vain.
John & Revé Walsh
Hollywood, Fla.
I’m glad they’ve come to a conclusion, what a sad tragedy they have lived thru. God bless the Walsh family.
Ottis Toole was a freak of the most amazing proportions, a guy so whacked out of his skull that even his fellow serial murderer Henry Lee Lucas was disgusted by him. During one robbery, Lucas taped a woman up to empty the register. While she squirmed against the tape, Lucas warned her not to do that or he’d shoot her. “At least I give ‘em a warning,” Lucas told police. “Ottis would just go crazy like and kill ‘em.”
Handsome fellow, isn’t he?
I watched a doc on the ID channel about these two. I slept with the bathroom light on. No kidding.
John Walsh is an American hero.
He turned a family tragedy into a positive, turning his energy towards capturing dirtbag criminals.
God bless him, his family and Adam.
One of those "reality" police shows had a program on these two a few years ago. A couple real sick individuals.
And to think Toole would dress like a woman, too.
You would think someone would have noticed this guy in a Sears.
Lord have mercy on Adam and his family, what a terrible thing to have happen, he channeled his anger and himself has saved countless lives by getting folks off the street through America’s Most Wanted. God bless him ...
Dahmer was in Florida in 1981. "When the Army discharged Dahmer in 1981, it provided him with a plane ticket to anywhere in the country. Dahmer told police he couldn't go home to face his father, so he headed to Miami Beach, Florida, because he was "tired of the cold."[2] He spent most of his time there at a hospital but was kicked out shortly after for drinking." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Dahmer
So what happened that finally sewed this up? What new evidence was there?
he confesses to his neice on his death bed
Obama supporter no doubt.
Is that Lucas bastard dead yet?
Amen. John Walsh is a man who is deserving of the graces of heaven. He has done so much to get the slime off our streets and out of our communties. May peace be with him.
They are a wonderful example of a family who turned their own private tragedy to a positive purpose, to help others who have endured a similar horror.
Yes, but he had to serve two terms on Death Row (Texas).
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