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.
Otis Toole has been dead - so long before Obama was on the radar.
Was based on Lucas/Toole. Not a documentary, but probably not far from the truth.
Lucas’ sentence was commuted by George W. Bush in 1998 because the murder that he was sentenced to death for was one that he lied about. He died three years later.
Yeah he croaked in prison after hanging around waaaaay longer than necessary, but they were hoping he could close up a lot of open cases. That hayseed was eating steak dinners as he took cops around to all his murder stomping grounds.
Best movie Michael Rooker ever did. Call me sick, but I just love the part where they smash the TV over the electronics guy’s head.
“We’ll take the fifty dollar one.”
He confessed and recanted twice before. Who is to say he would not have taken it back again if not for the whole dying thing?
Makes my eyes leaky to think someone has the capacity to do that to a child. The world is full of people who need to be put down.
There is another little boy, missing, and presumed dead all these years. Case never solved, but I have never forgotten that little boy.
Etan Patz
Same here. It was such a horrid story and he was such a beautiful child.
A judge ruled convicted child molester, Jose Ramos, guilty of Patz's murder. (Ramos is still in prison in PA from other crimes, iirc.)
Although the judge's declaration of guilt is based on a technicality, there are reasons to believe Ramos is guilty (Ramos was a friend of Etan's babysitter; and Ramos allegedly confessed the murder to another inmate).
I hope Ramos rots in jail and is never freed.
The pain of losing a child like that must be so unbearable.
My heart breaks for the Patz and Walsh family.
I do remember the joy of finding Elizabeth....?? from Utah.
I have some personal familiarity with the Patz case (from that time). LE does not believe that Ramos did it. I will not say here what is believed but I will say that I personally saw some pretty creepy pictures of Etan that were taken by the father and one of his friends.
The scumbag apparently is due to be released in 2012. He's the poster boy for why vigilante justice sometimes isn't a bad thing.
I still think of him from time to time.....the anguish these parents must feel.......or anyone whose loved one has come up missing and never found.
Dear Mr. Walsh and Family,
I cannot imagine the depth of your grief.
But you did not allow Adam to die in vain. He lives by the very important work you do and have done.
“We cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over our heads, but we can refuse to let them roost there,”
Elizabeth Smart
I still remember the pictures of that little boy, posted all over NYC.
A tragedy for the family and something to strike fear into the hearts of all parents.
I noticed that Scott Ritter was on one of the cable nets yesterday.
To think that he was caught arranging a meeting with an underage girl and yet he is a welcome guest on TV
Perverts are welcome if they’re furthering your agenda.
So why are the police taking all of the credit? The headline should read: "Killer: 1981 murder of Adam Walsh is solved" Just like the DC sniper - they effectively turned themselves in, that moron Moose had nothing to do with it.
I see that sweet face today as clearly as all those years ago.........:(
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