Adam Walsh's Killer Named After 27 Years
The killer of a 6-year-old boy, whose death launched nationwide advocacy efforts for missing children and many other crime victims, has finally been named 27 years later. Police say Adam Walsh was killed by Ottis Elwood Toole, who once confessed to the crime then later recanted.Toole, who confessed to dozens of murders, died in prison in 1996.
Adam is the son of John Walsh, who turned the personal tragedy in his life to a tireless effort to help missing children and victims of crime. He co-founded the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and started the still popular television show "America's Most Wanted" in 1988.
Adam Walsh was abducted from a mall in Hollywood on July 27, 1981. His severed head was found two weeks later in Vero Beach, 120 miles north of the mall. His body was never found.
Missing Children's Act
When John and Reve Walsh turned to the FBI for help, they discovered the agency would not become involved in such cases unless proof could be provided that an actually kidnapping had taken place. As a result, Walsh and others lobbied Congress to pass the Missing Children's Act of 1982 which allowed police to become involved in missing children cases more quickly and created a national database of information about missing children.
Walsh has long believed that Ottis Toole (pictured in mug shot) was the killer of his son, but evidence gathered by police at the time -- carpet from Toole's car and the car itself -- was lost by the time DNA technology was developed that could have linked the carpet stains to Adam Walsh.
Over the years, there have been several suspects in the Adam Walsh case. At one time, there was speculation that serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer may have been involved in Adam's disappearance. But the other suspects were eliminated by investigators over the years.
Death Bed Confession
Toole was a convicted serial killer, but he also confessed to many murders that he had nothing to do with, according to investigators. In October 1983, Toole confessed to the murder of Adam, telling police he grabbed the boy at the mall and drove about an hour north before decapitating him.
Adam's head was found in Ft. Pierce, Florida about 120 miles north of Hollywood.
Toole later recanted his confession, but a niece of his told John Walsh that on Sept. 15, 1996 from his death bed Toole admitted to the kidnapping and murder of Adam.
"For years we have asked the question, who could take a 6-year-old boy and decapitate him. We had to know. Not knowing has been a torture, but that journey is over," a tearful John Walsh said at a news conference today. "For us it ends here."
See Also:
Case Closed: Adam Walsh Killer to Be ID'd
Interactive Timeline of Adam Walsh Case
Florida Police Expected to Close Adam Walsh Case
Earlier Article:
Did Jeffrey Dahmer Kill Adam Walsh?
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Photo: Family Photo
Comments
One thing was never in question with Toole - he was a sick pervert, one of the most disgusting characters to gain attention (in the tradition of Albert Fish) in the 20th century. My question is why suddenly have authorities decided a man who died in ‘96 who lied every chance he got, confessed and recanted to this crime and was partners to one of the biggest liar/recanters (Henry Lee Lucas) in the annals of murder… why do we suddenly decide “he’s the one”? I’ve read numerous accounts of this “late breaking story” and not one has revealed what solid evidence finally brings them to this conclusion. I would think the only thing to ease my mind as a parent would be DNA evidence that proved beyond a reasonable doubt but all accounts I see say all DNA evidence was long gone. Any answers?
John Walsh himself has always believed Toole was guilty. I see your point about the lack of any hard evidence however. I think this may have been an Occam’s Razor situation where by, having ruled out every other suspect, and give the evidence at hand, it just makes sense to say Toole was the guilty party. But frankly, even if they are just telling the Walsh’s what they want to hear, these parents deserve the closure.
Since this case became “Solved” and “Breaking News” I have been reading information that I had not thought about before. Number one, though, I agree, what is the evidence that solves this now?? I hope cold cases aren’t going to start being solved because the victim’s family needs to end the “not knowing” (if they are criminal- fighting icons).
Another point that hadn’t occured to me before: John Walsh’s entire career is based on this case, particularly the pedophile aspect. This case has never conclusively determined any facts on how or who killed Adam Walsh,nor is there any evidence of abuse whatsoever, sexual or otherwise, since his body was never found– yet John Walsh insists it is a particular offender, a pedophile. I am not unsympathetic to this situation and understand that this is a tragic loss, and it is a horrible thing to have happened to Adam and the family (murder). But, there is something about all this (the career, the Adam’s law, the “solved”, the insistance on Toole as guilty),that just isn’t right. It is all based on a presumption–or is it something more?
I could be wrong, but I just had a sense seeing her on the news that Reve just has had enough of it all. I don’t exactly know what, but her face shows something I think is pending. Another thing I hadn’t heard before was how the Walsh family proceeded to sue Sears UNTIL Sears counter-sued Reve Walsh for negligence (leaving Adam alone in the toy section). Even 27 years ago, Walsh was turning this into a court case, blaming others exclusive of any personal responsibility for leaving their child unattended. That information is never discussed, and in fact is extremely hard to find information about.
The bottom line is that it is unfortunate that parents have to be glued to their children in order to protect them, but that is different than recognizing that the truth is the child was NOT the responsibility of Sears. Why isn’t it more likely that one or more of the very teens that Adam Walsh was left in the company of the guilty one?? Because a parent wouldn’t be able to live with knowing that they willingly left their child with the murderer(s).
I’m not saying blame, just responsibility for the consequences.
There’s a lot of things about this case that can only be assumed. I would assume the Walsh’s think that Adam was sexually abused because it is fairly rare for stranger abductions, especially of children, to not involve a sexual motive. I’m not sure your point about John Walsh’s entire career being built on this case is fair. I am sure if asked, he would much rather have Adam alive and have been a garbarge collector, or picked up road kill all these years than having had become famous because of his childs death. Besides that, he and his family have been the best posssible advocates and done an enormous amount of good in the fight to stop the harming of other children.
Cathy,
I appreciate all you are saying and agree 100% about the advocacy of missing and exploited children…I wasn’t discussing (or dismissing) that at all. And, of course Walsh would prefer his child not murdered; who wouldn’t agree with that?
The point you make about assuming is essentially what I was sayiny; the issue is just that: our courts cannot base guilt on assumption. This is about a case “solved”, not anyone’s assumptions of what happened. And I wouldn’t claim to “be sure” of what John Walsh would be happy working at. I have always felt his criminal-fighting has been over the top, and that he relishes it, so garbage collecting doesn’t really seem feasible, but maybe you didn’t mean that literally.
We now know how youth have killed youths younger than themselves, and not for sexual reasons. Three decades ago society did not conceive of that, but today we know of young people killing “to see what it feels like”. The news proves that more as times goes on.
My thoughts have always been that Adam was abducted by the youths in the store– because they had the chance, simple as that. I would not base evidence or findings on thoughts however.
I was pointing out that there is no evidence whatsoever about what happened to Adam. There is no evidence whether he was abducted or wandered away. No evidence of how or who killed Adam,if there was anything sexually abusive done to him, and I am uncomfortable with issues revolving about this case.
There is as equal chance that Adam was not a victim of Toole as much as there is that he was a victim, because there is no evidence,period.
I was also discussing the issue of ultimate responsibility and recognizing or fighting that(suing Sears and why they dropped it, campaigning aimed at a pedophile rather than issues of basics of child protection in public places for instance).
It does seem that they (the parents and police) are simply looking to close the file. Trying to link Jeffrey Dahmer when he had always been honest and very thorough with his confessions and then Ottis Toole ok a real possibility but then also a huge liar seeking publicity. Blaming and suing a department store when in reality why would you leave a young child unattended? also the comments made here about the possibility of sexual abuse by the murderer simply because it was a child taken is quite wrong I have studied this topic extensively and most peadophiles do not just take kids off the street and abuse them it is a very long selection and then training process of the child who is usually known to them, I am not saying the opposite never happens but it is more rare. I think to solve a crime you need proper evidence and not just say so also typical stupid police losing the small amonut of evidence they did have.
It could be that in another 20 years we will still be discussing this case and there will still be a lot of unanswered questions. The one fact that will never change is this; God knows who killed this child and he, she or them will not get away with it.