Adam Walsh Case Closed

The investigation into the 1981 death of Adam Walsh, the 6-year-old son of "America's Most Wanted" anchor John Walsh, is finally closed, after having been classified as an unsolved murder for 27 years.

Hollywood Police Chief Chad Wagner announced Tuesday that the department had concluded that a man named Ottis Toole kidnapped and killed the boy.

The now-deceased pedophile and convicted murderer confessed to the slaying, but later recanted.

Tool had confessed to hundreds of killings, but police determined most of those confessions were lies. Toole's niece later told John Walsh that her uncle gave a deathbed confession to his son's murder before dying in prison more than a decade ago.

For years, John Walsh and his wife Revé decried the investigation as botched — an accusation Wagner confirmed.

Despite the mistakes made along the way, Wagner said the investigation always led detectives back to Toole, the only chief suspect in the case.

Wagner said he hoped the department's decision could bring the Walsh family closure.

Having voiced suspicions of Toole in the past, John Walsh said not knowing was torture, but "that journey's over."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• americas
• most
• wanted
• Adam
• Walsh
• murder
• florida
• hollywood
• john
• 1981
• cold
• case
• ottis
• toole
• solved
• killed

[lizzilobdob]

John and Reve are amazing people - to go through something as heartbreaking as having your child abducted and murdered, then campaign for better laws to protect other children- amazing and a real inspiration to everyone

[SuperE4264]

adam walsh looks just like john

[southport97]

I'd like to find out who John Walsh's enemies are so that I can help them.

[CoverGirl084]

@logik316 I think Toole died from cirrhosis and complications of HIV

[enrgg4201]

You are both inspirational to many people. Iam sorry for your loss. We all no that your little boy is a sweet angel gone to soon. We all thank you for your hard work on helping many missing childern come home. God Bless your family!!

[Lutherheggsghost]

God bless you Walsh family.May God comfort you , and hold Adam close until you are reunited in paradise.

[logik316]

@MrTheSwampthing

Dahmer believed he was the Devil, and was beaten to death by an equally deranged cellmate who thought he was Jesus Christ. And Toole, whether he had specifically killed Adam Walsh or not, had definitely killed some people somewhere, and in the end slowly and painfully died from either AIDS or cancer. No matter which guy killed Adam, I'd say justice was served to both of them.

[logik316]

@duncan36

It makes me wonder why cannibalism isn't actually a crime in the US. If somebody kills and eats another person and gets caught, he'll be charged with murder, of course. But the most a cannibalistic killer can be charged with for eating his victim is "improper disposal of a corpse" or "gross abuse of a corpse", which are merely considered misdemeanors or relatively minor felonies.

[carmelladful]

I love jhon walsh,and always will my prayers go"s out to you and your family my god bless you. r.i.p adam you are one of god angles:)i send my love.

[Sealboy85]

@jonnyd5506 dont like obama but dont write shit like that on this page dude, no point in even tryin to sound humorous on a tragic event like this

[manning245]

ok people tell me where was Adoms mom responsibly it all this I feel sorry for the young child but tell your self there are two crimes here one is the fact someone killed that boy two That the parent was stupid enough to LEAVE a 6 YEAR OLD boy without adult supervision not miss Walsh should be charge with endangerment of a child neglect and the accessory to the murder where is her responsibility