In spite of the fact that there has been no new evidence and that that the crime was committed over 27 years ago, Hollywood Florida Police have closed the case on Adam Walsh.
With only circumstantial evidence, they named the prime suspect, Ottis Toole, a chronic alcoholic of low intelligence.
What Happened to Adam Walsh?
In 1981, 6-year-old Adam Walsh, out with his mother, went missing from a Hollywood, Fla., shopping mall. An extensive manhunt for the little boy kicked off and two weeks later, fishermen discovered his severed head in a canal 120 miles away. The rest of his body was never found.
Case Closed on Adam Walsh Case
On 16 December 2008, more than two decades later, Hollywood Police said “Case Closed” and finally named Adam's killer as Ottis Toole, a prime suspect in the case, who had twice confessed and recanted.
Prime Suspect Otis Toole – Confessed and Recanted
Prime suspect, Ottis Toole, claimed responsibility for hundreds of murders, but police determined most of the confessions were lies. Toole's niece told John Walsh, her uncle confessed on his deathbed in prison that he killed Adam Walsh. Ottis Toole died in prison of cirrhosis in 1996 at the age of 49. He was serving five life sentences.
Ottis Toole drifted around the country most of his life committing a series of atrocities with partner in crime Henry Lee Lucas.
John Walsh - Host of Americas Most Wanted
Positive consequences of Adam Walsh’s disappearance:
- Adam's disappearance and death compelled his father, John Walsh, to become a national advocate for missing children.
- A year after Adam's death, Congress passed the Missing Children Act.
- John Walsh went on to host the television show America's Most Wanted.
- President signed the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006.
Questions Surrounding Ottis Toole
Some questions need to be raised. In spite of Toole being the prime suspect, what has changed to suddenly bring this case to this dramatic closure? Here are only three issues of many:
- Toole’s so called “deathbed confession” occurred 12 years ago, supposedly to the niece, in spite of the fact that he was in prison. Why is she only speaking up now?
- John Walsh has, over the years slammed the Hollywood Police for a number of bungles, including losing a Cadillac with a bloodstained carpet and valuable DNA evidence – now there seems to be a change of heart, but still no DNA evidence.
- Ottis Tool was said to be left handed and the person who decapitated Adam Walsh, right handed.
No New Evidence but Case Closed
27 Years after Adam’s disappearance and in spite of the fact that there has been no new evidence, John Walsh heard the words "Case Closed" when Hollywood, Florida police declared Ottis Toole as the murderer of his son Adam Walsh, declaring Toole was the prime suspect in the case and that they had conclusively linked him to the killing.
They declined to be specific about their circumstantial evidence and did not note any DNA evidence of the crime, but said an extensive review of the case file pointed only to Toole, as John Walsh has so long contended.
Chief Wagner Closes the Circumstantial Evidence Case
"Our agency has devoted an inordinate amount of time seeking leads to other potential perpetrators rather than emphasizing Ottis Toole as our primary suspect," said Hollywood Police Chief Chad Wagner, who launched a fresh review of the case after taking over the department last year. "Ottis Toole has continued to be our only real suspect."
Sources:
Washington Post
Ottis Toole, Adam Walsh's Killer - Huffington Post
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