The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copyrighted by BookRags, Inc.
Six-year old Adam Walsh disappeared from a Sears department store on July 27, 1981, and entered into the realm of television and media history. His disappearance prompted his father, John Walsh, to become one of the most famous victim advocates in the country as host of the television show "America's Most Wanted." The show was responsible for the capture of over 500 fugitives to date.
Adam Walsh was born on November 14, 1974. In July of 1981, his mother left him briefly in the toy department at Sears, where he was playing video games. When she came back moments later, he was gone. Adam's head was found two weeks later, floating in a canal in Vero Beach, Florida. A drifter, Ottis Toole, later became the main suspect in the murder but was never charged. He was incarcerated for other crimes and died in prison in 1996.
The crime caused John Walsh to lose his job and almost his home and marriage. But he found a new calling as an advocate for missing children and other victims of crime. He fought hard for the passage of the federal Missing Children's Assistance Act in 1984 and helped to found the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Two television movies, Adam and Adam: His Song Continues, were aired about the case. Then, in 1988, "America's Most Wanted" premiered with John Walsh as the host. It became America's longest running true crime show.