CNN: Drifter killed Adam Walsh in 1981

[Toe Jam]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/12/16/walsh.case.closed/index.html

HOLLYWOOD, Florida (CNN) -- A deceased drifter long suspected in the abduction, murder and beheading of 6-year-old Adam Walsh committed the crime that put missing children on the national agenda, police said Tuesday.

"If Ottis Toole was alive today, he would be arrested for the abduction and murder of Adam Walsh on July 27, 1981," Hollywood Police Chief Chad Wagner said at an afternoon news conference announcing the end of the 27-year investigation.

click link for more

[Dictator]

I guess they can stop blaming Jeffrey Dahmer now.

[Mark The Homer]

Text: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28257294/?GT1=43001

Vid: http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-us&vid=5d2d931b-1b3b-4e54-ad1a-92396a336f96&playlist=videoByUuids:uuids:649cb5aa-d334-4c9c-bc53-e46431228f2a%2C6b5d188d-f8e9-4d21-921c-a481f9264168%2C84f475f0-152f-4a92-80f5-9b545a3ef79e&from=MSNHP&tab=s3&GT1=42003

Edit: Shoot. Merge please. Thanks

[Chachie]

This is a great day for the Walsh family and for the people at "America's Most Wanted" where I work.

I was very fortunate to be able to personally assist the detective (Joe Mathews) in compiling the evidence in this case that was ultimately submitted to the Florida State Attorney's office for review. I definitely got my education on Ottis Toole and his partner, Henry Lee Lucas. They were grisly, gruesome characters. This afternoon's press conference was a victory for John and a special day in the fight for missing children everywhere.



:applause:

[TrumanB]

This is a great day for the Walsh family and for the people at "America's Most Wanted" where I work.

I was very fortunate to be able to personally assist the detective (Joe Mathews) in compiling the evidence in this case that was ultimately submitted to the Florida State Attorney's office for review. I definitely got my education on Ottis Toole and his partner, Henry Lee Lucas. They were grisly, gruesome characters. This afternoon's press conference was a victory for John and a special day in the fight for missing children everywhere.



:applause:
Wow, no kidding. Great job. :cheers:

[Gary Clark Fan]

This is a great day for the Walsh family and for the people at "America's Most Wanted" where I work.

I was very fortunate to be able to personally assist the detective (Joe Mathews) in compiling the evidence in this case that was ultimately submitted to the Florida State Attorney's office for review. I definitely got my education on Ottis Toole and his partner, Henry Lee Lucas. They were grisly, gruesome characters. This afternoon's press conference was a victory for John and a special day in the fight for missing children everywhere.



:applause:


great work.....now go back to sex orgies and taking drugs with the rest of your hippie clan. :D


So do u really work for AMW? If so how long have u been there? I have a relative who was profiled on the show...PM me for details.

[MrMarcus1914]

I guess they can stop blaming Jeffrey Dahmer now.
To make a joke about this situation is beyond wrong. I mean imagine this child last words. Imagine if you were his father. Could you imagine the agony? I mean can you think that the last words your son said might have been for you to help him, and this monster face is the last one he sees. I wish Jeffrey Dahmer would eat your heart....oh wait you don't have one.

[jimster]

This is a great day for the Walsh family and for the people at "America's Most Wanted" where I work.

I was very fortunate to be able to personally assist the detective (Joe Mathews) in compiling the evidence in this case that was ultimately submitted to the Florida State Attorney's office for review. I definitely got my education on Ottis Toole and his partner, Henry Lee Lucas. They were grisly, gruesome characters. This afternoon's press conference was a victory for John and a special day in the fight for missing children everywhere.



:applause:

Good work. You should be proud of yourself.

[Chachie]

To make a joke about this situation is beyond wrong. I mean imagine this child last words. Imagine if you were his father. Could you imagine the agony? I mean can you think that the last words your son said might have been for you to help him, and this monster face is the last one he sees. I wish Jeffrey Dahmer would eat your heart....oh wait you don't have one.


I think Dictator was actually commenting on the fact that some a-hole reporter actually tried to drum up evidence that Dahmer had something to do with the murder. He wasn't trying to make light of the situation.

In fact, the reason we started this campaign to close the case was due to that reporter's meddling.

[Chachie]

great work.....now go back to sex orgies and taking drugs with the rest of your hippie clan. :D


So do u really work for AMW? If so how long have u been there? I have a relative who was profiled on the show...PM me for details.



I've been with AMW for almost 7 years. I don't work at the headquarters (in Bethesda) but I work at a satellite studio owned by John in Silver Spring. I will PM for details on your relative. :)

[No_Pressure]

John Walsh is a good man. America's most wanted makes a difference.

[Dictator]

I think Dictator was actually commenting on the fact that some a-hole reporter actually tried to drum up evidence that Dahmer had something to do with the murder. He wasn't trying to make light of the situation.

In fact, the reason we started this campaign to close the case was due to that reporter's meddling.

Thank you. I meant no ill will what so ever.
As an aside, as horrible as this must have been not only for Adam, but the walsh family as a whole, at least he didn't die in vain. AMW has done a lot of good in this country.

[redskns21]

I'm so very glad that there is some closure for him. As terrible as his abduction and subsequent death was, his father's advocacy has provided closure for many other families. If I were ever in the same situation, I only wish I could do 1/1000th of what John and AMW have done.

[Chachie]

Thank you. I meant no ill will what so ever.
As an aside, as horrible as this must have been not only for Adam, but the walsh family as a whole, at least he didn't die in vain. AMW has done a lot of good in this country.




I'm so very glad that there is some closure for him. As terrible as his abduction and subsequent death was, his father's advocacy has provided closure for many other families. If I were ever in the same situation, I only wish I could do 1/1000th of what John and AMW have done.






Over 1000 captures since 1982. :cheers::applause:

[Califan007]

Ottis Toole?...holy ****. He and Henry Lee Lucas have been famous for a long-ass time ("Henry: Portrait Of A Serial Killer" was based on/inspired by these two cretins). Adam Walsh's case has been even more famous (thankfully), and that these two cases ended up merging is pretty wild.

There must be some real relief for the Walsh family in all this.

[Spaceman Spiff]

I thought they were pretty sure that Toole did it awhile ago?

[Chachie]

BTW- Just to give you guys an idea of how painful this has been for the Walshes...

Adam's head has been frozen and kept as evidence for over 27 years. They can finally now have a funeral. Just imagine that kind of agony as only ONE implication of what they've gone through.

[Chachie]

I thought they were pretty sure that Toole did it awhile ago?


The Hollywood Police department didn't have enough to press charges. That's why John hired Det. Joe Mathews to compile the case against Toole after all these years. Someone who could devote all their time was necessary.

[Califan007]

The Hollywood Police department didn't have enough to press charges. That's why John hired Det. Joe Mathews to compile the case against Toole after all these years. Someone who could devote all their time was necessary.
Is there going to be anything detailing how it was determined that Ottis Toole was the murderer?

[Midnight Judges]

crimes like these are why I support the death penalty.

[Gary Clark Fan]

BTW- Just to give you guys an idea of how painful this has been for the Walshes...

Adam's head has been frozen and kept as evidence for over 27 years. They can finally now have a funeral. Just imagine that kind of agony as only ONE implication of what they've gone through.

oh gosh, how awful.....where has it been kept and who would want to look at it....

[Chachie]

oh gosh, how awful.....where has it been kept and who would want to look at it....


I'm not sure where it has been kept but I believe the Hollywood PD had it stored somewhere.

I have a pic of poor Adam's head but won't post it for reasons of decency.

[Chachie]

Is there going to be anything detailing how it was determined that Ottis Toole was the murderer?


Aside from the multi-thousand page report presented to the Florida State Attorney, no. At least not that Im aware of. I will try to get back to this thread and post as much as I can but it would take a LOT of typing. Ugh.

[RammsteinSkins]

I'm not sure where it has been kept but I believe the Hollywood PD had it stored somewhere.

I have a pic of poor Adam's head but won't post it for reasons of decency.I don't mean to sound indecent but could you PM it to me just for curiousity,i'm really into CSI and stuff like that and I wonder how it would look after so long but if you do not want,I perfectly understand.

[Gary Clark Fan]

Aside from the multi-thousand page report presented to the Florida State Attorney, no. At least not that Im aware of. I will try to get back to this thread and post as much as I can but it would take a LOT of typing. Ugh.

i would love to read the report if its available somewhere online...please dont go thru the work and try to upload it...i know it sounds morbid but i would be curious to see a picture of the head. can u PM it to me....


edited: i agree with gangrel above, i can understand if u dont want to share it....

[Chachie]

Let me consider PMing the pic. I'd feel creepy about it but I'll consider. Bye for now guys. I'm going to drink eggnog and forget about Ottis Toole for a night.

[#98QBKiller]

Wow. I remember when I was a kid my mom would always tell me the story about Adam Walsh when I wandered off in stores. Glad to hear the Walsh family has some closure.

[Yusuf06]

Those of you asking Chachie to PM you the pic should be ashamed. Not only is it in extremely poor taste it also shows no respect for Adam and his family. Besides the possibility that the picture might fall into the wrong hands, I'd hope that Chachie doesn't do so out of respect and decency.

I'm really ashamed for those of you that asked for this.

[Mark The Homer]

Is there going to be anything detailing how it was determined that Ottis Toole was the murderer?I thought I read he confessed to his neice on his death bed. That, and they had long suspected him anyway.

[Toe Jam]

Scariest thing I ever witnessed was back when I was working at Wal-Mart.

Code Adam was called out and everyone immediately stopped what they were doing and started looking for the little boy. Front doors were shut; nobody in, nobody out.

They found him within five minutes but it was real creepy to hear that called out over the communication system.

[#98QBKiller]

This is a great day for the Walsh family and for the people at "America's Most Wanted" where I work.

I was very fortunate to be able to personally assist the detective (Joe Mathews) in compiling the evidence in this case that was ultimately submitted to the Florida State Attorney's office for review. I definitely got my education on Ottis Toole and his partner, Henry Lee Lucas. They were grisly, gruesome characters. This afternoon's press conference was a victory for John and a special day in the fight for missing children everywhere.



:applause:

Chachie, I had no idea you were working for AMW. Very admirable job IMO. I'm very interested in criminal justice and have considered going back to school for it.

Wouldn't mind chatting with you some time about what it takes to make a career out of it....and maybe some MMA :silly:

Anyway, good job man. And I still think about your documentary every now and again while I'm reading Helter Skelter...which is a hell of a book.

[Califan007]

Those of you asking Chachie to PM you the pic should be ashamed. Not only is it in extremely poor taste it also shows no respect for Adam and his family. Besides the possibility that the picture might fall into the wrong hands, I'd hope that Chachie doesn't do so out of respect and decency.

I'm really ashamed for those of you that asked for this.
I gotta agree with Yusuf here. I'm a HUGE true crime fanatic and find forensic science and crime scene investigation beyond fascinating...but I can't fathom wanting to see the severed head of Adam Walsh just out of morbid curiosity, and especially on the day that should finally bring some closure and relief to the family.

[ACW]

Chachie, you work for AMW? That's pretty cool.

BTW, get this: Henry Lee Lucas had gotten the death penalty, but his sentence was commuted by then-gov. Bush. HE was the ONLY commutation that Bush gave :doh:

[HogNose]

The Adam Walsh case was the first time I really remember being focused on such a crime when I was a kid. Even without 24 hour news it was hard not to hear about it at the time. John Walsh is a great man and I'm glad the family can now have closure with this tragedy.

[Enter Apotheosis]

Chachie, you work for AMW? That's pretty cool.

BTW, get this: Henry Lee Lucas had gotten the death penalty, but his sentence was commuted by then-gov. Bush. HE was the ONLY commutation that Bush gave :doh:

Weren't the circumstances of most of his confessions highly suspect?

[ACW]

Weren't the circumstances of most of his confessions highly suspect?Even if it was, don't you think that there were other circumstances like that? With the inmate more sympathetic than this jackhole?

[Chachie]

Those of you asking Chachie to PM you the pic should be ashamed. Not only is it in extremely poor taste it also shows no respect for Adam and his family. Besides the possibility that the picture might fall into the wrong hands, I'd hope that Chachie doesn't do so out of respect and decency.

I'm really ashamed for those of you that asked for this.


I'm a little ashamed for mentioning that I have the pic. I think there's a bit of morbid curiosity in everyone so I can understand why some would want the pic. I won't be PMing it to anyone but I didn't mind people asking. Thanks for having my back though, Yusuf.

[Kilmer17]

I am very close with a few people at Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Some of the things they deal with are horrifying.

Scariest moment of my life as a dad-

At Epcot with my family, my brother in law and his family and HIS brother in law and family. So we have 6 adults and 8 kids ages 11-infant. We're in the Germany pavillion and my BIL and I are in line to get a beer. Our 2 year olds are in a stroller with his 8 year old pushing it. Well you cant get the stroller into the que, so the 8 year old sits with it while we stand in the line. Never more than 5 FEET away and always in site. After we gett our beers, I notice my daughter is out of the stroller and ask the 8 year old where she is. The reply is "I dont know".

Freak out time.

I start frantically looking and screaming her name.

Within 1 minute we are surrounded by about a dozen Disney people. Most of which are dressed as tourists. IE, nothing Disney on them. The head woman in charge was very confident and reaqssuring. She said "We've been in business 50 years and never lost a kid." We'll find her shortly.

Well, it turns out she got out of the stroller and was walking past the fountain in Germany and my BIL's BIL (following that) was on a bench and saw her. Grabbed her and was getting candy while we were panicking.

So we had her back within about 5 minutes. Scary as hell. The Head lady told me after the fact that they shut down the exits if the kid isnt found within 5 minutes. And the longest any kid had gone missing was 2 hours because they had fallen asleep in a pavillion.

Very reassuring to know that Disney takes it that seriously. And very cool that they have that many employees working undercover.

[Chachie]

I am very close with a few people at Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Some of the things they deal with are horrifying.



I have done a couple shoots there. Ask your friends about the Wall of Shame on (I believe) the 4th floor.

[DeanCollins]

This is a great day for the Walsh family and for the people at "America's Most Wanted" where I work.

I was very fortunate to be able to personally assist the detective (Joe Mathews) in compiling the evidence in this case that was ultimately submitted to the Florida State Attorney's office for review. I definitely got my education on Ottis Toole and his partner, Henry Lee Lucas. They were grisly, gruesome characters. This afternoon's press conference was a victory for John and a special day in the fight for missing children everywhere.



:applause:

very cool, good work. Tell us more about it. :applause:

[Henry]

Disney has got the theme park thing down like nobody's business. I've got some stories of my own about how well they're run but that's for another thread I guess.

This summer my then two-year-old's stroller dissappeared (with him in it) at a theme park in upstate New York. It was very similar to Kilmer's freak-out moment. Turned out my brother-in-law had him the whole time and just forgot to tell us he was heading to another part of the park.

[Rocky21]

Chachie, you work for AMW? That's pretty cool.

BTW, get this: Henry Lee Lucas had gotten the death penalty, but his sentence was commuted by then-gov. Bush. HE was the ONLY commutation that Bush gave :doh:This is unbelievable!

[#98QBKiller]

BTW, get this: Henry Lee Lucas had gotten the death penalty, but his sentence was commuted by then-gov. Bush. HE was the ONLY commutation that Bush gave :doh:


That's complete and utter bull**** on Bush's part.

[USS Redskins]

That is messed up - he is the animal from the movie, Henry... poor family. It must have been torturous all these years but at least Walsh has made a real difference. He is a real hero.

Does anyone in the Maryland area remember the Lyons Sisters?
They were 2 girls abducted at Wheaton Plaza in 1975. Never heard from again.
Spooked everyone and my mom wouldnt let us go the the mall for like 5 years without her.

[Dan T.]

That is messed up - he is the animal from the movie, Henry... poor family. It must have been torturous all these years but at least Walsh has made a real difference. He is a real hero.

Does anyone in the Maryland area remember the Lyons Sisters?
They were 2 girls abducted at Wheaton Plaza in 1975. Never heard from again.
Spooked everyone and my mom wouldnt let us go the the mall for like 5 years without her.

I don't think they ever solved the Lyons girls case, did they? Their father was a news reporter for WMAL. Sad case.

[Chachie]

Does anyone in the Maryland area remember the Lyons Sisters?
They were 2 girls abducted at Wheaton Plaza in 1975. Never heard from again.
Spooked everyone and my mom wouldnt let us go the the mall for like 5 years without her.


I totally remember the Lyons sisters abduction.

[chaddukes]

This thread is making me ill! I'm never letting my kids out of my site!

[USS Redskins]

I don't think they ever solved the Lyons girls case, did they? Their father was a news reporter for WMAL. Sad case.

No they didnt solve. My friend was their younger brothers best friend at the time (I met my buddy years later in HS) and he lived just a few blocks from them.
Yes - the father was an announcer on WMAL and then later I think he did some things for Channel 7.

I just read some things online about it and the case is still considered open. There is a whole website, websleuths.com with tons of info on there about all kinds murders & kidnappings. It's sad and scary that so much of this goes on.

[Gary Clark Fan]

That is messed up - he is the animal from the movie, Henry... poor family. It must have been torturous all these years but at least Walsh has made a real difference. He is a real hero.

Does anyone in the Maryland area remember the Lyons Sisters?
They were 2 girls abducted at Wheaton Plaza in 1975. Never heard from again.
Spooked everyone and my mom wouldnt let us go the the mall for like 5 years without her.


what was the movie henry?

and yea sad about the lyons girls....just disappeared from wheaton mall and never seen from again....i dont even think they ever had a suspect....b/c of that i was always afraid of going to that mall and thought it was very erie every time i passed it.

btw, wonder how whoever did it was able to abduct both twins at the same time? maybe there were two people involved? My theory is that someone told them please come with us as your parents said we were picking u up and they got in the car with them and that was the end.

what about bradford bishop case? murdered his family in bethesda in the early 70's dumped them into a car and drove down to NC and lit the car on fire burning the bodies...when police found the care and made the connection bradford was gone....as a former cia guy he is a many of many langugages and could be anywhere in the world now...he is still i believe on the top 10 list of AMW. my friend lived right down the street from that house.

[USS Redskins]

The movie is Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. Very disturbing. This guy Henry just went around killing everyone in sight. He killed one with a gun, another with a rope, knife,etc... never had a pattern - he said that was the way he kept the cops from catching him for so long. He claimed he killed like 300 people but it was never confirmed. For a while, he partnered up with this guy who killed Adam Walsh... at least in the movie, they killed together for a while but I dont know the whole story.

I still get the shivers thinking about the Lyon girls. I was only like 6 but even I could see that it shook the region at the time.
According to the website I was reading earlier - there was a possible suspect spotted at Wheaton Plaza talking to kids who had a tape recorder in a brief case and he was interviewing kids with a microphone - he was seen speaking to the girls. He was also spotted in PG County malls doing the same thing in the weeks before. They had a police sketch but no one ever id'd him.
Also - someone claimed that they spotted two blonde girls bound and gagged in a car in VA a week after the abduction - the car sped off and the partial lisc. plates and description of the car never checked out.
The family rec'd crank calls in the next few months trying to get extortion money. They went through with a money drop off but no one ever showed. They figured it was a hoax.

[Heisenberg]

Thanks USS Redskins - I've now spent the past hour or two reading these massive threads on the Lyons case on that website.

Extremely creepy - it's even more horrible when you never know what happened and are just left guessing and wondering if the guy is still out there.

I was also confused as to why Chachie would have such a picture - I'm sure there is a reason but it just seems like an odd thing to have unless there was some use for it.

[Gary Clark Fan]

Thanks USS Redskins - I've now spent the past hour or two reading these massive threads on the Lyons case on that website.

Extremely creepy - it's even more horrible when you never know what happened and are just left guessing and wondering if the guy is still out there.

I was also confused as to why Chachie would have such a picture - I'm sure there is a reason but it just seems like an odd thing to have unless there was some use for it.

yea thanks USS for giving me the website I have wasted my entire afternoon reading up on it....my clients will love u me now:silly:

[USS Redskins]

Sorry JMU and GCF - I have been doing the same thing... I will be in some trouble with the boss now.

My buddy lived right down the street from the girls and was friends with their younger brother. I met him (my friend) in High School in the 80's. We skipped school many times and went to Wheaton Plaza and then took a short cut to his house... the first time we did that he told me we were walking the same route as the girls did that day. Even though it was a decade later, it still creeped me out.

A side note: in the early 90's there was a molestation case in the news - in VA, a kid was molested (he might have been murdered, cant remember) and the main suspect was a neighbor - bald white guy in his 50's or 60's. My buddy recognized the molester as a former neighbor of his... who in the 70's lived just a few blocks down from his house and the lyon family.
He called the FBI about it and they interviewed him on the phone for like 2 hours but nothing came out of it.
Wish my memory was better - I cant remember the molesters name.... anyone remember that molestation story? I know its vague as hell... I wouldnt mind adding that info to the site.

[Painkiller]

Wow. I remember when I was a kid my mom would always tell me the story about Adam Walsh when I wandered off in stores. Glad to hear the Walsh family has some closure.


Same here. My mom was terrified of what happened to him, and I was always attached at the hip to my mother when we went out. I think the crime really hit home with my parents, because I was the same age as Adam. He would be 33 now, had he not been killed. Glad the case is finally closed for the Walsh family.

[Chachie]

The movie is Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. Very disturbing. This guy Henry just went around killing everyone in sight. He killed one with a gun, another with a rope, knife,etc... never had a pattern - he said that was the way he kept the cops from catching him for so long. He claimed he killed like 300 people but it was never confirmed. For a while, he partnered up with this guy who killed Adam Walsh... at least in the movie, they killed together for a while but I dont know the whole story.




Henry Lee Lucas and Ottis Toole were homosexual partners (Lucas was bi-sexual) and drifters who would simply drive around the country picking up hitch hikers and bar flies to murder them. They each claimed many more murders than most people think they actually were responsible for. The only reason it is now believed Ottis Toole killed Adam Walsh was because the details of his story fit with the evidence and because even though he recanted his confession, he later told his niece while on his death bed that he did murder Adam and deeply regretted it because it was the only child he ever killed.

[ACW]

Chachie, are you allowed to tell us what any of the evidence against Toole was? I'm sure there was more than just his confession.

[War Paint]

I'm just really confused on how they know for sure this guy did it after all these years and why it took so long. The guy died in 1996, so he would have confessed to his sister 12 years ago. How come it has taken so long to pinpoint this guy with 100% accuracy with the crime. If he kills people, he could be a bold face liar as well.

I hope he is the killer and that there is absolute proof he did it just so the Walsh's can have some type of closure. I can't even begin to imagine what the Walsh's went through after all these years. I remember when the story first happened. I was a kid myself. It totally changed things when I went to the store with my mom.

[ACW]

BTW, John wrote a book awhile ago about this called "Tears of Rage." Worth reading.

[Chachie]

Chachie, are you allowed to tell us what any of the evidence against Toole was? I'm sure there was more than just his confession.



Actually I don't know if I'm allowed or not. If you'd have just asked me straight up without mentioning that part I'd have probably blurted it all out. :)

However, I am also pretty hazy on some of those details because I only worked with the compiled elements of the case for about a month and I've been busy since. On the obvious side, Toole's main evidence was his confession and his knowledge of the circumstances. His car was also a factor but the Jacksonville PD lost it.

[ACW]

Actually I don't know if I'm allowed or not. If you'd have just asked me straight up without mentioning that part I'd have probably blurted it all out. :)

However, I am also pretty hazy on some of those details because I only worked with the compiled elements of the case for about a month and I've been busy since. On the obvious side, Toole's main evidence was his confession and his knowledge of the circumstances. His car was also a factor but the Jacksonville PD lost it.Yeah, I remember in Walsh's book the PD screwed up big time. BTW, what exactly IS your job?

[Chachie]

Yeah, I remember in Walsh's book the PD screwed up big time. BTW, what exactly IS your job?


I'm an associate producer at a post-production facility. Not a big deal. I'm a hack editor and don't have a ton of experience as real producer. John asked me to help out the detective by organizing the case items and acting as his custodian of them while he prepared the report for the Florida State's Attorney specifically for the goal of closing the case with the deceased Ottis Toole as the recognized perpetrator.

[ACW]

I'm an associate producer at a post-production facility. Not a big deal. I'm a hack editor and don't have a ton of experience as real producer. John asked me to help out the detective by organizing the case items and acting as his custodian of them while he prepared the report for the Florida State's Attorney specifically for the goal of closing the case with the deceased Ottis Toole as the recognized perpetrator.That's still kinda cool though. Who's Walsh's #1 most wanted now?

[Chachie]

That's still kinda cool though. Who's Walsh's #1 most wanted now?


I don't watch the show as often as I used to.

[Dan T.]

Here's a pretty good recap of the grisly saga of Henry Lee Lucas and Ottis Elwood Toole (http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/serial_killers/notorious/henry_lee_lucas/1.html).

Evidence points to them being serial killers, but the true number is in great dispute. Law enforcement is pretty much certain Lucas killed 3 people, including his mother. He claimed to have killed anywhere from 100 to 360 people. The problem is that after he was convicted of the first murders, he became a serial confessor. Much of the information he provided was uncannily accurate, but some of the confessions were probably aided by law enforcement officers from all over the country, eager to close unsolved cases, leading Lucas on by letting him see case files to "refresh his memory," after which it was easy for him to implicate himself with details of the crime. No one knows how many of the confessions were tainted and how many were accurate. He did lead some investigators to crime scenes and remains. But the true extent of his crimes will probably never be known. Why would he confess? He had nothing to lose, it got him out of his cell, and out of prison as he led investigators on trips to crime scenes.

But make no mistake, Lucas and Toole were some sick mofos. Reading their backgrounds is an ordeal to get through. Bizarre, and scary to think that human beings can sink to that level of depravity.

[jthor99]

I thought they were pretty sure that Toole did it awhile ago?

Walsh himself always felt that Toole was the killer.