This book is about the kidnapping and police investigation of Adam Walsh. If you don't know the story, the background is that Adam Walsh, a 6-year-old from Hollywood, FL was kidnapped from Sears store in 1981. His severed head was found a couple of weeks later, however, nothing else was found. A suspect was tentatively identified as Otis Toole, a serial killer. He confessed to the crime and then recanted numerous times, but evidence definitely pointed to him. However, the Hollywood police department, totally overwhelmed with the seriousness and enormity of the crime, did not conduct a decent investigation. Otis Toole was never charged and he eventually died in prison in 1996.
Adam Walsh's parents, John and Reve Walsh asked a police detective from Miami, Sgt. Joe Matthews, to investigate. He was originally brought on the case in 1981, but the local police decided they didn't need him -plus he was asking tough questions regarding the investigation and the detective in charge, Hoffman, didn't like being questioned. Sgt. Matthews was able to unearth information that was already in police files, and make a case for Otis Toole being the killer. The Hollywood police department agreed, and in 2008, the Adam Walsh case was officially closed with Otis Toole declared the killer.
I have always been interested in the Adam Walsh case - not sure why. I remember watching the made for TV movie in the 80's and being upset. After reading this book, I cannot imagine the frustration the Walsh family has lived with for all these years. You don't want to believe that the police could screw up something so badly, but I don't see how you could believe they did a thorough investigation. It is amazing how police politics can become more important than actually finding a person who murdered a child, especially in the way Adam Walsh was killed. I guess it is similar to how government agencies don't share information now. Egos get in the way.
Although I am sure knowing who the murderer is, is some kind of closure for the Walsh family, it happened way too late. The fact that Sgt. Matthews just used the information that the police already had, is unacceptable. This book should be a lesson for police departments to see how petty differences affect so many people - and the pain it causes.
Great book!
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