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American Morning

Interview With John Walsh

Aired July 18, 2002 - 07:43   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: A man who has been very much affected by the abduction and killing of a child, John Walsh, and when John Walsh's son was kidnapped and murdered 21 years ago, Walsh's life turned into a mission to help find missing children and catch criminals.

The host of "America's Most Wanted" joins us now with his view of what the public can do to help to bring Samantha's killer to justice -- good morning, John.

JOHN WALSH, HOST, "AMERICA'S MOST WANTED": Good morning, Paula.

ZAHN: Another child, another outrage, you heard what the sheriff just had to say. He thinks they have some substantial investigative leads. He says, we're looking at, at least a serial sexual predator, perhaps a serial killer.

What can the public do about that?

WALSH: Take a good look at that composite. If you know anybody that you think fits that description, you can call your local police, you can call "America's Most Wanted" at 1-800-CRIMETV. People have to come forward. Somebody knows this guy. You're absolutely right, he is a sexual predator.

You know, Paula, about a week-and-a-half ago, a guy was cornered in Jacksonville, Florida, a guy that I've been looking for for five years. He was successful in killing what the FBI estimates five girls, the Spotsylvania murders. He is attributed to those murders. He roamed around the country. He had the perfect cover. You know, he was married to a woman with MS. But you know, he is now a suspect in five serial killings, and you know, the public has to be very, very aware.

You know, this is the ninth child that has been reported missing in the last three-and-a-half months, cases that we have been involved with on "America's Most Wanted." We are all absolutely devastated by Elizabeth Smart. I talked to her father for two-and-a-half hours yesterday. We were appalled when Danielle Van Dam was taken out of her house. But you know, people have forgotten that Ashley Pond and Miranda Gaddis are missing in Oregon City, Oregon. Here are two 12- year-old girls who were taken on the way to school.

I mean, Paula, you know, I could go and on, but I've been involved in nine cases in the last three months. And this -- you know, this coward, this -- this -- I can't -- I want to say it. This (EXPLETIVE DELETED) has to be hunted down before he -- before he kills another child.

ZAHN: Well, that's the fear on so many parents' minds right now, John, when you have the sheriff saying that this guy could strike again within the next 24 hours. He retracted that a little bit later on. But the fact is, legal -- law authorities are worried that this guy could not only hurt again, but kill again.

WALSH: Oh, absolutely, absolutely. I think that, you know, this is summertime when kids are outside playing, and I don't care where it is. I mean, Oregon City, Oregon is paralyzed by the abduction of Miranda Gaddis and Ashley Pond, two 12-year-old girls that are still missing. Salt Lake City is paralyzed by the fact that Elizabeth Smart is missing. People in San Diego said it couldn't happen here when Danielle Van Dam was taken.

This is the summer, when kids are out playing. This is a little girl that was in her front yard. This guy could strike again. He is probably on that killing spree, and people really, really have to be aware.

And you know, I don't believe in spreading paranoia, Paula, but I'll tell you what, it's been a devastating three months. I have been -- I have been doing this for 20 years since my son was murdered, and I have never seen the brazen behavior that's been going on of child abductors taking children from inside the home, from in front of the home, on their way to school buses.

And I am just telling people, please be aware, and if you see anything, anything that you think is suspicious, or someone that you think is suspicious, god, please have the guts to make that call. Call somebody. Call local authorities, call "America's Most Wanted," where you can remain anonymous. But I'll tell you what, I believe that the profilers are absolutely right. The person that killed Samantha is on a killing spree, and will probably kill again until he is caught or until he is killed.

ZAHN: In closing this morning, John, I guess what makes me so sick about the story, by all accounts, the parents did everything they could do to train Samantha to scream if she were to be attacked. She did that. Her witness retained an unbelievable amount of information for a 5-year-old. Short of running through these scenarios with your children, what else can we do about this?

WALSH: I'll tell you, you absolutely have to talk to your children. You have to say, I don't care whether I live in Salt Lake City, I don't care whether I live in Beverly Hills, I don't care whether I live in Oregon City, Oregon, that you can be a victim.

That you know there was a survey done yesterday. I thought it was very interesting. And I was saw -- I was watching your show yesterday morning when you were talking about this, and you were saying that 25 percent of Americans didn't believe it could happen to them. Well, I'll tell you what, it could happen anywhere. And you've got to talk to your kids, and you've got to watch them.

And I don't believe in creating a paranoid society, but, Paula, you know, what's really sad is you and I are talking about these kids repeatedly over the last three months, and most of the cases we have talked about are unsolved. And this -- this is a guy that's out there, and you have to talk to your children. You have to open those lines of communication.

You know, here is a little girl that was very street-smart. And you know the saddest thing is, when the guy was grabbing her, what breaks my heart as the father of a murdered child, she was screaming out to her little friend, "Tell my grandmother, tell my grandmother that somebody has grabbed me." So I'm telling you, you know what? I don't believe in paranoia, but I'll tell you what, I'd rather have my children a little bit more aware, a little bit more scared than go to the morgue and identify their body, because these (EXPLETIVE DELETED) are out there.

ZAHN: John Walsh, as always, thanks for your advice, thanks for your insights. You certainly understand the pain the Runnion family is going through, given that you experienced a pretty similar situation. Again, thanks for your time this morning.

WALSH: Thank you.

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