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American Morning

John Walsh Marks 20-Year Anniversary of Son's Disappearance

Aired July 27, 2001 - 11:27   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Twenty years ago today -- it was 20 years that Adam Walsh went to a -- went shopping with his mother at a Florida mall. While she browsed, like mothers do all across the country, the boy lingered in the toy department and like so many 6- year-olds are prone to do. His parents never saw him again.

Adam's disappearance focused intense awareness on missing children in this country. Adam's father was largely responsible for directing attention to the problem. John Walsh, well known across America, joining us from New York. John, it's good to see you today.

JOHN WALSH, "AMERICA'S MOST WANTED": Thank you.

KAGAN: A difficult day, the 20th anniversary of the disappearance of your son. Do you still mark the day or is it something that just stays with you every day?

WALSH: Both. We mark the day and the family tries to remember Adam in the wonderful way that he was, such a beautiful little boy, and he is with us every day. I mean he is our inspiration. I think we tried very hard to change attitudes throughout the country of law enforcement and legislatures about how they deal with missing children. We wanted to make sure Adam didn't die in vain and he's certainly been our inspiration.

We've always tried to focus on the fact that he was the victim and hoped that he didn't die in vain.

KAGAN: And for people who have followed your story, they know that you have a certain amount of information about what happened to him, but at least in terms of the justice system, you never did get complete closure, did you?

WALSH: No, the main suspect in Adam's case, Ottis Toole, died on death row in Florida a horrible death of AIDS and many people in law enforcement -- and I believe that he is the man that killed Adam -- he was a serial killer, pedophile, and although we didn't get closure and justice in this life, I think he's paying for it in the next life.

KAGAN: You've taken that pain and taken your experience and turned it into, as you mentioned, a life that is dedicated to helping people, other crime victims. We're going to get back to you, John, hopefully, if you can stick around. First, though, we do need to take our viewers to West Palm Beach. The judge has entered the courtroom in the Nathaniel Brazill murder case and we're going to listen to his sentencing.

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