Post by pakman on Jun 28, 2014 22:30:43 GMT -5
Who wants to see recaps of all the AMW episodes that aired in June 2004? Good, because I've got them for you!
After my episode analyses this month, be sure to check out the bottom of the page for a preview of what's coming up in the next batch of episodes I'm reviewing. It's a new feature I want to try out so you'll know what to expect in the next set of reviews. Let me know what you think of it!
Episode #767 - June 5, 2004
Mark Holsombach and William Frazier Capture (Full segment) - Good police work led to the capture of two survivalists from Arkansas who got into a violent shootout with law enforcement. Earlier in 2004, police went to question Mark Holsombach and William Frazier about the disappearance of Ann and Ted Throneberry, as well as arrest them on outstanding warrants. When the duo realized they were surrounded, they got into a shootout, injuring an Arkansas State Police officer. He survived, but was seriously injured. The pair got away and after about two weeks, they were found. Frazier was arrested first, and Holsombach was caught the following day. But Holsombach wasn't alone; Ann Throneberry was with him. It turns out that Ann Throneberry and Holsombach were lovers and she arranged to have the pair kill her husband, Ted. All three were then charged with murder.
(commercial break)
William "Billy" Myears (Full segment) - Minnesota fugitive wanted for the murder of Erika Dahlquist, a woman who had dreams of joining the Air Force. Erika was last seen at a nightclub with several friends and Myears, who she hadn't met before that night. Police questioned Myears, who admitted that he was the last person to be seen with Erika and while he denied killing her, he did say where she might be found. Officers searched the area, but came up empty, so they released Myears. Months later, Erika's body was found in the lake after all the ice had melted. But by then, Myears was gone. The very night of this profile, AMW tipsters led police to a carnival in Michigan, where Myears was busted within 45 minutes of his profile. He was Capture #798.
(commercial break)
Terror Alert (Breaking news update, approx. 1 minute) - Once again, the seven terror suspects featured on last week's show were profiled. Specifically, AMW focuses on Adnan El Shukrijumah, suspected of plotting to build a dirty bomb and detonate it in America. Newly-released video of Shukrijumah is shown giving a presentation in a class. Amer El-Maati and Abderraouf Jdey are still at large. Ahmed Ghailani and Aafia Siddiqui have been captured, while Fazul Mohammad, Adnan El Shukrijumah and Adam Gadahn were killed.
Unknown Brittany Fish Abductor (Full segment) - The case of an abducted five-year-old child in New York who was found safely is updated. No new information was released during this update, but AMW wanted to keep pressure on the suspect who had kidnapped Brittany Fish. The alleged abductor, Kevin Schaus, was captured indirectly in early 2005.
(commercial break)
Christian Rodriguez (Full segment) - Serial rapist wanted out of Florida for raping two college-aged women over the course of two weeks. He broke into one woman's house and raped her with an accomplice, while he posed as a someone getting signatures for a petition to get into the second woman's house. Thanks to AMW tips, Rodriguez was captured in Puerto Rico in 2005, making him Capture #840.
(commercial break)
Ena McNeish (Break-Four Tease) - Wanted for causing a head-on collision that killed a man in New York City. Still at large.
(commercial break continues)
Rosa Sandoval (Missing Child Alert) - Texas police were searching for 11-year-old Rosa Sandoval, who disappeared while walking to school. Rosa's body was found about a year after this profile. To my knowledge, nobody has ever been charged in the case.
Omar Delarosa, Janny Paez, Fernando Moronta, Nelson Zuniga and Marina Musso Capture (Full segment) - Maureen O'Boyle reports on the murder of Tony Battaglia, who was murdered on the back porch of his Long Island home as he was coming back from work. Police believed the attack was linked to a gang of street robbers that had been linked to several similar crimes, though Tony was the only death linked to the gang. Thanks to an anonymous tip, investigators were able to arrest five people in connection to the crime.
Episode notes:
- During the Terror Alert, AMW claims that Adnan El Shukrijumah has been profiled twice before. However, this profile was Shukrijumah's fourth. He was profiled twice in 2003 and his third profile was the previous week.
- The murder of Tony Battaglia was never profiled on AMW, but there are indications that it was going to be. Among them, the fact that Maureen O'Boyle reports on the crime and then the story somewhat abruptly switches to talking about all the tips that came in. Also, the case was solved mere weeks before this profile.
- Maureen O'Boyle is a news anchor for a TV station in North Carolina. She had previously been an on-air reporter for both "A Current Affair" and "Extra." This is the only time she ever contributed to AMW.
Episode #768 - June 12, 2004 (Canada's Most Wanted Special Edition)
Dudley Forbes Capture (Full segment) - Tom Morris reports that, after years on the run, longtime AMW fugitive Dudley Forbes has been captured. Forbes had been on the run since 1994 after he shot up a nightclub in an attempt to kill his ex-girlfriend, who he had been stalking. She survived, but two innocent people were killed. In early 2004, police developed information that Forbes had fled to Jamaica, his homeland. Jamaican police "swooped in" (as the lead investigator in that country said) and arrested Forbes.
Wayne Cassidy & Stafford Lake (Full segment) - Canadian police were looking for Wayne Cassidy and Stafford Lake, who escaped from a prison camp in British Columbia by simply walking away from the fenceless facility. Lake was serving a 23-year sentence for raping a female bar employee and dumping her on the side of the road. Cassidy had been convicted of strangling his ex-girlfriend in her own home and was serving life. Lake and Cassidy were the first inmates in the camp's 15-year history who had even attempted an escape. Cassidy was captured thanks to an AMW tipster, making him Capture #799. Lake was indirectly captured two weeks later.
Timothy Berner (Breaking news, approx. 1 minute) - Career criminal wanted for shooting and killing Officer Mark Sawyers, of the Sterling Heights, Michigan, police department, and stealing his service weapon. Berner had apparently shot the officer while he was pulled over and filling out paperwork, and committed the crime because he wanted a smaller gun to use in his bank robberies. Thanks to AMW tips, Berner was tracked to Florida about a month after this profile. He committed suicide before he could be arrested. Berner was Capture #804.
(commercial break)
Unknown Cecilia Zhang Killer (Full segment) - Eight months after Cecilia Zhang was abducted from her own bedroom and murdered, police were seeking information on who killed the nine-year-old. AMW focused on a Chinese-Canadian detective who helped get people to talk to police, since the Chinese community had reservations about coming forward to officers. Cecilia's body was found in late March 2004. Just a couple weeks after this profile, a man named Min Chen was arrested and charged with Cecilia's murder. There's no indication AMW played a role in the arrest.
(commercial break)
Richard Newman (All-Points Bulletin) - Fugitive wanted out of Toronto for gunning down a nightclub security guard because the man asked Newman to put out his cigarette and remove his headband. As a direct result of this profile, Newman was tracked down to New York City, where he was arrested after getting into a shootout with police. Newman was AMW's milestone 800th capture, though he was eventually acquitted in the security guard's murder.
Ismael Zambada-Garcia (All-Points Bulletin) - Mexican police are seeking Ismael Zambada-Garcia, a major drug kingpin, for several drug-related crimes, including murder. Zambada-Garcia may have even been involved in the murder of Ramon Arellano-Felix. Police believe Zambada-Garcia underwent plastic surgery to change his appearance. Still at large.
(commercial break)
Skerdi Zena (Brief, approx. 1 minute) - Canadian fugitive wanted for breaking into a woman's home and attacking her in her bed while she slept. The woman survived. Zena was captured in early 2005.
William "Billy" Myears Capture (Full segment) - Less than 45 minutes after accused killer Billy Myears was profiled, an AMW tip led to his arrest in Michigan. Myears, who was wanted for killing a young woman in Minnesota, was believed to be working with a traveling carnival. Sure enough, that's exactly what happened. Officers showed up and arrested Myears as he was manning the Ferris wheel at a carnival in Michigan; interestingly, the carnival happened to be set up right next to the local police department. Myears was Capture #798.
(commercial break)
Hector Dominguez (Break-Four Tease) - Wanted for shooting and killing a man in New Mexico. Still at large.
(commercial break continues)
Jesse James Hollywood (Full segment) - Rick Segall reports from Vancouver on numerous reported sightings of American fugitive Jesse James Hollywood, wanted out of California for ordering the murder of the 15-year-old brother of a man who owed Hollywood money. Tipsters included a bar waitress who said Hollywood had harrassed her and a man who police actually arrested, but determined it was just a look-a-like and not Hollywood. The real fugitive was captured in early 2005 in Brazil.
Episode notes:
- This episode was filmed in Toronto, Canada.
- AMW's capture counter is incorrect; it says the show has caught 797 fugitives, and doesn't account for Billy Myears' capture. This is really odd, especially considering Myears' capture was profiled on this episode.
- Myears had a really interesting post-capture update. Not long after he was captured, he was hospitalized for a mysterious medical condition and ended up being partially paralyzed. If I'm remembering this correctly, I think I read an article that said during his sentencing, he was wheelchair-bound.
- This is the first time AMW mentions that Jesse James Hollywood had a movie being made about him. That movie, "Alpha Dog," was released after Hollywood was captured. It was very loosely based on Hollywood and his crimes.
- This was Jesse James Hollywood's last profile before his capture. His case was updated twice after this; he had a capture report in early 2005 and a Final Justice update in 2009.
Episode #769 - June 19, 2004
Naomi Betts Capture (Full segment) - John Turchin reports from Sikeston, Missouri, on the capture of a female bank robber from Indiana. After AMW her case, more than a dozen tips came in identifying the woman as Naomi Betts. Several tips also placed her in Sikeston, where investigators found her. Betts was actually captured thanks to her little boy; when officers couldn't find her, they asked the boy where his mommy was and he pointed them to where she was hiding. She was Capture #797.
Shawn Windsor (Full segment) - Kentucky man wanted for the brutal murders of his estranged wife and his own son. Windsor allegedly bludgeoned both to death with a dumbbell and then stabbed both of them. Windsor's car was found abandoned a couple weeks later in North Carolina, and thanks to AMW tips he was located days after his car was found. He was Capture #801.
(commercial break)
Unknown Maria & Carmen Hernandez Killer (Full segment) - Ed Miller reports on a brutal murder from Fremont, California. Carmen Hernandez was walking her mother, Maria, to her 5 a.m. job after her usual ride didn't show up. While walking, the pair was attacked and beaten to death by a man wielding a tree branch. Carmen called her cousin to pick them up, but the pair was attacked while Carmen was on the phone. Still at large.
(commercial break)
Timothy Berner (Update, approx. 1 minute) - The hunt continued for Timothy Berner, the accused bank robber who shot and killed a police officer with a shotgun because he wanted a smaller weapon. AMW reveals new photos of Berner, and reveals more clues about him, including the fact that he once applied to be an exotic dancer. AMW tips led to Berner in Florida, but before he could be arrested he committed suicide. He was Capture #804.
Andre Neverson (Full segment) - Rick Segall reports on the latest information on fugitive Andre Neverson. The fugitive is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend and his own sister. Police believed Neverson was involved in a gas scam back in his old neighborhood of Crown Heights, Brooklyn. However, they determined it wasn't him. Neverson was caught in Connecticut in 2018.
(commercial break)
Randolph Dial & Bobbi Parker (Full segment, part one) - In the early 80s, a martial arts instructor named Kelly Hogan was shot and killed by a man he didn't know. The case remained cold for five years until a man named Randolph Dial turned himself into police, claiming he had killed Kelly Hogan. During his interview, Dial claimed he killed the man because a contract had been put on his life by the mafia, a claim which was never proven. Dial pleaded guilty and received a life sentence. For almost a decade, Dial lived quietly in the Oklahoma prison system until a new deputy warden was hired in the mid-90s.
(commercial break)
Sam & Lindsay Porter (Break-Four Tease) - Siblings from Independence, Missouri, who went missing after being last seen with their father. Their bodies were found in 2005, and their father, Dan Porter, was charged with their murders.
(commercial break continues)
Randolph Dial & Bobbi Parker (Full segment, part two) - After Randy Parker became deputy warden, convicted killer Randolph Dial got reassigned to medium-security and taught pottery classes at the deputy warden's home. One person who Dial was teaching was Bobbi Parker, the wife of the deputy warden. In 1994, Bobbi Parker and Dial disappeared, with many unsure if Bobbi Parker went willingly or was taken by Dial. In 2005, thanks to an AMW tip, the pair was found in Texas. Dial was Capture #835 (he died in prison in 2007). Although she continues to maintain her innocence (and Dial admitted he abducted her) a couple years ago a jury convicted Bobbi of helping Dial escape from prison.
After the Dial/Parker profile, John Walsh tacks on an update talking about where some of the latest tips on the case have been pointing (this is an edited-down version of Dial's November 2003 profile).
Episode notes:
- I'm not exactly sure where this episode was filmed; it wasn't in the studio, but it's also never stated where they're filming. It's most likely Washington, D.C., but I can't say for certain.
- Once again, the capture counter is wrong; it still doesn't count Billy Myears' capture.
- This was the last episode to air before the website underwent its 2004 makeover.
- Naomi Betts makes some type of obscene gesture during her walk of shame, as her hands get blurred out at one point.
- During Naomi Betts' capture report, much is made about the fact that Sikeston is a small town where everybody knows everybody and it's such a pleasant place to live (there's even country-style music playing in the background). However, AMW apparently forgot that Sikeston is where Richard Yang was wanted out of. What's even more odd is that Yang himself was profiled in September.
- Andre Neverson's profile is exactly the same as his March 2004 profile. There are literally no differences between the two. I'm wondering if they were asked to reair it, because it's highly unusual for the same fugitive to be aired twice in such a short period of time without an update.
Episode #770 - June 26, 2004
Timothy Berner (Full segment) - Rick Segall reports on the latest tips coming in from the Timothy Berner investigation. Berner, a bank robber, was accused of killing Sterling Heights Police Officer Mark Sawyers with a shotgun blast. The motive was theft; Berner wanted to steal the officer's gun so he could use it in robberies. Evidence suggests that Berner was stalking officers, trying to find one to shoot. Berner was located in Florida, but killed himself before he could be arrested. He was Capture #804.
Gordon Weaver Capture (Full segment) - A man in Florence, Oregon became suspicious when a man named David Carson moved to town. Carson didn't have any ID and some of his behavior concerned the man. Eventually the man discovered the truth when he was on amw.com and found Carson was really named Gordon Weaver, wanted for killing his wife and burning their house down in Minnesota. After police were tipped off, they arrested Weaver, making him Capture #796.
(commercial break)
Brooke Wilberger (Full segment) - Ed Miller travels to Oregon to report on the mysterious disappearance of 19-year-old Brooke Wilberger. While home on summer break from college, she vanished while doing some housekeeping work at her sister's apartment. In early 2006, Joel Courtney, a serial rapist, was arrested and charged with Brooke's murder. Her body was found in 2009.
(commercial break)
Unknown Lori Lepper Killer (Full segment) - Los Angeles police were looking to find out what happened to Lori Lepper, a rock fan who was also the webmaster for rock bassist Duff McKagan's website. She was found dead in her apartment as a result of a stabbing. Police believe she was killed three days earlier. There was no forced entry but the suspect escaped by cutting through a window screen. Still at large.
(commercial break)
Jessi Vega (Full segment) - Tom Morris reports on an investigation by Salt Lake City Police into the disappearance and murder of a teenager. Police believe the woman was murdered by her boyfriend, Jessi Vega (aka, Arturo Munguia) after he saw her getting a ride with another man and assumed she was cheating on him. Her body was found in the mountains, but Vega was long gone. Still at large.
(commercial break)
Luis Estrella (Break-Four Tease) - Suspected drug kingpin wanted for running a cocaine ring in Los Angeles. Still at large.
(commercial break continues)
Robert Fisher (Full segment) - Retired FBI Agent Ralph DiFonzo joins the manhunt for Robert Fisher, one of the FBI's Ten Most Wanted. Fisher is accused of killing his wife and two children in their Arizona home then rigging their home to explode hours after he disappeared. The car and family dog were found abandoned in a forest preserve. Still at large.
Episode notes:
- Though this episode doesn't have an official theme, I consider it the "AMW.com Special Edition." During this episode, John Walsh shows off the newly-revamped amw.com and explains every section of the website, including breaking news (Timothy Berner), captures (Gordon Weaver), missing persons (Brooke Wilberger), additional clues (Unknown Lori Lepper Killer), evidence and photos (Jessi Vega), and the Dirty Dozen (Robert Fisher).
- This is the last AMW episode to feature the COPS credits and the closing credits in a left-to-right split screen. Starting on the next episode, the split screen is top-to-bottom. My guess is that this was a FOX-mandated change. The only noticeable difference is that if a fugitive was profiled during the COPS credits, there's now more space for photos to appear on the screen and the photos themselves are bigger.
- Gordon Weaver's alias for when he was on the run intrigues me, because around the same time AMW started profiling him, they also profiled another fugitive who went by the name "David Carson." Both were actually profiled on the 50/50 Special Edition in 2000. That episode actually aired AFTER Weaver adopted his new alias, but it's a bit ironic that the name he went by turned out to be the same name as another AMW fugitive.
- The Lori Lepper case was part of what I assume was a testing ground for a feature called "Solve a Mystery." The case came with a special link on amw.com that took viewers inside the investigation and revealed a ton of clues that weren't mentioned on AMW. The segment, which was sponsored by Burger King, was short-lived. It only aired once more in July before being discontinued.
- Although by now Arturo Munguia's profile has been edited to include a portion saying police confirmed his name is no longer "Jessi Vega," amw.com was a little slow to update this information. It wasn't until his 2007 profile that the name on his profile card was finally changed to "Arturo Munguia" from "Jessi Vega."
Next month on AMW:
While getting through the June 2004 episodes took awhile (mostly because nothing really stood out about any of them, except maybe the last episode of the month) I'm really excited to be analyzing the episodes from July 2004. All four of them are memorable for their own reason, and I've seen all of them multiple times.
Here's what's coming up:
July 10, 2004
- A gang of armed robbers has been running rampant in Washington, D.C. Completely by chance, one of their heists was caught on tape by a news cameraman, resulting in crystal clear footage of how the gang operates.
- Thanks to AMW tips, one of the strangest cases in AMW history has been solved. Find out where the woman who posed as a 16-year-old boy to sexually assault teenage girls was hiding.
- A teenager was found dead in his Louisiana home from a gunshot wound to the neck. AMW investigator Ron Antoci heads down to the Bayou State to find out what happened. Did a local man with a reputation as a town bully kill the teen, as everybody in town is claiming? Or was the truth something much more tragic?
July 17, 2004
- AMW heads to the Borgata Hotel Casino in New Jersey to celebrate 800 captures. Find out how life on the run for Richard Newman literally ended in a bang.
- As the show celebrates their 800th capture, one AMW staffer hopes viewers can help solve a case that's close to her heart; the cold case murder of her own father.
- Ray Farkas returns with a documentary that every AMW fan needs to see; a behind-the-scenes look at how the show gets put together week after week. Highlights include filming of reenactments, a look at the editing room, a producer getting a phone call from someone letting them know of a capture, and even a glimpse at the show's weekly production meeting.
July 24, 2004
- In the "Where Are They Now?" special edition, AMW catches up with some memorable faces from the past to find out how the years have treated them.
- AMW sits down with rock star Dave Navarro, who gives a candid interview about the murder of his mother, Connie, in the early 80s. Thanks to AMW, her alleged killer, John Riccardi, was captured. Hear in Dave's own words how the show helped him heal.
- In the early 90s, AMW featured the story of Sonja Paine, a jewelry store owner in Massachusetts who was robbed at gunpoint by one of the FBI's Ten Most Wanted. Find out how she was able to literally beat the robber at his own game, and what she's doing today.
July 31, 2004
- The month-long manhunt for Timothy Berner came to a violent end, thanks to AMW tips. Hear from Berner's roommate, who had no idea he was a fugitive, tell about his final moments alive.
- Another manhunt for an alleged cop shooter ended earlier in the summer, though this one took a bit longer than Berner's. Watch as Tom Morris heads to Mexico and Las Vegas to tell the story of how Manuel Tarango spent four years on the run.
- AMW returns to Salt Lake City to feature another mysterious disappearance; this time the missing person is Lori Hacking, a pregnant woman who vanished under mysterious circumstances. Things get even weirder when her husband is found running around without clothes on and ranting incoherently.
Those stories and more are coming next month!
After my episode analyses this month, be sure to check out the bottom of the page for a preview of what's coming up in the next batch of episodes I'm reviewing. It's a new feature I want to try out so you'll know what to expect in the next set of reviews. Let me know what you think of it!
Episode #767 - June 5, 2004
Mark Holsombach and William Frazier Capture (Full segment) - Good police work led to the capture of two survivalists from Arkansas who got into a violent shootout with law enforcement. Earlier in 2004, police went to question Mark Holsombach and William Frazier about the disappearance of Ann and Ted Throneberry, as well as arrest them on outstanding warrants. When the duo realized they were surrounded, they got into a shootout, injuring an Arkansas State Police officer. He survived, but was seriously injured. The pair got away and after about two weeks, they were found. Frazier was arrested first, and Holsombach was caught the following day. But Holsombach wasn't alone; Ann Throneberry was with him. It turns out that Ann Throneberry and Holsombach were lovers and she arranged to have the pair kill her husband, Ted. All three were then charged with murder.
(commercial break)
William "Billy" Myears (Full segment) - Minnesota fugitive wanted for the murder of Erika Dahlquist, a woman who had dreams of joining the Air Force. Erika was last seen at a nightclub with several friends and Myears, who she hadn't met before that night. Police questioned Myears, who admitted that he was the last person to be seen with Erika and while he denied killing her, he did say where she might be found. Officers searched the area, but came up empty, so they released Myears. Months later, Erika's body was found in the lake after all the ice had melted. But by then, Myears was gone. The very night of this profile, AMW tipsters led police to a carnival in Michigan, where Myears was busted within 45 minutes of his profile. He was Capture #798.
(commercial break)
Terror Alert (Breaking news update, approx. 1 minute) - Once again, the seven terror suspects featured on last week's show were profiled. Specifically, AMW focuses on Adnan El Shukrijumah, suspected of plotting to build a dirty bomb and detonate it in America. Newly-released video of Shukrijumah is shown giving a presentation in a class. Amer El-Maati and Abderraouf Jdey are still at large. Ahmed Ghailani and Aafia Siddiqui have been captured, while Fazul Mohammad, Adnan El Shukrijumah and Adam Gadahn were killed.
Unknown Brittany Fish Abductor (Full segment) - The case of an abducted five-year-old child in New York who was found safely is updated. No new information was released during this update, but AMW wanted to keep pressure on the suspect who had kidnapped Brittany Fish. The alleged abductor, Kevin Schaus, was captured indirectly in early 2005.
(commercial break)
Christian Rodriguez (Full segment) - Serial rapist wanted out of Florida for raping two college-aged women over the course of two weeks. He broke into one woman's house and raped her with an accomplice, while he posed as a someone getting signatures for a petition to get into the second woman's house. Thanks to AMW tips, Rodriguez was captured in Puerto Rico in 2005, making him Capture #840.
(commercial break)
Ena McNeish (Break-Four Tease) - Wanted for causing a head-on collision that killed a man in New York City. Still at large.
(commercial break continues)
Rosa Sandoval (Missing Child Alert) - Texas police were searching for 11-year-old Rosa Sandoval, who disappeared while walking to school. Rosa's body was found about a year after this profile. To my knowledge, nobody has ever been charged in the case.
Omar Delarosa, Janny Paez, Fernando Moronta, Nelson Zuniga and Marina Musso Capture (Full segment) - Maureen O'Boyle reports on the murder of Tony Battaglia, who was murdered on the back porch of his Long Island home as he was coming back from work. Police believed the attack was linked to a gang of street robbers that had been linked to several similar crimes, though Tony was the only death linked to the gang. Thanks to an anonymous tip, investigators were able to arrest five people in connection to the crime.
Episode notes:
- During the Terror Alert, AMW claims that Adnan El Shukrijumah has been profiled twice before. However, this profile was Shukrijumah's fourth. He was profiled twice in 2003 and his third profile was the previous week.
- The murder of Tony Battaglia was never profiled on AMW, but there are indications that it was going to be. Among them, the fact that Maureen O'Boyle reports on the crime and then the story somewhat abruptly switches to talking about all the tips that came in. Also, the case was solved mere weeks before this profile.
- Maureen O'Boyle is a news anchor for a TV station in North Carolina. She had previously been an on-air reporter for both "A Current Affair" and "Extra." This is the only time she ever contributed to AMW.
Episode #768 - June 12, 2004 (Canada's Most Wanted Special Edition)
Dudley Forbes Capture (Full segment) - Tom Morris reports that, after years on the run, longtime AMW fugitive Dudley Forbes has been captured. Forbes had been on the run since 1994 after he shot up a nightclub in an attempt to kill his ex-girlfriend, who he had been stalking. She survived, but two innocent people were killed. In early 2004, police developed information that Forbes had fled to Jamaica, his homeland. Jamaican police "swooped in" (as the lead investigator in that country said) and arrested Forbes.
Wayne Cassidy & Stafford Lake (Full segment) - Canadian police were looking for Wayne Cassidy and Stafford Lake, who escaped from a prison camp in British Columbia by simply walking away from the fenceless facility. Lake was serving a 23-year sentence for raping a female bar employee and dumping her on the side of the road. Cassidy had been convicted of strangling his ex-girlfriend in her own home and was serving life. Lake and Cassidy were the first inmates in the camp's 15-year history who had even attempted an escape. Cassidy was captured thanks to an AMW tipster, making him Capture #799. Lake was indirectly captured two weeks later.
Timothy Berner (Breaking news, approx. 1 minute) - Career criminal wanted for shooting and killing Officer Mark Sawyers, of the Sterling Heights, Michigan, police department, and stealing his service weapon. Berner had apparently shot the officer while he was pulled over and filling out paperwork, and committed the crime because he wanted a smaller gun to use in his bank robberies. Thanks to AMW tips, Berner was tracked to Florida about a month after this profile. He committed suicide before he could be arrested. Berner was Capture #804.
(commercial break)
Unknown Cecilia Zhang Killer (Full segment) - Eight months after Cecilia Zhang was abducted from her own bedroom and murdered, police were seeking information on who killed the nine-year-old. AMW focused on a Chinese-Canadian detective who helped get people to talk to police, since the Chinese community had reservations about coming forward to officers. Cecilia's body was found in late March 2004. Just a couple weeks after this profile, a man named Min Chen was arrested and charged with Cecilia's murder. There's no indication AMW played a role in the arrest.
(commercial break)
Richard Newman (All-Points Bulletin) - Fugitive wanted out of Toronto for gunning down a nightclub security guard because the man asked Newman to put out his cigarette and remove his headband. As a direct result of this profile, Newman was tracked down to New York City, where he was arrested after getting into a shootout with police. Newman was AMW's milestone 800th capture, though he was eventually acquitted in the security guard's murder.
Ismael Zambada-Garcia (All-Points Bulletin) - Mexican police are seeking Ismael Zambada-Garcia, a major drug kingpin, for several drug-related crimes, including murder. Zambada-Garcia may have even been involved in the murder of Ramon Arellano-Felix. Police believe Zambada-Garcia underwent plastic surgery to change his appearance. Still at large.
(commercial break)
Skerdi Zena (Brief, approx. 1 minute) - Canadian fugitive wanted for breaking into a woman's home and attacking her in her bed while she slept. The woman survived. Zena was captured in early 2005.
William "Billy" Myears Capture (Full segment) - Less than 45 minutes after accused killer Billy Myears was profiled, an AMW tip led to his arrest in Michigan. Myears, who was wanted for killing a young woman in Minnesota, was believed to be working with a traveling carnival. Sure enough, that's exactly what happened. Officers showed up and arrested Myears as he was manning the Ferris wheel at a carnival in Michigan; interestingly, the carnival happened to be set up right next to the local police department. Myears was Capture #798.
(commercial break)
Hector Dominguez (Break-Four Tease) - Wanted for shooting and killing a man in New Mexico. Still at large.
(commercial break continues)
Jesse James Hollywood (Full segment) - Rick Segall reports from Vancouver on numerous reported sightings of American fugitive Jesse James Hollywood, wanted out of California for ordering the murder of the 15-year-old brother of a man who owed Hollywood money. Tipsters included a bar waitress who said Hollywood had harrassed her and a man who police actually arrested, but determined it was just a look-a-like and not Hollywood. The real fugitive was captured in early 2005 in Brazil.
Episode notes:
- This episode was filmed in Toronto, Canada.
- AMW's capture counter is incorrect; it says the show has caught 797 fugitives, and doesn't account for Billy Myears' capture. This is really odd, especially considering Myears' capture was profiled on this episode.
- Myears had a really interesting post-capture update. Not long after he was captured, he was hospitalized for a mysterious medical condition and ended up being partially paralyzed. If I'm remembering this correctly, I think I read an article that said during his sentencing, he was wheelchair-bound.
- This is the first time AMW mentions that Jesse James Hollywood had a movie being made about him. That movie, "Alpha Dog," was released after Hollywood was captured. It was very loosely based on Hollywood and his crimes.
- This was Jesse James Hollywood's last profile before his capture. His case was updated twice after this; he had a capture report in early 2005 and a Final Justice update in 2009.
Episode #769 - June 19, 2004
Naomi Betts Capture (Full segment) - John Turchin reports from Sikeston, Missouri, on the capture of a female bank robber from Indiana. After AMW her case, more than a dozen tips came in identifying the woman as Naomi Betts. Several tips also placed her in Sikeston, where investigators found her. Betts was actually captured thanks to her little boy; when officers couldn't find her, they asked the boy where his mommy was and he pointed them to where she was hiding. She was Capture #797.
Shawn Windsor (Full segment) - Kentucky man wanted for the brutal murders of his estranged wife and his own son. Windsor allegedly bludgeoned both to death with a dumbbell and then stabbed both of them. Windsor's car was found abandoned a couple weeks later in North Carolina, and thanks to AMW tips he was located days after his car was found. He was Capture #801.
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Unknown Maria & Carmen Hernandez Killer (Full segment) - Ed Miller reports on a brutal murder from Fremont, California. Carmen Hernandez was walking her mother, Maria, to her 5 a.m. job after her usual ride didn't show up. While walking, the pair was attacked and beaten to death by a man wielding a tree branch. Carmen called her cousin to pick them up, but the pair was attacked while Carmen was on the phone. Still at large.
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Timothy Berner (Update, approx. 1 minute) - The hunt continued for Timothy Berner, the accused bank robber who shot and killed a police officer with a shotgun because he wanted a smaller weapon. AMW reveals new photos of Berner, and reveals more clues about him, including the fact that he once applied to be an exotic dancer. AMW tips led to Berner in Florida, but before he could be arrested he committed suicide. He was Capture #804.
Andre Neverson (Full segment) - Rick Segall reports on the latest information on fugitive Andre Neverson. The fugitive is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend and his own sister. Police believed Neverson was involved in a gas scam back in his old neighborhood of Crown Heights, Brooklyn. However, they determined it wasn't him. Neverson was caught in Connecticut in 2018.
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Randolph Dial & Bobbi Parker (Full segment, part one) - In the early 80s, a martial arts instructor named Kelly Hogan was shot and killed by a man he didn't know. The case remained cold for five years until a man named Randolph Dial turned himself into police, claiming he had killed Kelly Hogan. During his interview, Dial claimed he killed the man because a contract had been put on his life by the mafia, a claim which was never proven. Dial pleaded guilty and received a life sentence. For almost a decade, Dial lived quietly in the Oklahoma prison system until a new deputy warden was hired in the mid-90s.
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Sam & Lindsay Porter (Break-Four Tease) - Siblings from Independence, Missouri, who went missing after being last seen with their father. Their bodies were found in 2005, and their father, Dan Porter, was charged with their murders.
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Randolph Dial & Bobbi Parker (Full segment, part two) - After Randy Parker became deputy warden, convicted killer Randolph Dial got reassigned to medium-security and taught pottery classes at the deputy warden's home. One person who Dial was teaching was Bobbi Parker, the wife of the deputy warden. In 1994, Bobbi Parker and Dial disappeared, with many unsure if Bobbi Parker went willingly or was taken by Dial. In 2005, thanks to an AMW tip, the pair was found in Texas. Dial was Capture #835 (he died in prison in 2007). Although she continues to maintain her innocence (and Dial admitted he abducted her) a couple years ago a jury convicted Bobbi of helping Dial escape from prison.
After the Dial/Parker profile, John Walsh tacks on an update talking about where some of the latest tips on the case have been pointing (this is an edited-down version of Dial's November 2003 profile).
Episode notes:
- I'm not exactly sure where this episode was filmed; it wasn't in the studio, but it's also never stated where they're filming. It's most likely Washington, D.C., but I can't say for certain.
- Once again, the capture counter is wrong; it still doesn't count Billy Myears' capture.
- This was the last episode to air before the website underwent its 2004 makeover.
- Naomi Betts makes some type of obscene gesture during her walk of shame, as her hands get blurred out at one point.
- During Naomi Betts' capture report, much is made about the fact that Sikeston is a small town where everybody knows everybody and it's such a pleasant place to live (there's even country-style music playing in the background). However, AMW apparently forgot that Sikeston is where Richard Yang was wanted out of. What's even more odd is that Yang himself was profiled in September.
- Andre Neverson's profile is exactly the same as his March 2004 profile. There are literally no differences between the two. I'm wondering if they were asked to reair it, because it's highly unusual for the same fugitive to be aired twice in such a short period of time without an update.
Episode #770 - June 26, 2004
Timothy Berner (Full segment) - Rick Segall reports on the latest tips coming in from the Timothy Berner investigation. Berner, a bank robber, was accused of killing Sterling Heights Police Officer Mark Sawyers with a shotgun blast. The motive was theft; Berner wanted to steal the officer's gun so he could use it in robberies. Evidence suggests that Berner was stalking officers, trying to find one to shoot. Berner was located in Florida, but killed himself before he could be arrested. He was Capture #804.
Gordon Weaver Capture (Full segment) - A man in Florence, Oregon became suspicious when a man named David Carson moved to town. Carson didn't have any ID and some of his behavior concerned the man. Eventually the man discovered the truth when he was on amw.com and found Carson was really named Gordon Weaver, wanted for killing his wife and burning their house down in Minnesota. After police were tipped off, they arrested Weaver, making him Capture #796.
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Brooke Wilberger (Full segment) - Ed Miller travels to Oregon to report on the mysterious disappearance of 19-year-old Brooke Wilberger. While home on summer break from college, she vanished while doing some housekeeping work at her sister's apartment. In early 2006, Joel Courtney, a serial rapist, was arrested and charged with Brooke's murder. Her body was found in 2009.
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Unknown Lori Lepper Killer (Full segment) - Los Angeles police were looking to find out what happened to Lori Lepper, a rock fan who was also the webmaster for rock bassist Duff McKagan's website. She was found dead in her apartment as a result of a stabbing. Police believe she was killed three days earlier. There was no forced entry but the suspect escaped by cutting through a window screen. Still at large.
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Jessi Vega (Full segment) - Tom Morris reports on an investigation by Salt Lake City Police into the disappearance and murder of a teenager. Police believe the woman was murdered by her boyfriend, Jessi Vega (aka, Arturo Munguia) after he saw her getting a ride with another man and assumed she was cheating on him. Her body was found in the mountains, but Vega was long gone. Still at large.
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Luis Estrella (Break-Four Tease) - Suspected drug kingpin wanted for running a cocaine ring in Los Angeles. Still at large.
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Robert Fisher (Full segment) - Retired FBI Agent Ralph DiFonzo joins the manhunt for Robert Fisher, one of the FBI's Ten Most Wanted. Fisher is accused of killing his wife and two children in their Arizona home then rigging their home to explode hours after he disappeared. The car and family dog were found abandoned in a forest preserve. Still at large.
Episode notes:
- Though this episode doesn't have an official theme, I consider it the "AMW.com Special Edition." During this episode, John Walsh shows off the newly-revamped amw.com and explains every section of the website, including breaking news (Timothy Berner), captures (Gordon Weaver), missing persons (Brooke Wilberger), additional clues (Unknown Lori Lepper Killer), evidence and photos (Jessi Vega), and the Dirty Dozen (Robert Fisher).
- This is the last AMW episode to feature the COPS credits and the closing credits in a left-to-right split screen. Starting on the next episode, the split screen is top-to-bottom. My guess is that this was a FOX-mandated change. The only noticeable difference is that if a fugitive was profiled during the COPS credits, there's now more space for photos to appear on the screen and the photos themselves are bigger.
- Gordon Weaver's alias for when he was on the run intrigues me, because around the same time AMW started profiling him, they also profiled another fugitive who went by the name "David Carson." Both were actually profiled on the 50/50 Special Edition in 2000. That episode actually aired AFTER Weaver adopted his new alias, but it's a bit ironic that the name he went by turned out to be the same name as another AMW fugitive.
- The Lori Lepper case was part of what I assume was a testing ground for a feature called "Solve a Mystery." The case came with a special link on amw.com that took viewers inside the investigation and revealed a ton of clues that weren't mentioned on AMW. The segment, which was sponsored by Burger King, was short-lived. It only aired once more in July before being discontinued.
- Although by now Arturo Munguia's profile has been edited to include a portion saying police confirmed his name is no longer "Jessi Vega," amw.com was a little slow to update this information. It wasn't until his 2007 profile that the name on his profile card was finally changed to "Arturo Munguia" from "Jessi Vega."
Next month on AMW:
While getting through the June 2004 episodes took awhile (mostly because nothing really stood out about any of them, except maybe the last episode of the month) I'm really excited to be analyzing the episodes from July 2004. All four of them are memorable for their own reason, and I've seen all of them multiple times.
Here's what's coming up:
July 10, 2004
- A gang of armed robbers has been running rampant in Washington, D.C. Completely by chance, one of their heists was caught on tape by a news cameraman, resulting in crystal clear footage of how the gang operates.
- Thanks to AMW tips, one of the strangest cases in AMW history has been solved. Find out where the woman who posed as a 16-year-old boy to sexually assault teenage girls was hiding.
- A teenager was found dead in his Louisiana home from a gunshot wound to the neck. AMW investigator Ron Antoci heads down to the Bayou State to find out what happened. Did a local man with a reputation as a town bully kill the teen, as everybody in town is claiming? Or was the truth something much more tragic?
July 17, 2004
- AMW heads to the Borgata Hotel Casino in New Jersey to celebrate 800 captures. Find out how life on the run for Richard Newman literally ended in a bang.
- As the show celebrates their 800th capture, one AMW staffer hopes viewers can help solve a case that's close to her heart; the cold case murder of her own father.
- Ray Farkas returns with a documentary that every AMW fan needs to see; a behind-the-scenes look at how the show gets put together week after week. Highlights include filming of reenactments, a look at the editing room, a producer getting a phone call from someone letting them know of a capture, and even a glimpse at the show's weekly production meeting.
July 24, 2004
- In the "Where Are They Now?" special edition, AMW catches up with some memorable faces from the past to find out how the years have treated them.
- AMW sits down with rock star Dave Navarro, who gives a candid interview about the murder of his mother, Connie, in the early 80s. Thanks to AMW, her alleged killer, John Riccardi, was captured. Hear in Dave's own words how the show helped him heal.
- In the early 90s, AMW featured the story of Sonja Paine, a jewelry store owner in Massachusetts who was robbed at gunpoint by one of the FBI's Ten Most Wanted. Find out how she was able to literally beat the robber at his own game, and what she's doing today.
July 31, 2004
- The month-long manhunt for Timothy Berner came to a violent end, thanks to AMW tips. Hear from Berner's roommate, who had no idea he was a fugitive, tell about his final moments alive.
- Another manhunt for an alleged cop shooter ended earlier in the summer, though this one took a bit longer than Berner's. Watch as Tom Morris heads to Mexico and Las Vegas to tell the story of how Manuel Tarango spent four years on the run.
- AMW returns to Salt Lake City to feature another mysterious disappearance; this time the missing person is Lori Hacking, a pregnant woman who vanished under mysterious circumstances. Things get even weirder when her husband is found running around without clothes on and ranting incoherently.
Those stories and more are coming next month!