Post by pakman on Feb 16, 2015 22:54:09 GMT -5
Well, that took a little longer than expected! My apologies for not getting this up earlier, AMW fans, but I wanted to take my time and make sure I got this accurate. Without further ado, here are the July and August 2002 episodes!
Episode #783 - July 13, 2002 (Secrets of the Secret Service Special Edition)
Angel Rivera (COPS Credits) - Landlord wanted out of California for killing one of his tenants, his girlfriend and her uncle then disappearing. Rivera later resurfaced in Indiana, where he allegedly killed his girlfriend. Thanks to AMW tips, Rivera was captured in Pennsylvania in November 2002, making him Capture #727.
James Sullivan Capture (Full segment) - Rick Segall reports that just two months after he was profiled, accused killer James Sullivan has been captured. Sullivan, wanted for arranging the murder of his wife in 1987, disappeared after his indictment in 1997. AMW tips that came in from his May airing led to Sullivan's capture in Thailand, where he'd been living with his new wife. Sullivan was Capture #715.
Zeke Cooper (Full segment) - Ed Miller reports on a violent fugitive, facing life in prison, wanted on both coasts. In California, career criminal Zeke Cooper allegedly shot at two police officers after they spotted him riding on the handlebars of a bicycle. One officer was injured, but both survived. He then resurfaced in New York where he allegedly committed a violent home invasion robbery. During that incident, Cooper allegedly beat the victim in the face with a gun. AMW tips led to an Army base in Idaho, where Cooper was hiding, making him Capture #716.
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Unknown New Orleans Robbers (Full segment) - A trio of armed robbers was being sought for a violent crime spree in Louisiana. The robbers first struck a truck stop casino just outside the city. Armed with assault rifles and wearing masks and body armor, the trio shot a security guard and dragged her out of the way to get ahold of the money. Though hurt, she survived. The trio then struck an AutoZone store 10 days later, where they almost shot a customer after thinking he was a cop. Still at large, and it's possible the statute of limitations has expired in this case (though they could still be wanted on attempted murder charges for shooting the security guard).
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Anthony Kuchta (Full segment) - Wanted out of Michigan for allegedly being a high-level drug kingpin. Kuchta specialized in cocaine trafficking, and was busted literally by accident during an undercover drug operation. The drug team was only expecting to get some low-level operatives, but though he was arrested, Kuchta bonded out and disappeared. Still at large
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Richard Evonitz Capture (Full segment) - Tom Morris heads to South Carolina to report on one case that may have solved two others. A 15-year-old girl was abducted while watering her front lawn and held hostage, where she was raped. But she escaped after her attacker fell asleep. She went to police and was able to identify the man as Richard Evonitz, a local businessman. As police looked for Evonitz, the investigation revealed something shocking; not only did Evonitz have newspaper clippings about the unsolved murders of Kristin & Kati Lisk and Sofia Silva, but he had also lived in the areas of the crimes when they happened. But before police could question Evonitz, he committed suicide. AMW asked viewers for information on Evonitz's whereabouts and if he was connected to other crimes.
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Carlos Medina (Break Four Tease) - Cincinnati fugitive wanted for stabbing his wife to death in a bar parking lot. He was indirectly captured in 2008.
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Eddie Burgos (Breaking news, approx 30 seconds) - Tom Morris reports on a multiple murder suspect wanted out of the Chicago suburbs. Police in Cicero wanted to question Eddie Burgos about the murder of a teenage girl the day before she was supposed to be in a wedding. When her father and stepbrother went to confront Burgos, he allegedly shot both of them dead. Burgos himself committed suicide a month later.
A Look at the Secret Service Weapon Library (Full segment) - John Walsh visits the Secret Service's Weapons Library where he learns about some of the guns in their collection. Included are a Tommy gun, a gun disguised as a cell phone, and even a gold-plated handgun that was once owned by Elvis Presley (it was given to Richard Nixon as a gift when Elvis visited the White House in the 70s, and Nixon gave it to the Secret Service).
Episode notes:
- This episode was filmed at the U.S. Secret Service's James J. Rowley Training Center in Laurel, Maryland. Throughout the night, John goes through Secret Service training and random bits of trivia about the Secret Service are shared with viewers.
- Possibly due to the abbreviated profile, only the triple murder in California is mentioned during Angel Rivera's case.
- Zeke Cooper's known aliases that are mentioned during the profile are "Donovan Carlisle" and "Carlisle Donovan." Even 12 years after seeing this profile, those aliases just amuse me.
- Although John Walsh says the name of the customer who was almost shot by the New Orleans Robbers, he never receives an on-screen credit.
- Richard Evonitz was going to be profiled on AMW the week before, had the show not been preempted due to the Fourth of July weekend. This was confirmed during John Walsh's appearance on Larry King Live the previous week (I never saw the episode, but the transcript can still be found on CNN's website). I believe this was BEFORE he had been named a suspect in the Lisk and Silva cases.
- "Brittany," the South Carolina teen kidnapped by Evonitz, later appeared on "The John Walsh Show," where she not only revealed her face, but also her true first name, Kara.
- To this day, the FBI is seeking information on Evonitz and any possible unsolved crimes he's connected to. His poster can be found on their website in the ViCAP section.
- Similarly to Elaine Parent's suicide, I remember reading articles after Eddie Burgos' death that officers were really disappointed his life on the run ended that way. He had never been charged in the murder of the teenage girl, but he was their strongest person of interest as he was the last person to be seen with her. The suicide left them with many unanswered questions.
Episode #784 - July 27, 2002
(Pre-Analysis Note: I do not have a hard copy of this episode, though I did see the episode. This summary is based on my memory of this airing from 12 years ago)
Lawrence Rivera (COPS Credits) - Allegedly killed a 26-year-old woman in California after becoming obsessed with her and stalking her. He was captured in Australia in September 2002, but was only recently extradited back to the states.
Andre Neverson (Full segment) - Wanted out of New York City for the murders of his ex-girlfriend and his own sister. His ex's body was found lying right next to a Brooklyn sidewalk, while his sister was allegedly killed over money. Still at large
Hugo Jimenez & Brian Aquino Capture (Full segment) - Ed Miller reports that a crime AMW aired earlier in 2002 has been solved. Adriana Pinon was an aspiring actress who had gotten roles as an extra on several soap operas, but was killed before her career could go any further. Not long after her death, two people, Hugo Jimenez and Brian Aquino, were arrested and charged in the case.
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NOTE: Can't remember what the second segment included.
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The Summer of Missing Children (Full segment) - A look is given at the large amount of missing children cases that have been happening in 2002. The latest abduction, that of Erica Pratt, had a happy ending. The little girl had been kidnapped and held for ransom, but she escaped by biting through the duct tape and finding her way home. At the same time, California child Samantha Runnion wasn't as lucky; she was abducted and murdered by a man who had been acquitted years earlier of child molestation.
John Walsh also mentions some recent missing children cases AMW wants to solve.
Elizabeth Smart - Richard Ricci was still considered a person of interest in the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping. The former handyman admitted to burglarizing the Smart family home, but denied any involvement in her case. Turns out he had nothing to do with the crime, and the true kidnappers were arrested about seven months later, with Elizabeth being found alive.
Alexis Patterson - Milwaukee police continued searching for seven-year-old Alexis Patterson, who disappeared while on her way to school. Her stepfather was the last person to see her and told police he had walked her to school that day. Still missing
Photos of other missing children, including Ashley Pond, Miranda Gaddis, Laura Ayala, Diamond and Tionda Bradley, Jahi Turner and Rilya Wilson are briefly flashed on the screen.
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Unknown Ray Guidry Killer, Part 1 (Full segment) - A year after AMW first aired the unsolved murder of Louisiana businessman Ray Guidry, investigators Ron Antoci and Joe Matthews provide an update on the case.
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David Lindsay (Break Four Tease) - Wanted out of Illinois for murder. Captured back in 2006.
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Unknown Ray Guidry Killer, Part 2 (Full segment) - A continuation of the Ray Guidry murder investigation.
Episode notes:
- I believe this episode was filmed at the AMW Studio.
- According to amw.com, Bianca LeBron was one of the missing children profiled on this episode. However, I personally do not remember seeing her photo during the missing children feature. Now there is also the possibility that I'm misremembering things as well.
- amw.com also claimed the Unknown Clearwater Abductor was going to be profiled on this episode, but unless the case was mentioned and I didn't realize it, the case wasn't aired.
- For the life of me, I can't remember anything about the Ray Guidry update. It frustrates me so much, because I wasn't as familiar with the case as I am now and I really want to know what the two investigators found out.
Episode #785 - August 3, 2002 (Kansas City Special Edition)
Alfredo Hernandez (COPS Credits) - Illinois fugitive accused of stabbing and killing one of his best friends in a dispute over beer money. Hernandez was captured indirectly in October 2006, but his capture report never appeared on amw.com
Unknown Ali Kemp Killer (Full segment) - Ali Kemp, a 19-year-old attendant at a Leawood, Kansas, pool, was found murdered in the facility's pump room. The day she was killed was rainy, and she was the only employee working that day. A friend of Ali's helped develop a sketch of a suspicious man leaving the pool, which police believed was Ali's killer. In November 2004, Benjamin Appleby was identified as the suspect and charged with Ali's murder.
Donnie Hulett (Full segment) - John Turchin reports from Georgia on a convicted car thief who was released early, only to commit several crimes. First, he allegedly stole a car. After that car broke down, Hulett allegedly killed two volunteers with a troubled teens' home before stealing their money and their pickup truck. Hulett was actually captured two days before his profile even aired; his walk of shame was edited into the show as Turchin described Hulett's quirks and characteristics.
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Unknown Precious Doe Killer (Full segment) - Tom Morris provides an update on Kansas City's most horrifying unsolved murder; in 2001, a little girl was found decapitated in a wooded area. With the help of Frank Bender, a bust of what the child, known as Precious Doe, was created in the hopes of identifying her. For a brief time, investigators believed the child may have been Rilya Wilson, a child who disappeared from Florida around the same time Precious Doe was found. However, DNA proved the two were not the same child. Though Rilya's body has never been found, her caretaker has been convicted of her murder. Precious Doe was identified in April 2005 as Erica Green, and her parents, Michelle and Harrell Johnson, were charged in her death.
Tabitha Brewer (Brief, approx. 30 seconds) - Missing teen from Shawnee, Kansas who disappeared in 1998, along with her boyfriend. Her boyfriend was later found dead, but Tabitha remained missing. A few years ago, a suspect was charged with murder in connection with the death of the two, but he was acquitted. Tabitha is still missing.
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William Severs (Full segment) - Rick Segall goes on the road to follow tips that have been coming in on William Severs, wanted out of New Jersey for shooting his ex-girlfriend in the back, killing her. Tipsters helped identify a woman who helped Severs flee New Jersey and led officers to Chincoteague, Virginia, where he had been using the alias "Tony" and living with his friend's niece. Though Severs had been in Chincoteague for awhile, he disappeared after he was profiled on AMW. Severs was eventually located in November 2002 after he saw himself profiled yet again. Severs was Capture #725.
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Unknown Missouri River Serial Killer (Full segment) - AMW goes inside the investigation into the deaths of six prostitutes whose bodies were all found in the Missouri River. All the victims had similar physical appearances and had connections to Independence Avenue in Kansas City. The victims were discovered between 1996-1998. As far as I can tell, the killer has never been captured.
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Mark Wilson (Break Four Tease) - Iowa fugitive wanted for killing his girlfriend. Wilson surrendered in 2009 after calling the police department to see if he still had a warrant for his arrest.
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Armando Garcia (Brief, approx. 30 seconds) - Accused cop killer wanted out of Los Angeles for killing a sheriff's deputy during a routine traffic stop. Garcia, who had a warrant for attempted murder, was captured in February 2006.
Behind the Badge: Officer Michelle Jeter (Full segment) - Ed Miller profiles Carthage, Texas Police Officer Michelle Jeter, who survived a brutal assault while on duty. Officer Jeter pulled over a man for a routine traffic stop, and after she discovered marijuana on the man, he punched the officer in the face and then repeatedly started beating her in the face. A passerby saw what happened and used the officer's own radio to call for help. Thanks to another passerby, the suspect was captured. The officer's injuries were so bad, all memories of the incident were completely wiped from her mind. Though she recovered, Officer Jeter left the police department and moved to reserve duty.
Adolfo Soto ("Tacked on" profile) - Wanted out of Texas for killing an elderly man in 1993. Still at large
Episode notes:
- This episode was filmed in Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri.
- amw.com claimed that Samuel Jones was profiled on this episode. I can assure you that he wasn't, and his listing on the website is an error.
- All four correspondents are featured in this episode.
- Kansas City Police Detective David Barnard is featured in two different stories in this episode; the Precious Doe murder and the Missouri River serial killer. He was the lead investigator on the Precious Doe case and a member of the task force trying to find the serial killer. Based on his appearance, you can tell the Missouri River case was profiled a couple years before the episode was made (the case was first profiled in 1998).
- John Walsh gives a viewer warning before the "Behind the Badge" feature due to the graphic assault that was captured on Officer Jeter's dashcam.
Episode #786 - August 10, 2002 (Strange But True Special Edition)
Manuel Tarango (COPS Credits) - Leader of a robbery crew in Las Vegas who targeted a bar. What they didn't realize is that most of the people in the bar that night were off-duty police officers; even the band was made up of cops! A shootout ensued, and one suspect was killed, but Tarango got away. He was indirectly captured in June 2004.
Antonio Delacruz (Full segment) - Houston fugitive wanted for stabbing a man to death during a drug transaction. He led officers on a high-speed chase before getting stuck in a ditch. In a bizarre getaway attempt, Delacruz poured gasoline on his body and set himself on fire. He survived, but bonded out and disappeared. Delacruz was captured in December 2006.
David Veal (Full segment) - Jail escapee who literally starved himself to elude justice. Veal charge, squeezed through a hole no bigger than a cinderblock, made it to the roof of the jail and got away. He allegedly killed his neighbor after his wife, whom he was having an affair with, asked Veal to kill him. AMW tips located Veal in Arizona in August 2002, making him Capture #719.
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Dudley Forbes (Full segment) - Canadian fugitive wanted for shooting up a nightclub in Toronto in an attempt to kill his ex-girlfriend. She survived, but two innocent people were killed in the chaos. After Forbes' 1997 profile, AMW got a tip from a travel agent in Rhode Island saying she thought Forbes was one of her customers; he asked for a one-way ticket to London without having to fly to Canada and looked identical to Forbes. The man led officers on a high-speed chase through downtown Providence before finally getting caught; oddly, it wasn't Forbes, but it was a Canadian fugitive wanted for murder. Forbes himself was caught indirectly in May 2004.
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Stanley Obas (All-Points Bulletin) - Wanted out of Easton, Pennsylvania for his role in the torture and murder of a 13-year-old girl. Obas and two others believed the victim had stolen their drugs and money. The suspects were linked to the crime after a piece of chewing gum was found next to the victim's body and it perfectly matched the teeth of one of the suspects. Obas' accomplices were caught, but he got away. Still at large.
Clifford Graham (All-Points Bulletin) - Fotomat founder wanted for scamming over 300 investors in a gold scheme. Graham claimed he discovered a process that could turn sand into gold. When the investors gave him money, he was actually funneling it into his private accounts. After this was discovered, Graham fled. Still at large
Martha Gomez (All-Points Bulletin) - Texas fugitive wanted for raping several teenage girls. However, Gomez would commit the crimes while posing as a 16-year-old boy named Emilio Garrison. Detectives finally figured her out when they went to question Garrison and realized that Gomez looked exactly like the picture of him. Gomez bonded out and disappeared. AMW tips led to her capture in October 2003, making her Capture #764.
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AMW's Strangest Captures (Full segment) - To go along with the show's theme of "Strange But True," some of the strangest captures in the show's history are highlighted. They include Amy DeChant (hid out in a nudist colony while a fugitive), John List (captured after 18 years on the run thanks to an age-enhanced bust that was a perfect match), Jesse Baker (fugitive murderer found in jail under an alias), Scott Smithson (identified by a tipster after the actor in the reenactment said the phrase "Sweet Home Alabama," which is something the real fugitive said all the time), Adrian Rosales (captured after he sent an email to HBO offering to sell his life story to them), Kenneth Lovci (caught while working as a cook at a restaurant where the previous cook had been murdered; his case aired right before Lovci's) and Asgar Ali (hiding out as a cook, where he actually cooked John Walsh's food).
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Lloyd Lindsey (Break-Four Tease) - New Jersey fugitive wanted on rape charges. After seeing him profiled on AMW, his associates turned him in, making him Capture #718.
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Unknown Connie Warner & Randi Mebruer Killer (Full segment) - In Zachary, Louisiana, police were hunting a possible serial killer. Two women had been abducted and murdered from their own homes. Connie Warner was killed in the mid-90s and Randi Mebruer, whose body was never found, vanished around 1998. Police believed an unknown man who attacked two teenagers in a cemetery may have been responsible. After serial killer Derrick Lee was arrested, DNA linked him to Randi Mebruer's murder, and he remains a suspect in Connie Warner's death, but has not been linked to it.
Episode notes:
- This episode was filmed in the AMW Studio.
- Fugitive recap: Antonio Delacruz, David Veal, Dudley Forbes, Martha Gomez, Clifford Graham, Stanley Obas, Unknown Connie Warner & Randi Mebruer Killer
- This is a rerun of the March 30, 2002 episode.
- John Walsh pronounces Stanley Obas' last name two different ways in this episode. During the story, it's pronounced "oh-bah-ss," but during the fugitive recap it's pronounced "oh-bass" (like the fish).
Episode #787 - August 17, 2002 (Toughest Cops, Toughest Cases Special Edition)
Chaun "Charley" Cai (COPS Credits) - Canadian millionaire wanted for killing his wife and then stuffing her body into a suitcase. Cai's profile was removed from amw.com without any explanation in 2005. Still at large.
Seattle Top Cops Feature (Full segment) - "Tough Cops" story about a group of Seattle officers who took down a murder suspect who shot at them while barricaded inside of a home. The suspect had just killed three people and took shelter in the home of a gun collector. One officer was hit by a ricoched bullet, but survived. The suspect was eventually killed by the SWAT team.
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Jennifer Short and Unknown Mary & Michael Short Killer (Breaking news, approx. 1 minute) - Tom Morris alerts viewers to an urgent missing child case; Nine-year-old Jennifer Short was missing from her home in Virginia. Most troubling was that while Jennifer was missing, her parents, Mary and Michael, were found shot to death in their own home. Jennifer's body was found in North Carolina in September 2002, and the murders of all three remain unsolved.
Unknown William Hill Killers (Full segment) - John Turchin heads to Atlanta to profile the murder of a security guard. The guard, William Hill, was shot in the head as he was emptying the money cannisters from a mall ATM. The getaway truck was later found torched with all the evidence destroyed. The lead detective on the murder was taking the case personally, because the mall was the same place where his brother, also a police officer, was shot and paralyzed during a restaurant robbery four years earlier. Still unsolved
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Anatoliy Valenko and Vladimir Balachov (Full segment) - When severed body parts were found in both New York and New Jersey, law enforcement agencies from both states teamed up to solve the crime. One clue at a time, investigators were able to not only identify both bodies, but also two suspects; their roommates Anatoliy Valenko and Vladimir Balachov. By the time detectives charged the duo with the crime, they had taken off. In November 2007, Valenko was captured in The Netherlands after an amw.com viewer recognized him. He became Capture #968. Balachov is still at large, and it appears that police have seemingly given up on finding him.
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John Addis (Full segment) - A former Alaska State Trooper, Addis was wanted out of Las Vegas for killing his girlfriend. Police believe she was killed the same day she broke up with him. Addis, who was using the alias "John Edwards," had previously served time in prison for kidnapping his own children. He was found dead in 2006 in Guatemala. Police believe he committed suicide after killing his wife and children in Mexico.
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Giusseppe LoPorto (Break-Four Tease) - Suspected child molester wanted for victimizing his own daughter. LoPorto was indirectly captured in Italy just a few years ago, but his capture report never appeared on amw.com
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Shane Magan (Full segment) - Troubled teen wanted out of Norco, California for shooting at a sheriff's deputy. Magan, who was a ward of the state, had been abandoned by his biological mother and no foster family wanted him. Instead, he spent his time getting high and committing break-ins and robberies. Still at large.
Episode notes:
- This episode was filmed in the AMW Studio.
- This is a rerun of the July 21, 2001 episode, and would eventually become one of the most repeated episodes in AMW history. It would air once more in 2003 and 2004 before finally being retired.
- I recently discovered a really strange update on the Seattle Top Cops case. Sgt. K.C. Saulet, the supervisor who helped save Officer Diana Russell, was demoted back in 2006 after receiving more than 100 complaints (yes, you read that correctly) from citizens about his conduct. He remained with the King County Sheriff's Department, but was fired last year after he threatened to arrest a man for taking photos of police officers, then lying about the incident to his supervisors. I discovered this when trying to find out if Officer Russell was still with the sheriff's department (which I was unable to discover).
- On a related note, Sgt. Saulet's name is misspelled as "Soulet" in his on-screen credit.
- On a personal note, something really interesting happened the week this episode aired. A couple days before, I was watching "Unsolved Mysteries" on Lifetime and I happened to catch John Addis' profile on that program. Imagine my surprise days later when I found out Addis was going to be profiled on AMW as well. If you'll remember my 2003 guide, the same thing happened the week AMW profiled the capture of Jesus Mezquia, the suspected Mia Zapata killer.
Episode #788 - August 24, 2002
Julian Lockhart (COPS Credits) - Connecticut fugitive wanted for beating a Navy veteran to death with a tree limb when the victim tried stopping Lockhart from stealing his car. A year after this profile, a tip from AMW led to Lockhart's capture, making him Capture #754.
Jennifer Short and Unknown Mary & Michael Short Killer (Full segment) - Tom Morris heads to Virginia to report on the desperate search for nine-year-old Jennifer Short, who was kidnapped from her home the week before. Jennifer's parents, Mary and Michael, were found dead of gunshot wounds. It's believed that the killer may have known one or both of the Shorts, though police never stated why they believed this. Although several tips came in after the previous week's breaking news alert, none of them had panned out. Jennifer's body was found in North Carolina a month after the murders, and the killer remains at large.
Francisco Martinez (Full segment) - Wanted out of Passaic, New Jersey for killing his boss, Michael Cerullo. Both Michael, the owner, and Martinez worked at a textile factory. Michael's business had a very friendly atmosphere, and Martinez, the warehouse manager, was not only Michael's "right-hand man," but he was also his best friend. After a mysterious fire and some supplies went missing, Michael was found dead in the basement of the warehouse. Police believed that Martinez had been stealing from the factory, and when Michael confronted him about it, he was killed. Still at large
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Robert Foster (Brief, approx. 1 minute) - Bronx fugitive wanted for killing and dismembering his girlfriend. Foster was an ex-con who police say manipulated her and forced her to leave her family. Her dismembered body was found in the East River. Foster was captured indirectly in April 2003 after allegedly beating up his new girlfriend.
Unknown Irving Sicherer Killer (Full segment) - Unidentified fugitive wanted for the brutal murder of Irving Sicherer of Florida. His daughter discovered his badly beaten body and made a frantic 911 call. Police believed Irving's killer was caught on surveillance tape with him as he went shopping that day. For awhile, police believed Irving's killer may have been Adam Ezerski, who police feared could be the next Andrew Cunanan. After Ezerski was caught, investigators confirmed he had nothing to do with Irving Sicherer's death. However, they've never been able to identify the man seen with Irving on the surveillance video. Still at large
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Brian Jones (Full segment) - Las Vegas fugitive wanted for raping a woman who was stranded on the side of the road after her car got stuck. Jones allegedly raped the woman for several hours. She was able to escape from him, but Jones disappeared on bond. Jones was captured in 2006 in Thailand.
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Fabian Smart Capture (Full segment, part one) - Detective Joe Matthews has news in a case that he's been investigating for two years. In Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, a young man named Jason McMann was found dead in the woods. The case was at a standstill, in part because the rumors were that the killers were members of the local college football team, while Jason himself was a drug dealer. AMW sent Joe down to investigate the case himself. Through his investigation, he was able to discover two witnesses who saw Jason being chased down by four unknown suspects. After more digging, Joe uncovered a woman who said she heard about what happened. She told them Fabian Smart, the star of the football team, Jermaine Ballard, another football player, and Willie "Diggy" Williams, Smart's out-of-town friend, were all involved. Joe successfully tracked down Ballard, who didn't admit any involvement, but acted really nervous during his questioning. After telling the local police about Ballard, they brought him in for questioning, and that finally started getting the investigation going.
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Fernando Blanco (Break-Four Tease) - Wanted for killing a man in a hit-and-run accident. Still at large
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Fabian Smart Capture (Full segment, part two) - When Jermaine Ballard was brought in for questioning by the Lock Haven Police Department, told them that he was present the night Jason McMann was murdered. He witnessed Jason get chased down by Fabian Smart and Willie "Diggy" Williams. Ballard then said he helped put Jason in the back of Smart's car, but he didn't go with Smart. The person who did go with Smart was Williams, who told Detective Joe Matthews that he saw Smart kill Jason by beating him with a handgun. Thanks to Ballard and Williams' cooperation, a warrant for Smart's arrest was issued. AMW cameras were present when Smart was arrested at his job in the Atlanta suburbs. Smart was charged with murder, while Williams, Ballard and another football player, Quincy Teel, were charged as associates. Smart and Williams were Capture #s 712 and 713, while Ballard and Teel were Capture #s 838 and 839.
Episode notes:
- This episode was filmed in New York City.
- As of this episode, AMW updates their "AMW Fast Fact" graphic. It's no longer in a slanted golden box; now it's in an orange and black graphic.
- During Francisco Martinez's profile, it's mentioned that Michael Cerullo used to be a sheet metal worker and had actually helped build the World Trade Center twin towers, which gave him a personal connection to 9/11. This was the reason AMW aired this case shortly before the one-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks (John Walsh even mentions this as he's introducing the case). None of Martinez's subsequent profiles mentioned this fact.
- There's a couple odd inconsistencies during the Irving Sicherer case. Firstly, in the transcript of the 911 call, Irving's daughter is called Emily Sicherer. But when AMW interviewed her, both John Walsh and her on-screen credit call her "Beverly Sicherer." The profile also said that Ezerski was profiled "this past summer," but he was only profiled in 2001. It's really obvious that this profile was lifted directly from its August 2001 profile and had nothing altered.
- The unsolved murder of Jason McMann was the only case investigated by an AMW detective that was solved by the program.
- At the end of the show, John Walsh previews the cases of Mikhail Drachev and the Unknown Roger Boisvert Killer, saying they'll both be profiled next week.
Episode #789 - August 31, 2002
Jorge Lopez-Orozco (COPS Credits) - Idaho fugitive wanted for killing his girlfriend and her two children, then setting their bodies on fire. After being added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List in 2005, Lopez-Orozco was captured in October 2009.
Richard Evonitz Capture (Full segment) - After five years, the unsolved murder investigations of Kristin & Kati Lisk and Sofia Silva have been closed thanks to a heroic 15-year-old girl from South Carolina. Earlier in the summer, the teen was abducted by a man named Richard Evonitz, who held her hostage and raped her for several hours before she escaped. After she got away, investigators found circumstantial evidence that suggested that Evonitz may have been involved in the unsolved 1996 and 1997 crimes in Virginia. But before they could question him, Evonitz committed suicide as police closed in on him. It turns out, they didn't need him; after Evonitz committed suicide, investigators found two pieces of solid evidence that linked him to the crimes. First, they found a pink bathroom rug in his home, which got investigators excited because one of the girls had a pink fiber on her body that they were never able to identify. And, unbelievably, when technicians dusted for fingerprints in Evonitz's trunk, they actually found Kristin Lisk's fingerprint inside of it. Although the investigation was closed, investigators still asked for assistance identifying photos of two young girls that were found in Evonitz's home.
Russell Smith and Tara Smith (Full segment) - A former correctional officer from Virginia allegedly lived a double life. At night, Russell Smith was a Satanist, and allegedly used his role as a church leader to rape a teenage girl. Investigators believed Smith tricked the victim into thinking the sexual assault was a normal part of the ritual. After Smith's secret was exposed, he went on the run and took his 12-year-old daughter, Tara, on the run with him. Thanks to an AMW tip, Russell and Tara Smith were located just a few days after the profile. Russell Smith was AMW Capture #720.
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Mikhail Drachev (Full segment) - Arizona fugitive wanted for the brutal murder of a young man. Drachev and two others allegedly severely beat a police informant as he called one of the Phoenix Police Detectives for help. The trio then allegedly took the young man to the middle of the desert where they stabbed him and then set him on fire. Incredibly, the victim was still alive, but died after dragging himself to a river and floating downstream. The two accomplices were caught, but Drachev disappeared. He was captured in April 2007 after his girlfriend found him on amw.com, making him Capture #933.
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James Logan (Breaking news, approx 1 minute) - Tom Morris breaks the case on an accused cop killer wanted for ambushing and killing two police officers in Maryland. The officers were trying to serve commitment papers on Logan. He was captured the very night of this profile.
Unknown Riverside Robber (All-Points Bulletin) - Wanted for getting into a shootout at a Riverside, California, liquor store. The suspect, wearing a motorcycle and a helmet, was apparently planning on robbing the place, but the clerk fired back using his own gun. Still at large, and it's possible the statute of limitations has expired.
Unknown Indiana Bank Killers (All-Points Bulletin) - Indiana police were seeking two suspects wanted for a horrible crime; three bank employees were shot (one died) during a botched bank robbery. The suspects got away with nothing after finding out nobody knew the combination of the vault. Within a week, the suspects were identified and captured.
Richard Yang (All-Points Bulletin) - Missouri fugitive who admitted to killing his wife after they decided to get divorced. Although he pleaded guilty, Yang fled after being released from jail before being allowed to serve his sentence. Yang was captured in Mexico in 2005.
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Jill Behrman (Full segment) - Nearly two years after the mysterious disappearance of Indiana University student Jill Behrman, there are some new clues in the case. Police believed that Jill was struck by a pickup truck and tossed into the back after the driver realized what had happened. At the time investigators thought Jill's case may have been connected to an attempted abduction in Ellettsville, Indiana. The 18-year-old victim got away and helped police create a composite. Police arrested a man named Uriah Clouse, believing he may have been involved in Jill's disappearance. A newspaper reporter printed the story about Clouse, even though police didn't want her to, but it ended up being everything police needed; the abduction victim recognized Clouse as the man who tried to take her. Clouse was later cleared in Jill's case, and her body was found in March 2003. John Myers was later arrested and charged with Jill's murder.
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Frederick Wells (Break-Four Tease) - College professor wanted for manufacturing drugs in the college science lab. He was apparently captured at some point.
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Unknown Roger Boisvert Killer (Full segment) - Ed Miller profiles the unsolved murder of an internet entrepreneur that people in three countries want to see solved. After studying technology in Canada, Roger Boisvert moved to Japan and helped develop not only that country's internet service, but also helped design websites for the Guardian Angels, a crime-fighting group. But when Roger went to Los Angeles on business, he was gunned down during a robbery. An unidentified suspect approached Roger while he was in his car and demanded money and a cell phone. Suddenly a shot rang out and the suspect ran off. Roger was later pronounced dead. Still at large
Episode notes:
- This episode was filmed in the AMW Studio.
- Fugitive recap: Jorge Lopez-Orozco, Russell Smith, Mikhail Drachev, Unknown Riverside Robber, Richard Yang, Unknown Roger Boisvert Killer, Unidentified Possible Richard Evonitz Victims, Unknown Indiana Bank Killers
- Jorge Lopez-Orozco is referred to as "Jorge Lopez" during his profile.
- When Don LaFontaine says "It's Saturday, August 31, 2002," the date doesn't appear on screen for some reason.
- During the intro, as Don LaFontaine is previewing the Jill Behrman case, photos of all the high-profile missing children investigations from 2002 are shown. The missing children shown are Elizabeth Smart, Erica Pratt, Danielle Van Dam, Alexis Patterson, Miranda Gaddis, Ashley Pond and Jennifer Short.
- Just before the Richard Evonitz story begins, John Walsh mentions that the bodies of Ashley Pond and Miranda Gaddis had been discovered earlier that week. You get the feeling that he was really touched by it, because he seemed much more somber than usual.
- I can't remember if I've mentioned this before, but AMW never mentioned that Konstantin Simberg was a police informant. They simply referred to him as a "friend" of the detective. AMW later removed the detective's name from amw.com and during Drachev's capture report, a new investigator was interviewed. I'm guessing the detective later went undercover.
- This is also the only profile of Mikhail Drachev to mention Konstantin's girlfriend. Given that she didn't really add too much to the case, I'm not surprised that she was cut from the story for all future airings.
- It was later determined that much of the story AMW reported in the Jill Behrman case was completely made up. A woman who worked for an escort service claimed that she and Clouse had hit Jill after getting high. After investigators drained an entire creek to corroborate her story, the woman admitted she'd made up the whole story.
Next month on AMW:
September 7, 2002
- It's been one year since the world changed on September 11, 2001. See what steps have been taken to help protect the country from future terrorist attacks, and how viewers can help track down two suspects who may be involved in terrorist activities.
- When the president of the Philippines was arrested on corruption charges, the nation was outraged. They trusted the man, who had once been a popular actor and was easily elected president. But even more enfuriating was that one of his associates, who kept records on the dirty money, has gone on the run. Viewers are asked to help find Yolanda Ricaforte.
- Who sent letters that were laced with anthrax? The FBI is still trying to figure out the answer to that question, and they've got several intriguing clues. Watch as Rick Segall goes inside the anthrax investigation and find out how viewers can help solve this mysterious case.
September 14, 2002
- It's time for the 16th season premiere of America's Most Wanted, and the show is kicking off the year right by going after fugitives who used their cars as murder weapons. Included is the story of a popular jazz club owner from Detroit who was killed after unwittingly driving right into the path of drag racers. Help find the killer of Harry Bolling.
- In one afternoon, a man from Ohio went on a violent crime spree. His victims included two police officers, two innocent drivers and a man he kidnapped to help him commit a crime. Find out what Loren Key allegedly did after that terrifying day in May 2002.
- AMW asks for help in finding three accused drunk drivers who used their cars to kill. Included are Michele Comstock, who was convicted of killing a little boy after hitting him with her car; Martin Altamirano, who allegedly killed a woman and seriously injured her daughter; and Sarkis Peltekian, whose drunk driving allegedly led to the deaths of seven teenagers.
September 21, 2002
- There's a serial killer on the loose in Baton Rouge, and the women of that town are fighting back. John Turchin travels to the Pelican State to go inside the investigation and find out how detectives are working to track down the suspect.
- When AMW profiled DeAndre Wilson, detectives wanted nothing more than to nab this murder suspect who allegedly gunned down two people in two separate incidents. Find out how Wilson's cover was literally blown...by the wind.
- As an amateur wrestling, William "The Messiah" Welch is used to fighting through pain. But the pain he went through during an assault in his own home left him seriously injured. In the process, the wrestler's thumb was cut off and taken. Help investigators find out who committed this crime and why it was done.
September 28, 2002
- The year has been a rough one for kids, with abductions being reported seemingly every day. But in this episode, John Walsh teams up with two men to teach kids how they can fight back against abductors and save their own lives.
- Ed Miller travels to Tahiti to try and find the clues in a very mysterious case; the disappearance of a former professional basketball player, his girlfriend and their boat driver. The basketball player's brother claims they were kidnapped by pirates, but does he know more than he's saying?
- It was shocking enough when her husband committed an armed robbery. It was even more shocking how Mark Samples got away from the scene. But what her husband did next shocked everybody. Now viewers will be asked to help find a little boy who could be in danger.
October 17, 2002
- In a special Friday night edition of AMW, John Walsh takes viewers inside the investigation of the D.C. Metro Sniper. Since the beginning of the month, this dangerous and mysterious suspect has shot 10 people, killing eight of them. The killings appear to be random, which makes this killer even more terrifying.
- AMW's correspondents have descended on DC to help do what they can to find this suspect. Watch as Ed Miller investigates the possible guns that are being used by this suspect, Tom Morris take a look at the sniper cases AMW has solved in the past, and Rick Segall report on how mysterious quirks and personality changes could be what breaks this case wide open.
- Filmmaker Ray Farkas comes to DC to hear from the people who live there. What has them most frightened? What steps are being done to make people feel safe? And how are politicians coping with this mysterious serial killer?
Can't believe I'm almost done with the 2002 guide! After the next batch of episodes, I'll only have two more months! The September episodes are decent, and I LOVE the October 17 special edition (you'll see why when I analyze it).
Episode #783 - July 13, 2002 (Secrets of the Secret Service Special Edition)
Angel Rivera (COPS Credits) - Landlord wanted out of California for killing one of his tenants, his girlfriend and her uncle then disappearing. Rivera later resurfaced in Indiana, where he allegedly killed his girlfriend. Thanks to AMW tips, Rivera was captured in Pennsylvania in November 2002, making him Capture #727.
James Sullivan Capture (Full segment) - Rick Segall reports that just two months after he was profiled, accused killer James Sullivan has been captured. Sullivan, wanted for arranging the murder of his wife in 1987, disappeared after his indictment in 1997. AMW tips that came in from his May airing led to Sullivan's capture in Thailand, where he'd been living with his new wife. Sullivan was Capture #715.
Zeke Cooper (Full segment) - Ed Miller reports on a violent fugitive, facing life in prison, wanted on both coasts. In California, career criminal Zeke Cooper allegedly shot at two police officers after they spotted him riding on the handlebars of a bicycle. One officer was injured, but both survived. He then resurfaced in New York where he allegedly committed a violent home invasion robbery. During that incident, Cooper allegedly beat the victim in the face with a gun. AMW tips led to an Army base in Idaho, where Cooper was hiding, making him Capture #716.
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Unknown New Orleans Robbers (Full segment) - A trio of armed robbers was being sought for a violent crime spree in Louisiana. The robbers first struck a truck stop casino just outside the city. Armed with assault rifles and wearing masks and body armor, the trio shot a security guard and dragged her out of the way to get ahold of the money. Though hurt, she survived. The trio then struck an AutoZone store 10 days later, where they almost shot a customer after thinking he was a cop. Still at large, and it's possible the statute of limitations has expired in this case (though they could still be wanted on attempted murder charges for shooting the security guard).
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Anthony Kuchta (Full segment) - Wanted out of Michigan for allegedly being a high-level drug kingpin. Kuchta specialized in cocaine trafficking, and was busted literally by accident during an undercover drug operation. The drug team was only expecting to get some low-level operatives, but though he was arrested, Kuchta bonded out and disappeared. Still at large
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Richard Evonitz Capture (Full segment) - Tom Morris heads to South Carolina to report on one case that may have solved two others. A 15-year-old girl was abducted while watering her front lawn and held hostage, where she was raped. But she escaped after her attacker fell asleep. She went to police and was able to identify the man as Richard Evonitz, a local businessman. As police looked for Evonitz, the investigation revealed something shocking; not only did Evonitz have newspaper clippings about the unsolved murders of Kristin & Kati Lisk and Sofia Silva, but he had also lived in the areas of the crimes when they happened. But before police could question Evonitz, he committed suicide. AMW asked viewers for information on Evonitz's whereabouts and if he was connected to other crimes.
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Carlos Medina (Break Four Tease) - Cincinnati fugitive wanted for stabbing his wife to death in a bar parking lot. He was indirectly captured in 2008.
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Eddie Burgos (Breaking news, approx 30 seconds) - Tom Morris reports on a multiple murder suspect wanted out of the Chicago suburbs. Police in Cicero wanted to question Eddie Burgos about the murder of a teenage girl the day before she was supposed to be in a wedding. When her father and stepbrother went to confront Burgos, he allegedly shot both of them dead. Burgos himself committed suicide a month later.
A Look at the Secret Service Weapon Library (Full segment) - John Walsh visits the Secret Service's Weapons Library where he learns about some of the guns in their collection. Included are a Tommy gun, a gun disguised as a cell phone, and even a gold-plated handgun that was once owned by Elvis Presley (it was given to Richard Nixon as a gift when Elvis visited the White House in the 70s, and Nixon gave it to the Secret Service).
Episode notes:
- This episode was filmed at the U.S. Secret Service's James J. Rowley Training Center in Laurel, Maryland. Throughout the night, John goes through Secret Service training and random bits of trivia about the Secret Service are shared with viewers.
- Possibly due to the abbreviated profile, only the triple murder in California is mentioned during Angel Rivera's case.
- Zeke Cooper's known aliases that are mentioned during the profile are "Donovan Carlisle" and "Carlisle Donovan." Even 12 years after seeing this profile, those aliases just amuse me.
- Although John Walsh says the name of the customer who was almost shot by the New Orleans Robbers, he never receives an on-screen credit.
- Richard Evonitz was going to be profiled on AMW the week before, had the show not been preempted due to the Fourth of July weekend. This was confirmed during John Walsh's appearance on Larry King Live the previous week (I never saw the episode, but the transcript can still be found on CNN's website). I believe this was BEFORE he had been named a suspect in the Lisk and Silva cases.
- "Brittany," the South Carolina teen kidnapped by Evonitz, later appeared on "The John Walsh Show," where she not only revealed her face, but also her true first name, Kara.
- To this day, the FBI is seeking information on Evonitz and any possible unsolved crimes he's connected to. His poster can be found on their website in the ViCAP section.
- Similarly to Elaine Parent's suicide, I remember reading articles after Eddie Burgos' death that officers were really disappointed his life on the run ended that way. He had never been charged in the murder of the teenage girl, but he was their strongest person of interest as he was the last person to be seen with her. The suicide left them with many unanswered questions.
Episode #784 - July 27, 2002
(Pre-Analysis Note: I do not have a hard copy of this episode, though I did see the episode. This summary is based on my memory of this airing from 12 years ago)
Lawrence Rivera (COPS Credits) - Allegedly killed a 26-year-old woman in California after becoming obsessed with her and stalking her. He was captured in Australia in September 2002, but was only recently extradited back to the states.
Andre Neverson (Full segment) - Wanted out of New York City for the murders of his ex-girlfriend and his own sister. His ex's body was found lying right next to a Brooklyn sidewalk, while his sister was allegedly killed over money. Still at large
Hugo Jimenez & Brian Aquino Capture (Full segment) - Ed Miller reports that a crime AMW aired earlier in 2002 has been solved. Adriana Pinon was an aspiring actress who had gotten roles as an extra on several soap operas, but was killed before her career could go any further. Not long after her death, two people, Hugo Jimenez and Brian Aquino, were arrested and charged in the case.
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NOTE: Can't remember what the second segment included.
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The Summer of Missing Children (Full segment) - A look is given at the large amount of missing children cases that have been happening in 2002. The latest abduction, that of Erica Pratt, had a happy ending. The little girl had been kidnapped and held for ransom, but she escaped by biting through the duct tape and finding her way home. At the same time, California child Samantha Runnion wasn't as lucky; she was abducted and murdered by a man who had been acquitted years earlier of child molestation.
John Walsh also mentions some recent missing children cases AMW wants to solve.
Elizabeth Smart - Richard Ricci was still considered a person of interest in the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping. The former handyman admitted to burglarizing the Smart family home, but denied any involvement in her case. Turns out he had nothing to do with the crime, and the true kidnappers were arrested about seven months later, with Elizabeth being found alive.
Alexis Patterson - Milwaukee police continued searching for seven-year-old Alexis Patterson, who disappeared while on her way to school. Her stepfather was the last person to see her and told police he had walked her to school that day. Still missing
Photos of other missing children, including Ashley Pond, Miranda Gaddis, Laura Ayala, Diamond and Tionda Bradley, Jahi Turner and Rilya Wilson are briefly flashed on the screen.
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Unknown Ray Guidry Killer, Part 1 (Full segment) - A year after AMW first aired the unsolved murder of Louisiana businessman Ray Guidry, investigators Ron Antoci and Joe Matthews provide an update on the case.
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David Lindsay (Break Four Tease) - Wanted out of Illinois for murder. Captured back in 2006.
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Unknown Ray Guidry Killer, Part 2 (Full segment) - A continuation of the Ray Guidry murder investigation.
Episode notes:
- I believe this episode was filmed at the AMW Studio.
- According to amw.com, Bianca LeBron was one of the missing children profiled on this episode. However, I personally do not remember seeing her photo during the missing children feature. Now there is also the possibility that I'm misremembering things as well.
- amw.com also claimed the Unknown Clearwater Abductor was going to be profiled on this episode, but unless the case was mentioned and I didn't realize it, the case wasn't aired.
- For the life of me, I can't remember anything about the Ray Guidry update. It frustrates me so much, because I wasn't as familiar with the case as I am now and I really want to know what the two investigators found out.
Episode #785 - August 3, 2002 (Kansas City Special Edition)
Alfredo Hernandez (COPS Credits) - Illinois fugitive accused of stabbing and killing one of his best friends in a dispute over beer money. Hernandez was captured indirectly in October 2006, but his capture report never appeared on amw.com
Unknown Ali Kemp Killer (Full segment) - Ali Kemp, a 19-year-old attendant at a Leawood, Kansas, pool, was found murdered in the facility's pump room. The day she was killed was rainy, and she was the only employee working that day. A friend of Ali's helped develop a sketch of a suspicious man leaving the pool, which police believed was Ali's killer. In November 2004, Benjamin Appleby was identified as the suspect and charged with Ali's murder.
Donnie Hulett (Full segment) - John Turchin reports from Georgia on a convicted car thief who was released early, only to commit several crimes. First, he allegedly stole a car. After that car broke down, Hulett allegedly killed two volunteers with a troubled teens' home before stealing their money and their pickup truck. Hulett was actually captured two days before his profile even aired; his walk of shame was edited into the show as Turchin described Hulett's quirks and characteristics.
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Unknown Precious Doe Killer (Full segment) - Tom Morris provides an update on Kansas City's most horrifying unsolved murder; in 2001, a little girl was found decapitated in a wooded area. With the help of Frank Bender, a bust of what the child, known as Precious Doe, was created in the hopes of identifying her. For a brief time, investigators believed the child may have been Rilya Wilson, a child who disappeared from Florida around the same time Precious Doe was found. However, DNA proved the two were not the same child. Though Rilya's body has never been found, her caretaker has been convicted of her murder. Precious Doe was identified in April 2005 as Erica Green, and her parents, Michelle and Harrell Johnson, were charged in her death.
Tabitha Brewer (Brief, approx. 30 seconds) - Missing teen from Shawnee, Kansas who disappeared in 1998, along with her boyfriend. Her boyfriend was later found dead, but Tabitha remained missing. A few years ago, a suspect was charged with murder in connection with the death of the two, but he was acquitted. Tabitha is still missing.
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William Severs (Full segment) - Rick Segall goes on the road to follow tips that have been coming in on William Severs, wanted out of New Jersey for shooting his ex-girlfriend in the back, killing her. Tipsters helped identify a woman who helped Severs flee New Jersey and led officers to Chincoteague, Virginia, where he had been using the alias "Tony" and living with his friend's niece. Though Severs had been in Chincoteague for awhile, he disappeared after he was profiled on AMW. Severs was eventually located in November 2002 after he saw himself profiled yet again. Severs was Capture #725.
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Unknown Missouri River Serial Killer (Full segment) - AMW goes inside the investigation into the deaths of six prostitutes whose bodies were all found in the Missouri River. All the victims had similar physical appearances and had connections to Independence Avenue in Kansas City. The victims were discovered between 1996-1998. As far as I can tell, the killer has never been captured.
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Mark Wilson (Break Four Tease) - Iowa fugitive wanted for killing his girlfriend. Wilson surrendered in 2009 after calling the police department to see if he still had a warrant for his arrest.
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Armando Garcia (Brief, approx. 30 seconds) - Accused cop killer wanted out of Los Angeles for killing a sheriff's deputy during a routine traffic stop. Garcia, who had a warrant for attempted murder, was captured in February 2006.
Behind the Badge: Officer Michelle Jeter (Full segment) - Ed Miller profiles Carthage, Texas Police Officer Michelle Jeter, who survived a brutal assault while on duty. Officer Jeter pulled over a man for a routine traffic stop, and after she discovered marijuana on the man, he punched the officer in the face and then repeatedly started beating her in the face. A passerby saw what happened and used the officer's own radio to call for help. Thanks to another passerby, the suspect was captured. The officer's injuries were so bad, all memories of the incident were completely wiped from her mind. Though she recovered, Officer Jeter left the police department and moved to reserve duty.
Adolfo Soto ("Tacked on" profile) - Wanted out of Texas for killing an elderly man in 1993. Still at large
Episode notes:
- This episode was filmed in Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri.
- amw.com claimed that Samuel Jones was profiled on this episode. I can assure you that he wasn't, and his listing on the website is an error.
- All four correspondents are featured in this episode.
- Kansas City Police Detective David Barnard is featured in two different stories in this episode; the Precious Doe murder and the Missouri River serial killer. He was the lead investigator on the Precious Doe case and a member of the task force trying to find the serial killer. Based on his appearance, you can tell the Missouri River case was profiled a couple years before the episode was made (the case was first profiled in 1998).
- John Walsh gives a viewer warning before the "Behind the Badge" feature due to the graphic assault that was captured on Officer Jeter's dashcam.
Episode #786 - August 10, 2002 (Strange But True Special Edition)
Manuel Tarango (COPS Credits) - Leader of a robbery crew in Las Vegas who targeted a bar. What they didn't realize is that most of the people in the bar that night were off-duty police officers; even the band was made up of cops! A shootout ensued, and one suspect was killed, but Tarango got away. He was indirectly captured in June 2004.
Antonio Delacruz (Full segment) - Houston fugitive wanted for stabbing a man to death during a drug transaction. He led officers on a high-speed chase before getting stuck in a ditch. In a bizarre getaway attempt, Delacruz poured gasoline on his body and set himself on fire. He survived, but bonded out and disappeared. Delacruz was captured in December 2006.
David Veal (Full segment) - Jail escapee who literally starved himself to elude justice. Veal charge, squeezed through a hole no bigger than a cinderblock, made it to the roof of the jail and got away. He allegedly killed his neighbor after his wife, whom he was having an affair with, asked Veal to kill him. AMW tips located Veal in Arizona in August 2002, making him Capture #719.
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Dudley Forbes (Full segment) - Canadian fugitive wanted for shooting up a nightclub in Toronto in an attempt to kill his ex-girlfriend. She survived, but two innocent people were killed in the chaos. After Forbes' 1997 profile, AMW got a tip from a travel agent in Rhode Island saying she thought Forbes was one of her customers; he asked for a one-way ticket to London without having to fly to Canada and looked identical to Forbes. The man led officers on a high-speed chase through downtown Providence before finally getting caught; oddly, it wasn't Forbes, but it was a Canadian fugitive wanted for murder. Forbes himself was caught indirectly in May 2004.
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Stanley Obas (All-Points Bulletin) - Wanted out of Easton, Pennsylvania for his role in the torture and murder of a 13-year-old girl. Obas and two others believed the victim had stolen their drugs and money. The suspects were linked to the crime after a piece of chewing gum was found next to the victim's body and it perfectly matched the teeth of one of the suspects. Obas' accomplices were caught, but he got away. Still at large.
Clifford Graham (All-Points Bulletin) - Fotomat founder wanted for scamming over 300 investors in a gold scheme. Graham claimed he discovered a process that could turn sand into gold. When the investors gave him money, he was actually funneling it into his private accounts. After this was discovered, Graham fled. Still at large
Martha Gomez (All-Points Bulletin) - Texas fugitive wanted for raping several teenage girls. However, Gomez would commit the crimes while posing as a 16-year-old boy named Emilio Garrison. Detectives finally figured her out when they went to question Garrison and realized that Gomez looked exactly like the picture of him. Gomez bonded out and disappeared. AMW tips led to her capture in October 2003, making her Capture #764.
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AMW's Strangest Captures (Full segment) - To go along with the show's theme of "Strange But True," some of the strangest captures in the show's history are highlighted. They include Amy DeChant (hid out in a nudist colony while a fugitive), John List (captured after 18 years on the run thanks to an age-enhanced bust that was a perfect match), Jesse Baker (fugitive murderer found in jail under an alias), Scott Smithson (identified by a tipster after the actor in the reenactment said the phrase "Sweet Home Alabama," which is something the real fugitive said all the time), Adrian Rosales (captured after he sent an email to HBO offering to sell his life story to them), Kenneth Lovci (caught while working as a cook at a restaurant where the previous cook had been murdered; his case aired right before Lovci's) and Asgar Ali (hiding out as a cook, where he actually cooked John Walsh's food).
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Lloyd Lindsey (Break-Four Tease) - New Jersey fugitive wanted on rape charges. After seeing him profiled on AMW, his associates turned him in, making him Capture #718.
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Unknown Connie Warner & Randi Mebruer Killer (Full segment) - In Zachary, Louisiana, police were hunting a possible serial killer. Two women had been abducted and murdered from their own homes. Connie Warner was killed in the mid-90s and Randi Mebruer, whose body was never found, vanished around 1998. Police believed an unknown man who attacked two teenagers in a cemetery may have been responsible. After serial killer Derrick Lee was arrested, DNA linked him to Randi Mebruer's murder, and he remains a suspect in Connie Warner's death, but has not been linked to it.
Episode notes:
- This episode was filmed in the AMW Studio.
- Fugitive recap: Antonio Delacruz, David Veal, Dudley Forbes, Martha Gomez, Clifford Graham, Stanley Obas, Unknown Connie Warner & Randi Mebruer Killer
- This is a rerun of the March 30, 2002 episode.
- John Walsh pronounces Stanley Obas' last name two different ways in this episode. During the story, it's pronounced "oh-bah-ss," but during the fugitive recap it's pronounced "oh-bass" (like the fish).
Episode #787 - August 17, 2002 (Toughest Cops, Toughest Cases Special Edition)
Chaun "Charley" Cai (COPS Credits) - Canadian millionaire wanted for killing his wife and then stuffing her body into a suitcase. Cai's profile was removed from amw.com without any explanation in 2005. Still at large.
Seattle Top Cops Feature (Full segment) - "Tough Cops" story about a group of Seattle officers who took down a murder suspect who shot at them while barricaded inside of a home. The suspect had just killed three people and took shelter in the home of a gun collector. One officer was hit by a ricoched bullet, but survived. The suspect was eventually killed by the SWAT team.
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Jennifer Short and Unknown Mary & Michael Short Killer (Breaking news, approx. 1 minute) - Tom Morris alerts viewers to an urgent missing child case; Nine-year-old Jennifer Short was missing from her home in Virginia. Most troubling was that while Jennifer was missing, her parents, Mary and Michael, were found shot to death in their own home. Jennifer's body was found in North Carolina in September 2002, and the murders of all three remain unsolved.
Unknown William Hill Killers (Full segment) - John Turchin heads to Atlanta to profile the murder of a security guard. The guard, William Hill, was shot in the head as he was emptying the money cannisters from a mall ATM. The getaway truck was later found torched with all the evidence destroyed. The lead detective on the murder was taking the case personally, because the mall was the same place where his brother, also a police officer, was shot and paralyzed during a restaurant robbery four years earlier. Still unsolved
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Anatoliy Valenko and Vladimir Balachov (Full segment) - When severed body parts were found in both New York and New Jersey, law enforcement agencies from both states teamed up to solve the crime. One clue at a time, investigators were able to not only identify both bodies, but also two suspects; their roommates Anatoliy Valenko and Vladimir Balachov. By the time detectives charged the duo with the crime, they had taken off. In November 2007, Valenko was captured in The Netherlands after an amw.com viewer recognized him. He became Capture #968. Balachov is still at large, and it appears that police have seemingly given up on finding him.
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John Addis (Full segment) - A former Alaska State Trooper, Addis was wanted out of Las Vegas for killing his girlfriend. Police believe she was killed the same day she broke up with him. Addis, who was using the alias "John Edwards," had previously served time in prison for kidnapping his own children. He was found dead in 2006 in Guatemala. Police believe he committed suicide after killing his wife and children in Mexico.
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Giusseppe LoPorto (Break-Four Tease) - Suspected child molester wanted for victimizing his own daughter. LoPorto was indirectly captured in Italy just a few years ago, but his capture report never appeared on amw.com
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Shane Magan (Full segment) - Troubled teen wanted out of Norco, California for shooting at a sheriff's deputy. Magan, who was a ward of the state, had been abandoned by his biological mother and no foster family wanted him. Instead, he spent his time getting high and committing break-ins and robberies. Still at large.
Episode notes:
- This episode was filmed in the AMW Studio.
- This is a rerun of the July 21, 2001 episode, and would eventually become one of the most repeated episodes in AMW history. It would air once more in 2003 and 2004 before finally being retired.
- I recently discovered a really strange update on the Seattle Top Cops case. Sgt. K.C. Saulet, the supervisor who helped save Officer Diana Russell, was demoted back in 2006 after receiving more than 100 complaints (yes, you read that correctly) from citizens about his conduct. He remained with the King County Sheriff's Department, but was fired last year after he threatened to arrest a man for taking photos of police officers, then lying about the incident to his supervisors. I discovered this when trying to find out if Officer Russell was still with the sheriff's department (which I was unable to discover).
- On a related note, Sgt. Saulet's name is misspelled as "Soulet" in his on-screen credit.
- On a personal note, something really interesting happened the week this episode aired. A couple days before, I was watching "Unsolved Mysteries" on Lifetime and I happened to catch John Addis' profile on that program. Imagine my surprise days later when I found out Addis was going to be profiled on AMW as well. If you'll remember my 2003 guide, the same thing happened the week AMW profiled the capture of Jesus Mezquia, the suspected Mia Zapata killer.
Episode #788 - August 24, 2002
Julian Lockhart (COPS Credits) - Connecticut fugitive wanted for beating a Navy veteran to death with a tree limb when the victim tried stopping Lockhart from stealing his car. A year after this profile, a tip from AMW led to Lockhart's capture, making him Capture #754.
Jennifer Short and Unknown Mary & Michael Short Killer (Full segment) - Tom Morris heads to Virginia to report on the desperate search for nine-year-old Jennifer Short, who was kidnapped from her home the week before. Jennifer's parents, Mary and Michael, were found dead of gunshot wounds. It's believed that the killer may have known one or both of the Shorts, though police never stated why they believed this. Although several tips came in after the previous week's breaking news alert, none of them had panned out. Jennifer's body was found in North Carolina a month after the murders, and the killer remains at large.
Francisco Martinez (Full segment) - Wanted out of Passaic, New Jersey for killing his boss, Michael Cerullo. Both Michael, the owner, and Martinez worked at a textile factory. Michael's business had a very friendly atmosphere, and Martinez, the warehouse manager, was not only Michael's "right-hand man," but he was also his best friend. After a mysterious fire and some supplies went missing, Michael was found dead in the basement of the warehouse. Police believed that Martinez had been stealing from the factory, and when Michael confronted him about it, he was killed. Still at large
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Robert Foster (Brief, approx. 1 minute) - Bronx fugitive wanted for killing and dismembering his girlfriend. Foster was an ex-con who police say manipulated her and forced her to leave her family. Her dismembered body was found in the East River. Foster was captured indirectly in April 2003 after allegedly beating up his new girlfriend.
Unknown Irving Sicherer Killer (Full segment) - Unidentified fugitive wanted for the brutal murder of Irving Sicherer of Florida. His daughter discovered his badly beaten body and made a frantic 911 call. Police believed Irving's killer was caught on surveillance tape with him as he went shopping that day. For awhile, police believed Irving's killer may have been Adam Ezerski, who police feared could be the next Andrew Cunanan. After Ezerski was caught, investigators confirmed he had nothing to do with Irving Sicherer's death. However, they've never been able to identify the man seen with Irving on the surveillance video. Still at large
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Brian Jones (Full segment) - Las Vegas fugitive wanted for raping a woman who was stranded on the side of the road after her car got stuck. Jones allegedly raped the woman for several hours. She was able to escape from him, but Jones disappeared on bond. Jones was captured in 2006 in Thailand.
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Fabian Smart Capture (Full segment, part one) - Detective Joe Matthews has news in a case that he's been investigating for two years. In Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, a young man named Jason McMann was found dead in the woods. The case was at a standstill, in part because the rumors were that the killers were members of the local college football team, while Jason himself was a drug dealer. AMW sent Joe down to investigate the case himself. Through his investigation, he was able to discover two witnesses who saw Jason being chased down by four unknown suspects. After more digging, Joe uncovered a woman who said she heard about what happened. She told them Fabian Smart, the star of the football team, Jermaine Ballard, another football player, and Willie "Diggy" Williams, Smart's out-of-town friend, were all involved. Joe successfully tracked down Ballard, who didn't admit any involvement, but acted really nervous during his questioning. After telling the local police about Ballard, they brought him in for questioning, and that finally started getting the investigation going.
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Fernando Blanco (Break-Four Tease) - Wanted for killing a man in a hit-and-run accident. Still at large
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Fabian Smart Capture (Full segment, part two) - When Jermaine Ballard was brought in for questioning by the Lock Haven Police Department, told them that he was present the night Jason McMann was murdered. He witnessed Jason get chased down by Fabian Smart and Willie "Diggy" Williams. Ballard then said he helped put Jason in the back of Smart's car, but he didn't go with Smart. The person who did go with Smart was Williams, who told Detective Joe Matthews that he saw Smart kill Jason by beating him with a handgun. Thanks to Ballard and Williams' cooperation, a warrant for Smart's arrest was issued. AMW cameras were present when Smart was arrested at his job in the Atlanta suburbs. Smart was charged with murder, while Williams, Ballard and another football player, Quincy Teel, were charged as associates. Smart and Williams were Capture #s 712 and 713, while Ballard and Teel were Capture #s 838 and 839.
Episode notes:
- This episode was filmed in New York City.
- As of this episode, AMW updates their "AMW Fast Fact" graphic. It's no longer in a slanted golden box; now it's in an orange and black graphic.
- During Francisco Martinez's profile, it's mentioned that Michael Cerullo used to be a sheet metal worker and had actually helped build the World Trade Center twin towers, which gave him a personal connection to 9/11. This was the reason AMW aired this case shortly before the one-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks (John Walsh even mentions this as he's introducing the case). None of Martinez's subsequent profiles mentioned this fact.
- There's a couple odd inconsistencies during the Irving Sicherer case. Firstly, in the transcript of the 911 call, Irving's daughter is called Emily Sicherer. But when AMW interviewed her, both John Walsh and her on-screen credit call her "Beverly Sicherer." The profile also said that Ezerski was profiled "this past summer," but he was only profiled in 2001. It's really obvious that this profile was lifted directly from its August 2001 profile and had nothing altered.
- The unsolved murder of Jason McMann was the only case investigated by an AMW detective that was solved by the program.
- At the end of the show, John Walsh previews the cases of Mikhail Drachev and the Unknown Roger Boisvert Killer, saying they'll both be profiled next week.
Episode #789 - August 31, 2002
Jorge Lopez-Orozco (COPS Credits) - Idaho fugitive wanted for killing his girlfriend and her two children, then setting their bodies on fire. After being added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List in 2005, Lopez-Orozco was captured in October 2009.
Richard Evonitz Capture (Full segment) - After five years, the unsolved murder investigations of Kristin & Kati Lisk and Sofia Silva have been closed thanks to a heroic 15-year-old girl from South Carolina. Earlier in the summer, the teen was abducted by a man named Richard Evonitz, who held her hostage and raped her for several hours before she escaped. After she got away, investigators found circumstantial evidence that suggested that Evonitz may have been involved in the unsolved 1996 and 1997 crimes in Virginia. But before they could question him, Evonitz committed suicide as police closed in on him. It turns out, they didn't need him; after Evonitz committed suicide, investigators found two pieces of solid evidence that linked him to the crimes. First, they found a pink bathroom rug in his home, which got investigators excited because one of the girls had a pink fiber on her body that they were never able to identify. And, unbelievably, when technicians dusted for fingerprints in Evonitz's trunk, they actually found Kristin Lisk's fingerprint inside of it. Although the investigation was closed, investigators still asked for assistance identifying photos of two young girls that were found in Evonitz's home.
Russell Smith and Tara Smith (Full segment) - A former correctional officer from Virginia allegedly lived a double life. At night, Russell Smith was a Satanist, and allegedly used his role as a church leader to rape a teenage girl. Investigators believed Smith tricked the victim into thinking the sexual assault was a normal part of the ritual. After Smith's secret was exposed, he went on the run and took his 12-year-old daughter, Tara, on the run with him. Thanks to an AMW tip, Russell and Tara Smith were located just a few days after the profile. Russell Smith was AMW Capture #720.
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Mikhail Drachev (Full segment) - Arizona fugitive wanted for the brutal murder of a young man. Drachev and two others allegedly severely beat a police informant as he called one of the Phoenix Police Detectives for help. The trio then allegedly took the young man to the middle of the desert where they stabbed him and then set him on fire. Incredibly, the victim was still alive, but died after dragging himself to a river and floating downstream. The two accomplices were caught, but Drachev disappeared. He was captured in April 2007 after his girlfriend found him on amw.com, making him Capture #933.
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James Logan (Breaking news, approx 1 minute) - Tom Morris breaks the case on an accused cop killer wanted for ambushing and killing two police officers in Maryland. The officers were trying to serve commitment papers on Logan. He was captured the very night of this profile.
Unknown Riverside Robber (All-Points Bulletin) - Wanted for getting into a shootout at a Riverside, California, liquor store. The suspect, wearing a motorcycle and a helmet, was apparently planning on robbing the place, but the clerk fired back using his own gun. Still at large, and it's possible the statute of limitations has expired.
Unknown Indiana Bank Killers (All-Points Bulletin) - Indiana police were seeking two suspects wanted for a horrible crime; three bank employees were shot (one died) during a botched bank robbery. The suspects got away with nothing after finding out nobody knew the combination of the vault. Within a week, the suspects were identified and captured.
Richard Yang (All-Points Bulletin) - Missouri fugitive who admitted to killing his wife after they decided to get divorced. Although he pleaded guilty, Yang fled after being released from jail before being allowed to serve his sentence. Yang was captured in Mexico in 2005.
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Jill Behrman (Full segment) - Nearly two years after the mysterious disappearance of Indiana University student Jill Behrman, there are some new clues in the case. Police believed that Jill was struck by a pickup truck and tossed into the back after the driver realized what had happened. At the time investigators thought Jill's case may have been connected to an attempted abduction in Ellettsville, Indiana. The 18-year-old victim got away and helped police create a composite. Police arrested a man named Uriah Clouse, believing he may have been involved in Jill's disappearance. A newspaper reporter printed the story about Clouse, even though police didn't want her to, but it ended up being everything police needed; the abduction victim recognized Clouse as the man who tried to take her. Clouse was later cleared in Jill's case, and her body was found in March 2003. John Myers was later arrested and charged with Jill's murder.
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Frederick Wells (Break-Four Tease) - College professor wanted for manufacturing drugs in the college science lab. He was apparently captured at some point.
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Unknown Roger Boisvert Killer (Full segment) - Ed Miller profiles the unsolved murder of an internet entrepreneur that people in three countries want to see solved. After studying technology in Canada, Roger Boisvert moved to Japan and helped develop not only that country's internet service, but also helped design websites for the Guardian Angels, a crime-fighting group. But when Roger went to Los Angeles on business, he was gunned down during a robbery. An unidentified suspect approached Roger while he was in his car and demanded money and a cell phone. Suddenly a shot rang out and the suspect ran off. Roger was later pronounced dead. Still at large
Episode notes:
- This episode was filmed in the AMW Studio.
- Fugitive recap: Jorge Lopez-Orozco, Russell Smith, Mikhail Drachev, Unknown Riverside Robber, Richard Yang, Unknown Roger Boisvert Killer, Unidentified Possible Richard Evonitz Victims, Unknown Indiana Bank Killers
- Jorge Lopez-Orozco is referred to as "Jorge Lopez" during his profile.
- When Don LaFontaine says "It's Saturday, August 31, 2002," the date doesn't appear on screen for some reason.
- During the intro, as Don LaFontaine is previewing the Jill Behrman case, photos of all the high-profile missing children investigations from 2002 are shown. The missing children shown are Elizabeth Smart, Erica Pratt, Danielle Van Dam, Alexis Patterson, Miranda Gaddis, Ashley Pond and Jennifer Short.
- Just before the Richard Evonitz story begins, John Walsh mentions that the bodies of Ashley Pond and Miranda Gaddis had been discovered earlier that week. You get the feeling that he was really touched by it, because he seemed much more somber than usual.
- I can't remember if I've mentioned this before, but AMW never mentioned that Konstantin Simberg was a police informant. They simply referred to him as a "friend" of the detective. AMW later removed the detective's name from amw.com and during Drachev's capture report, a new investigator was interviewed. I'm guessing the detective later went undercover.
- This is also the only profile of Mikhail Drachev to mention Konstantin's girlfriend. Given that she didn't really add too much to the case, I'm not surprised that she was cut from the story for all future airings.
- It was later determined that much of the story AMW reported in the Jill Behrman case was completely made up. A woman who worked for an escort service claimed that she and Clouse had hit Jill after getting high. After investigators drained an entire creek to corroborate her story, the woman admitted she'd made up the whole story.
Next month on AMW:
September 7, 2002
- It's been one year since the world changed on September 11, 2001. See what steps have been taken to help protect the country from future terrorist attacks, and how viewers can help track down two suspects who may be involved in terrorist activities.
- When the president of the Philippines was arrested on corruption charges, the nation was outraged. They trusted the man, who had once been a popular actor and was easily elected president. But even more enfuriating was that one of his associates, who kept records on the dirty money, has gone on the run. Viewers are asked to help find Yolanda Ricaforte.
- Who sent letters that were laced with anthrax? The FBI is still trying to figure out the answer to that question, and they've got several intriguing clues. Watch as Rick Segall goes inside the anthrax investigation and find out how viewers can help solve this mysterious case.
September 14, 2002
- It's time for the 16th season premiere of America's Most Wanted, and the show is kicking off the year right by going after fugitives who used their cars as murder weapons. Included is the story of a popular jazz club owner from Detroit who was killed after unwittingly driving right into the path of drag racers. Help find the killer of Harry Bolling.
- In one afternoon, a man from Ohio went on a violent crime spree. His victims included two police officers, two innocent drivers and a man he kidnapped to help him commit a crime. Find out what Loren Key allegedly did after that terrifying day in May 2002.
- AMW asks for help in finding three accused drunk drivers who used their cars to kill. Included are Michele Comstock, who was convicted of killing a little boy after hitting him with her car; Martin Altamirano, who allegedly killed a woman and seriously injured her daughter; and Sarkis Peltekian, whose drunk driving allegedly led to the deaths of seven teenagers.
September 21, 2002
- There's a serial killer on the loose in Baton Rouge, and the women of that town are fighting back. John Turchin travels to the Pelican State to go inside the investigation and find out how detectives are working to track down the suspect.
- When AMW profiled DeAndre Wilson, detectives wanted nothing more than to nab this murder suspect who allegedly gunned down two people in two separate incidents. Find out how Wilson's cover was literally blown...by the wind.
- As an amateur wrestling, William "The Messiah" Welch is used to fighting through pain. But the pain he went through during an assault in his own home left him seriously injured. In the process, the wrestler's thumb was cut off and taken. Help investigators find out who committed this crime and why it was done.
September 28, 2002
- The year has been a rough one for kids, with abductions being reported seemingly every day. But in this episode, John Walsh teams up with two men to teach kids how they can fight back against abductors and save their own lives.
- Ed Miller travels to Tahiti to try and find the clues in a very mysterious case; the disappearance of a former professional basketball player, his girlfriend and their boat driver. The basketball player's brother claims they were kidnapped by pirates, but does he know more than he's saying?
- It was shocking enough when her husband committed an armed robbery. It was even more shocking how Mark Samples got away from the scene. But what her husband did next shocked everybody. Now viewers will be asked to help find a little boy who could be in danger.
October 17, 2002
- In a special Friday night edition of AMW, John Walsh takes viewers inside the investigation of the D.C. Metro Sniper. Since the beginning of the month, this dangerous and mysterious suspect has shot 10 people, killing eight of them. The killings appear to be random, which makes this killer even more terrifying.
- AMW's correspondents have descended on DC to help do what they can to find this suspect. Watch as Ed Miller investigates the possible guns that are being used by this suspect, Tom Morris take a look at the sniper cases AMW has solved in the past, and Rick Segall report on how mysterious quirks and personality changes could be what breaks this case wide open.
- Filmmaker Ray Farkas comes to DC to hear from the people who live there. What has them most frightened? What steps are being done to make people feel safe? And how are politicians coping with this mysterious serial killer?
Can't believe I'm almost done with the 2002 guide! After the next batch of episodes, I'll only have two more months! The September episodes are decent, and I LOVE the October 17 special edition (you'll see why when I analyze it).
