On July 27, 1981, six-year-old Adam Walsh was kidnapped from a Sears in Hollywood, Florida

On July 27, 1981, six-year-old Adam Walsh was kidnapped from a Sears in Hollywood, Florida. Two weeks later, his severed head was found in a canal, but the case remained unsolved for decades. His father, John Walsh, went on to champion child protection laws and create America’s Most Wanted.

On July 27, 1981, six-year-old Adam Walsh vanished from a Sears department store in Hollywood, Florida. His head was found two weeks later, but the rest of his remains were never recovered. The case devastated the nation — and his parents channeled their grief into action. His father, John Walsh, became one of the most influential voices in victim advocacy, pushing for change in how missing children cases were handled. He later launched America’s Most Wanted, helping solve hundreds of cold cases.

Adam’s murder led to sweeping reforms, including the creation of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in 1984, and eventually the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act in 2006.