John Walsh, an Auburn native, has made a triumphant return to FOX as the host of “America’s Most Wanted,” the influential series he originally launched in 1988. The show’s comeback season premiered this Monday to an impressive audience of 2.1 million viewers. After the original series ended on FOX in 2011, Walsh briefly continued the show on Lifetime until 2013, followed by hosting similar programs on other networks.
“America’s Most Wanted” has a remarkable legacy under Walsh’s guidance, contributing to the capture of 1,191 fugitives and the recovery of 61 abducted children. Walsh’s dedication to this cause originated from a personal tragedy – the abduction and murder of his 6-year-old son, Adam, in 1981.
This event propelled Walsh and his wife, Reve, to establish the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and advocate for significant federal laws aiding missing children cases. “America’s Most Wanted” airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on FOX.