Ottis Toole

Ottis Toole was convicted of two murders in 1984 and plead guilty to another four killings in 1991. For several years, Toole traveled with fellow killer Henry Lee Lucas and corroborated Lucas' story that he was an accomplice in up to 108 murders.Biography.com: Notorious: Crime Files: Ottis Toole However, since Lucas was a notorious liar and Toole later recanted some of his confessions, it is unclear how many murders Lucas and Toole actually committed.TruTV Crime Library: Serial Killers: Henry Lee Lucas: Final Words

Toole twice confessed to the murder of Adam Walsh, the son of America's Most Wanted host John Walsh, but later recanted. On December 16, 2008, authorities announced that the Walsh murder case had been officially closed and named Toole as the murderer.CNN: Police: Drifter killed Adam Walsh in 1981(December 16, 2008)

While in prison, Toole twice confessed to murdering six-year-old Adam Walsh, but later recanted both confessions. Although Toole successfully identified the areas at which Walsh was last seen and where his head was found, investigators did not find Walsh's body where Toole reported he had buried it. Further complicating matters were allegations that Toole was fed inside information about the case by a detective and the fact that Toole had a history of confessing to crimes he did not commit.CNN: Police: Drifter killed Adam Walsh in 1981 (December 16, 2008) Florida Sun-Sentinel: Adam Walsh case to be declared solved today (December 16, 2008)

Despite officials' doubts, Adam Walsh's father, John Walsh, told the Miami Herald in 2001: "I believe Ottis Toole killed Adam."Miami Herald: Hollywood police to close Adam Walsh murder case (December 16, 2008) On December 16, 2008, during a scheduled press conference, officials announced that the investigation into Walsh's murder had been closed and named Toole as the murderer.CNN: Police: Drifter killed Adam Walsh in 1981 (December 16, 2008)