Q & A With John Walsh: "The World's" Most Wanted

John Walsh has brought the 25th season of America's Most Wanted to Lifetime!  You asked, and he answered.  Below are tips and thoughts from the host himself.  Don't miss the show, Fridays at 9pm/8c

1.  Someone did harm to my daughter and he’s still on the run, never caught.  Would you recommend to leave the “catching” to the police, or try to hire someone?

John Walsh:  As difficult as it is to be in a situation like this, I would recommend the investigation to be run by the police. I know it can be hard at times to trust the investigative process – I know firsthand how difficult the wait can be—but let’s hold out hope that justice will still be served. Don’t be a vigilante. However, stay actively aware of updates in the investigation and look for ways to cooperate and partner with the law enforcement working on your case.

2.  Considering child slavery, sex trade and abductions throughout Europe and Asia, have you ever thought about expanding your organization by creating affiliates overseas?

John Walsh:  One of the amazing things I have witnessed in the 24 years of “America’s Most Wanted” is how much the show has expanded to become a world’s most wanted community. We’ve gone to many countries to work with law enforcement there to catch our own American fugitives who have fled the U.S. and we receive tips from viewers overseas. More than 130 fugitives have been captured internationally as a direct result of the show.  Last year, I had the privilege of traveling to Cambodia and working with the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Center (CEOP) to give “America’s Most Wanted” viewers an inside look into the dark underground world of human sex trafficking. 

I’ve been in planning and development for a “World’s Most Wanted” program, using AMW as a model that can be locally formatted for individual regions or countries. I think the world is more than ready to have a show like AMW go global, crime knows no borders.