Jeffrey Dahmer linked to Adam Walsh murder!

[gaia]

This was in the news today, but I haven't read or heard much more about it. Anyone out there know more?

gaia;)

[LovelyPigeon]

Two witnesses identify Dahmer at the mall where Adam was kidnapped, on the day Adam was kidnapped:

Did Dahmer Have One More Victim?
Witnesses Say They Saw Dahmer In Mall Where Adam Walsh Disappeared

http://www.themilwaukeechannel.com/news/10903529/detail.html

I was living in Florida in 1981, and had 3 young children, which horrified me all the more that Adam had been kidnapped from a Sears store's toy department.

I hope there's enough evidence to be found that can make a determination that would satisfy Adam's parents that law enforcement finally finish a competent investigation.

[concernedperson]

Thanks LP, that was a totally interesting article and seems to have some merit. CNN has had some reporting on this today and I got a sec or two but this article puts it into perspective for me.

I say this is a possibility.

Wish they could find the old blue van...probably in a scrapyard but with today's forensics it could be a mine field of info.

[michelle]

This was in the news today, but I haven't read or heard much more about it. Anyone out there know more?

gaia;)No but that would surprise me. I think even John Walsh really believes Otis Toole killed Adam.

[michelle]

I dont know what to make of this. I believe that even JW has said he thinks that Otis Toole killed adam. Who know's.:confused:

[GlitchWizard]

I definitely do not believe Dahmer did this one. Dahmer wanted to tell the details of what he did - most serial killers do - to get the credit, the recognition. They are already caught, and not at all worried about what one more number would do to them. I fully believe he would have said he did it, if he did it. I think it's another "lets get this one off the books and look good" issue, not a Dahmer issue.



I dont know what to make of this. I believe that even JW has said he thinks that Otis Toole killed adam. Who know's.:confused:

[Nova]

This is interesting. But I'm leery of eyewitnesses who identified Dahmer from newspaper coverage 10 years after the fact. I don't think they're lying, mind you. But I think it would be very easy - 10 years later - to associate that terrible day with newspaper coverage of somewhat similar crimes.

It seems precisely the sort of ID that would be thrown out if police conducted it. (Of course, the issue now isn't admissibility in court, but still...)

[Jules]

I definitely do not believe Dahmer did this one. Dahmer wanted to tell the details of what he did - most serial killers do - to get the credit, the recognition. They are already caught, and not at all worried about what one more number would do to them. I fully believe he would have said he did it, if he did it. I think it's another "lets get this one off the books and look good" issue, not a Dahmer issue.

I tend to agree with you. He admitted, sometimes probably too much :sick: , exactly what he did to his victims. :sick: Why stop short of confessing about Adam? Besides, he liked his victims older. Adam was 6.

The thing that makes me wonder just a bit is that Florida has a death penalty where Wisconsin does not. Perhaps Dahmer didn't trust LE that the death penalty wouldn't be on the table? Maybe he liked serving his life sentence in Portage, Wisconsin rather than taking the risk of being sent to Florida's death row.

[michelle]

I dont believe he did it either. I am always worried when a witness comes forth many years later.

[mysteriew]

I definitely do not believe Dahmer did this one. Dahmer wanted to tell the details of what he did - most serial killers do - to get the credit, the recognition. They are already caught, and not at all worried about what one more number would do to them. I fully believe he would have said he did it, if he did it. I think it's another "lets get this one off the books and look good" issue, not a Dahmer issue.

Most serials will hold back info on one or two, I think some figure they may need that info at some future point to bargain. Some will conceal a crime they may feel didn't go well or didn't meet their "standards." If you think back to many serial confessions, most will either deny one or two suspected crimes or throw out teasers about others then deny them.
If Dalmer did it, he may have denied because of Adam's age, it was outside his usual range.

[GlitchWizard]

Most serials will hold back info on one or two, I think some figure they may need that info at some future point to bargain. Some will conceal a crime they may feel didn't go well or didn't meet their "standards." If you think back to many serial confessions, most will either deny one or two suspected crimes or throw out teasers about others then deny them.
If Dalmer did it, he may have denied because of Adam's age, it was outside his usual range.
What makes you think most serials hold back information on one or two? I'm not saying you are wrong, just saying I don't see it. The serial killers I know of spill it all and in great detail.

[mssheila]

I've heard that serial killers have some victims that they're not "proud" of. Remember BTK had one that he lost control of? And he never gloated about that one. Maybe, IF dahmer killed Adam, he's just not proud of it?

[Annie]

I dont know what to make of this. I believe that even JW has said he thinks that Otis Toole killed adam. Who know's.:confused:
In his book, Tears of Rage, which was published in 1997, I think he believed Otis Toole did it. I just checked my book to see date of publication. It has been a while since I read it. Many times eyewitnesses can't identify someone right after it happened, much less years later. People change a lot in ten years anyway.

[Autumn2004]

Its very sad that le didnt check it out further. Regardless of it not resulting in a charge does not mean it wouldnt give his family some peace possibly knowing adam's killer isnt walking this earth. With dahmer's dad calling them also makes me question that it might be, he obviously thought it was very possible it was his son who did this. Being his father he would know more of what dahmer was capable of then we would.

[GlitchWizard]

I've heard that serial killers have some victims that they're not "proud" of. Remember BTK had one that he lost control of? And he never gloated about that one. Maybe, IF dahmer killed Adam, he's just not proud of it?
My pen pal serial killer isn't proud of any of his. When he was caught, he opened up and told them about everything, even one they never knew about. (A hooker that wasn't reported missing, ever.) When he described how he felt when he was in custody, it was relief that he could just get it all out and hold nothing back. He did say that many people like him are interested in the limelight and will admit to things they didn't even do just to boost their "kill" numbers, and they love to brag, but he said he doesn't imagine one would just forget, or hide one or two - once they admit to one it all comes out. It's a different story for someone who would deny everything, though. But then again, those who deny everything might be telling the truth, too. You never know until you know.

I just feel people want this to be the case, to bring closure to this since the boy was so young and is basically everyone's child. It doesn't close it if it's not the right guy, though.

[LovelyPigeon]

Otis Toole, a serial killer, confessed, then recanted the confession of killing Adam Walsh. John Walsh, Adam's father, thought in 1996 that Toole was likely the killer, but there was no evidence. Toole died in prison without ever confessing again.

Adam Walsh's murder remains unsolved.

Discovering that Jeffrey Dahmer, another serial killer, lived nearby when Adam Walsh was kidnapped and murdered is at least enough to spark a thorough investigation. And since 2 witnesses claim to have seen someone who they recognize as Dahmer at the mall...even more so on the need for investigation.

Can't find the blue van from the restaurant after 27 years? Maybe an earnest investigation can find it. Lots of maybes, but the case warrants a sincere try.

[concernedperson]

Otis Toole, a serial killer, confessed, then recanted the confession of killing Adam Walsh. John Walsh, Adam's father, thought in 1996 that Toole was likely the killer, but there was no evidence. Toole died in prison without ever confessing again.

Adam Walsh's murder remains unsolved.

Discovering that Jeffrey Dahmer, another serial killer, lived nearby when Adam Walsh was kidnapped and murdered is at least enough to spark a thorough investigation. And since 2 witnesses claim to have seen someone who they recognize as Dahmer at the mall...even more so on the need for investigation.

Can't find the blue van from the restaurant after 27 years? Maybe an earnest investigation can find it. Lots of maybes, but the case warrants a sincere try.

Just saw an interview with John Walsh and he mentioned all you have said in your post. He wants his sons death investigated.

[LovelyPigeon]

Here's the link to the case story on AMW: http://www.amw.com/fugitives/case.cfm?id=39789

It's so horrible that there are 2 people (Toole and Dahmer) known to be capable of what happened to Adam.

[Nova]

What makes you think most serials hold back information on one or two? I'm not saying you are wrong, just saying I don't see it. The serial killers I know of spill it all and in great detail.

I don't know about most, but I have certainly read of several who confessed "selectively." I just finished Deranged about Albert Fish. Fish confessed to the killing with which he was charged, but only later admitted to a few others. His psychiatrists thought there were even more he wouldn't admit. (I'm mentioning this only because I just read the book over the weekend.)

As others have said, Dahmer may have been trying to avoid Florida, because FL has the d.p. Or maybe he simply didn't want to be sent so far from Wisconsin. Or maybe he was embarrassed by the age of young Walsh.

[GlitchWizard]

Of course it does! There is one thing about humans - even though we are creatures of habit, there is no law of nature that keeps us from doing something different!

I am more likely to believe a confession than a denial. Personally, recanting a confession is not something I take seriously. Kind of like Coey pleading not guilty. Please.


Otis Toole, a serial killer, confessed, then recanted the confession of killing Adam Walsh. John Walsh, Adam's father, thought in 1996 that Toole was likely the killer, but there was no evidence. Toole died in prison without ever confessing again.

Adam Walsh's murder remains unsolved.

Discovering that Jeffrey Dahmer, another serial killer, lived nearby when Adam Walsh was kidnapped and murdered is at least enough to spark a thorough investigation. And since 2 witnesses claim to have seen someone who they recognize as Dahmer at the mall...even more so on the need for investigation.

Can't find the blue van from the restaurant after 27 years? Maybe an earnest investigation can find it. Lots of maybes, but the case warrants a sincere try.

[GlitchWizard]

Here's the link to the case story on AMW: http://www.amw.com/fugitives/case.cfm?id=39789

It's so horrible that there are 2 people (Toole and Dahmer) known to be capable of what happened to Adam.
In perspective, it would be WONDERFUL if there were ONLY two people capable of this.

[Nova]

I am more likely to believe a confession than a denial. Personally, recanting a confession is not something I take seriously.

I used to be the same, but I've read of so many coerced confessions of late, I'm not sure any more. (But I don't think coercion is an issue in this instance.)

[Nova]

Glitch, do you mind if I ask what part of town you live in? (I'm not asking you for anything too specific.)

I lived on Bellevue or Belvedere (I forget) Avenue up the hill from the stadium for a couple of years in the mid-70s when I was at FSU. My mother, brother and sister lived in Tallahassee for many years. (My mom retired to Gainesville recently.)

(If this is too personal, of course you should just say so. I apologize in advance.)

[LovelyPigeon]

Murder cases often get multiple false confessions. I don't find confessions any more reliable than denials unless there is convincing information given to substantiate the confession.

[GreenEyedGirl]

This is, of course, just my opinion...but, I would tend to believe Dahmer guilty of this crime more than Toole. Toole killed so many people, even he couldn't keep his stories straight. And, he seemed so fascinated with his numbers. I hope for the Walsh's sake, they find the truth.

[txsvicki]

It's a shame that Dahmer was murdered in prison, even though he deserved it, because he might have opened up now after this new evidence. I recently read a book that I've seen passed on to others, I believe it was titled "The Last Victim". A young college age guy was really wanting to get into the FBI someday and thought that learning all he could about serial killers would guarantee himself a job. He wrote to Gacy, Ramirez, and Dahmer among others by portraying himself to these murderers as their perfect victim type. He was one of the very few who Dahmer actually wrote to and was about to start opening up more, but was murdered. I had always thought that Dahmer was totally nutty, but he was writing to this young man and trying to manipulate engage him in weird sexual talk and it was clear that this was his only motive for writing. It was pretty sickening and cunning.

[GlitchWizard]

Glitch, do you mind if I ask what part of town you live in? (I'm not asking you for anything too specific.)

I lived on Bellevue or Belvedere (I forget) Avenue up the hill from the stadium for a couple of years in the mid-70s when I was at FSU. My mother, brother and sister lived in Tallahassee for many years. (My mom retired to Gainesville recently.)

(If this is too personal, of course you should just say so. I apologize in advance.)
Nothing is too personal. I've met hundreds of people from the online world. :-) I live between Tallahassee and Crawfordville in the woods off Crawfordville Highway, just past the Wakulla County line. I work in Tallahassee and was raised in Tallahassee. Let me think... in the mid 70's I was about seven, so I lived in some apartments behind Godby High School.
:-) My Mom didn't marry rich until I was 9. :-)

[GlitchWizard]

This is, of course, just my opinion...but, I would tend to believe Dahmer guilty of this crime more than Toole. Toole killed so many people, even he couldn't keep his stories straight. And, he seemed so fascinated with his numbers. I hope for the Walsh's sake, they find the truth.
You're welcome to your opinion. Unfortunately, there isn't any way to know for sure yet, but since O'Toole got the murder weapon right, the number of hits with the weapon was right, the story was consistant with the coronor's finding and all the locations were right (the right Sear's parking lot, the right body of water) and there was blood on the carpet of his car, right where he said it would be from Adam. They also said he knew information only the killer would know. Someone lost the evidence in the car... which would have proven his confession completely (or not.) I guess that's partly why I'm leaning toward O'Toole rather than a stranger.

I hope we find out the truth, too. I'd always like to know if I'm right or wrong. That's part of the fun of trying to figure it out!

[Nocgirl]

I think Otis Toole killed Adam Walsh. Dahmer was never interested in really young boys. Toole was such a sick pervert who probably killed other kids.


Toole and Dahmer really do not look alike except they both had blonde hair, scruffy look to them. Toole was extremely unattractive with really bad teeth. He looked like a pervert.
I am not so sure there is a Walsh/Dahmer link. We probably will never know the truth.

[GlitchWizard]

My Mom likes murder mysteries and such, so for Christmas one year I got her a Dahmer picture magnet to put... on her freezer. Anyway, a year later, she had moved it off the freezer and I asked her why. She got wide eyed and said "DAHMER?! OH I get it now!!"

...she thought that the picture was of my ex husband, and was confused why I'd give it to her. :-)

I guess they look alike!


[QUOTE=Nocgirl]...
Toole and Dahmer really do not look alike except they both had blonde hair, scruffy look to them....QUOTE]

[Nova]

Nothing is too personal. I've met hundreds of people from the online world. :-) I live between Tallahassee and Crawfordville in the woods off Crawfordville Highway, just past the Wakulla County line. I work in Tallahassee and was raised in Tallahassee. Let me think... in the mid 70's I was about seven, so I lived in some apartments behind Godby High School.
:-) My Mom didn't marry rich until I was 9. :-)

Did you go to Godby, Glitch? If so, I'll PM you the name of my brother and sister who went there about the same time. (ETA: come to think of it, my brother is dead and my sister has a different name, so why am I being coy? They were Norman ('78) and Loraine Setchfield (Class of '80). They were probably too far ahead for you to know.)

I do remember the Crawfordville highway. Nothing much to do at FSU in 1973 but drive around. (Usually drunk, I'm afraid.)

My mom and brother lived in Miccosoukee (I've forgotten how to spell it) for 20 or so years.

[Linda7NJ]

I think Otis Toole killed Adam Walsh. Dahmer was never interested in really young boys. Toole was such a sick pervert who probably killed other kids.


Toole and Dahmer really do not look alike except they both had blonde hair, scruffy look to them. Toole was extremely unattractive with really bad teeth. He looked like a pervert.
I am not so sure there is a Walsh/Dahmer link. We probably will never know the truth.
I agree100%

[hipmamajen]

Maybe John Mark Karr killed Adam Walsh. I'd sure like them to find him guilty of SOMETHING after all the creepiness about him and Jonbenet... :rolleyes:

[txsvicki]

I heard on tv last nite that an investigator who interviewed Dahmer said that the hinted that he might have something to do with the murder of Adam Walsh. Does anyone know who this investigator is? I thought it might be Robert Ressler.

[Bobbisangel]

I think it was Otis O'Toole. Someone saw him take a little boy and put him into a big white car and that is what O' Toole was driving at the time. LE not only lost the piece of carpet with blood on it they lost the whole car! They were sending it to another state to be checked over and it disappeared. He knew to much about Adam's murder to not have been the killer.

I just heard on the news that John Walsh says that he believes the killer was O'Toole and that the stuff that is coming out now was checked out years ago. I think if Walsh had ever thought that Dalmer was the killer he would have pushed that and never stopped until it was resolved one way or the other. I think O'Toole's confession was right on. To bad that he died in jail without ever being tried for Adam's murder.

[michelle]

I think it was Otis O'Toole. Someone saw him take a little boy and put him into a big white car and that is what O' Toole was driving at the time. LE not only lost the piece of carpet with blood on it they lost the whole car! They were sending it to another state to be checked over and it disappeared. He knew to much about Adam's murder to not have been the killer.

I just heard on the news that John Walsh says that he believes the killer was O'Toole and that the stuff that is coming out now was checked out years ago. I think if Walsh had ever thought that Dalmer was the killer he would have pushed that and never stopped until it was resolved one way or the other. I think O'Toole's confession was right on. To bad that he died in jail without ever being tried for Adam's murder.I agree Bobbi.

[Jeana (DP)]

Dahmer's known victims were much older than Adam, right? Don't these guys usually have a pattern? I'm certainly no expert, but don't child molesters usually stick to children? Guys like Dahmer and Gacy killed guys in their early 20's, so why would he sexually assault and murder a child if he wasn't into kids in that way? Is this making any sense? I find myself not able to come out with the right way to express myself today. :o

[concernedperson]

I understand what you meant Jeana but everytime I think a pattern exists I am reminded of Duncan. He was against the fabric of what we thought so maybe these serials have early "experimentation" to find out what they like.

[curious1]

The article contains this quote from John Walsh.....


"Even though it's a cold case, people are coming forward who are claiming one thing, who are saying we were not taken seriously back 25, 26 years ago. So I think they have to look at this case," John Walsh told 12 News this week.

Walsh and Purtell believe new, never-revealed information in the Walsh case demands a second look at Dahmer. It's information developed by a Florida journalist who took up the Walsh investigation long after police had stopped. And now, 25 years later, the time has come.

Sounds like John is not just dismissing this 'new' info.

[Hez]

I understand what you meant Jeana but everytime I think a pattern exists I am reminded of Duncan. He was against the fabric of what we thought so maybe these serials have early "experimentation" to find out what they like.
Maybe he started off with a child because he knew it would be easier to overpower his victim. Maybe he was 'practicing' and when he got good at it he moved onto older victims. Just a thought.

[LovelyPigeon]

Dahmer's known victims were much older than Adam, right? Don't these guys usually have a pattern? I'm certainly no expert, but don't child molesters usually stick to children? Guys like Dahmer and Gacy killed guys in their early 20's, so why would he sexually assault and murder a child if he wasn't into kids in that way? Is this making any sense? I find myself not able to come out with the right way to express myself today. :o

Beginning as a child, Jeffrey Dahmer killed and dissected animals. 1978 Dahmer,18, killed his first human victim, a 19-yr-old. 1981 discharged from the army after a 2 yr stint for drunkeness, and lived in Miami* before moving to his grandmother's in Wisconsin. 1982, arrested for exposing himself. 1986, masturbating in public. 1988 sexually fondling a 13-year-old boy. 1991, murdered 15 males, the youngest being a 14-year-old, severing the heads of most of his victims.

Dahmer was a situational molester and murderer, taking vicitims who became available to him. He may have preferred adult males, but he didn't pass up younger victims just on the basis of age.

*Dahmer was only in Miami in 1981, during the time when Adam Walsh was abducted and murdered, his head severed, his body never found.

[Nova]

Dahmer's known victims were much older than Adam, right? Don't these guys usually have a pattern? I'm certainly no expert, but don't child molesters usually stick to children? Guys like Dahmer and Gacy killed guys in their early 20's, so why would he sexually assault and murder a child if he wasn't into kids in that way? Is this making any sense? I find myself not able to come out with the right way to express myself today. :o

That was my thought, too, Jeana. But I do believe at least one of Dahmer's victims was a teenager. Still, that's a long way from 6 (in terms of perverted desires).

(LP beat me to it - and with the actual facts.)

[Bobbisangel]

The article contains this quote from John Walsh.....


"Even though it's a cold case, people are coming forward who are claiming one thing, who are saying we were not taken seriously back 25, 26 years ago. So I think they have to look at this case," John Walsh told 12 News this week.

Walsh and Purtell believe new, never-revealed information in the Walsh case demands a second look at Dahmer. It's information developed by a Florida journalist who took up the Walsh investigation long after police had stopped. And now, 25 years later, the time has come.

Sounds like John is not just dismissing this 'new' info.



That is just the opposite from what the news was broadcasting all last night.
I'm sure that we will hear more about this.

[curious1]

That is just the opposite from what the news was broadcasting all last night.
I'm sure that we will hear more about this.
Could the media have gotten it wrong? :eek: Say it aint so! :p
I will be following this one.

[SewingDeb]

http://apnews1.iwon.com//article/20070208/D8N574KG5.html

MIAMI (AP) - The host of "America's Most Wanted" said he's seen no evidence linking his son's unsolved kidnapping and slaying to serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, despite a recent report laying out a possible connection.

[curious1]

One article has a quote from Walsh saying he thinks it should be looked into and another article has a quote from AMW saying they don't think it has any relevence. I don't know who to believe. Someone writing the articles must have gotten a quote wrong somewhere. :waitasec:

[SewingDeb]

One article has a quote from Walsh saying he thinks it should be looked into and another article has a quote from AMW saying they don't think it has any relevence. I don't know who to believe. Someone writing the articles must have gotten a quote wrong somewhere. :waitasec:


Someone is putting words in Walsh's mouth, imo.

[Jeana (DP)]

Beginning as a child, Jeffrey Dahmer killed and dissected animals. 1978 Dahmer,18, killed his first human victim, a 19-yr-old. 1981 discharged from the army after a 2 yr stint for drunkeness, and lived in Miami* before moving to his grandmother's in Wisconsin. 1982, arrested for exposing himself. 1986, masturbating in public. 1988 sexually fondling a 13-year-old boy. 1991, murdered 15 males, the youngest being a 14-year-old, severing the heads of most of his victims.

Dahmer was a situational molester and murderer, taking vicitims who became available to him. He may have preferred adult males, but he didn't pass up younger victims just on the basis of age.

*Dahmer was only in Miami in 1981, during the time when Adam Walsh was abducted and murdered, his head severed, his body never found.


Thank you very much for this information. Makes a LOT more sense now. I appreciate you taking the time.

[Jeana (DP)]

That was my thought, too, Jeana. But I do believe at least one of Dahmer's victims was a teenager. Still, that's a long way from 6 (in terms of perverted desires).

(LP beat me to it - and with the actual facts.)


I appreciate all of the replies!!! Thanks to all who helped me remember all of his horrible crimes. I'm glad that even the prison society is rid of him; although I would have much preferred that the state took care of him and not another prisoner.

[LinasK]

'America's Most Wanted' Host Has Seen No Evidence



POSTED: 5:16 pm PST February 8, 2007


MIAMI -- The host of "America's Most Wanted" said he's seen no new evidence linking his son's unsolved kidnapping and slaying to serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer despite a recent report laying out a possible connection.



Thoughts of a Dahmer connection to the 1981 killing of John Walsh's 6-year-old son Adam date back years but emerged anew with a report in the Daily Business Review, a Miami publication, and on television. "America's Most Wanted" issued a release saying its producers and investigators have long been aware of the rumors but that no credible information has emerged.

"Despite news stories prompted by the publication of a recent article in a Florida newspaper, 'America's Most Wanted' is aware of no credible information connecting Jeffrey Dahmer to the murder of Adam Walsh," the show said in a release issued Tuesday. Walsh believes another serial killer, Ottis Toole, murdered his son.

But Arthur Jay Harris, a Fort Lauderdale man who has authored three true crime books - including an unpublished one on the Walsh murder that he is trying to sell - says the evidence points to Dahmer. He has been following the case for years and wrote the Daily Business Review story.

Harris says a review of the 7,000-page case file shows two men claim to have seen a man they believed to be Dahmer at the mall where Adam was abducted during a shopping trip with his mother. One of the men said he saw the Dahmer look-alike carrying a struggling boy into a blue van matching another witness's description. They went to police separately after seeing Dahmer's photo when he was arrested in 1992 in Wisconsin.

Dahmer did live in South Florida at the time of Adam's slaying and reportedly had access to a blue van through the sandwich shop where he worked.

"I'm not way off on this," Harris said in a phone interview Wednesday. "This is something that needs to be investigated."

The Hollywood Police Department, the lead agency investigating the case, did not immediately return a call late Wednesday afternoon. But Capt. Tony Rode told The Miami Herald, "We investigated the Dahmer link and spoke with Dahmer. We don't believe he murdered Adam." "Detectives took statements at the time from the two witnesses who said they saw someone resembling Dahmer at the mall the day of Adam Walsh's disappearance," the agency said in a statement. "We have begun carefully re-examining those statements. Last week we told John Walsh that, if necessary, we will interview those witnesses again to make sure nothing was missed."

Adam Walsh disappeared from a Hollywood Sears store on July 27, 1981; his severed head was later found 100 miles away in a Vero Beach canal but the case was never solved.

Toole, a drifter who was convicted or pleaded guilty to several murders and claimed hundreds of others, told police he killed the boy with the help of a partner. But the alleged accomplice was in jail at the time and the drifter was unable to correctly describe the child's hair or clothing.

Authorities made a series of crucial errors, losing the bloodstained carpeting in Toole's car - preventing DNA testing - and the actual car itself. Still, Toole's niece told Walsh that her uncle gave her a prison deathbed confession to the murder when he died in September 1996.

Walsh said he still believes Toole is responsible. Ten years ago, explaining that belief, he said investigators found a pair of green shorts and a sandal similar to the ones Adam was wearing at Toole's Jacksonville home.

Even if Dahmer was involved in the killing it would have little effect. He was serving a series of life sentences after admitting to the murders of 17 young men and boys, some of whom he mutilated and cannibalized, when he was killed by another inmate at a Wisconsin prison in 1994. more at link:http://www.ktvu.com/news/10966918/detail.html

[Peter Hamilton]

Its interesting that Dahmer was in South Florida at the time but Adam Walsh doesn't fit his victims profiles--He did kill a 17 year old he picked up hitchhiking when he himself was only 18 and he did kill that 14 year old Laotian boy--but Adam Walsh was just a little kid and anyway most of Dahmers victims were gay blacks I believe in their 20's