Fox's "America's Most Wanted" premiered in 1988 with the goal of apprehending fugitives wanted for different types of crimes, such as murder, armed robbery, rape, and other serious cases. The inspiration for the show came from BBC's "Crimewatch" that first aired in 1984. "America's Most Wanted" was hosted by John Walsh — a former executive who became a victims' advocate after the abduction and murder of his 6-year-old son Adam in 1981 (via Crime Museum). The TV show informs viewers of fugitives' crimes, where they were last seen, and their physical appearance and asks help from the public in order to apprehend them.
The show was picked up by Lifetime in 2011, but the network canceled it just two years after. In 2021, "America's Most Wanted" was revived by Fox, but Walsh didn't return as the host, as he had his own show on Discovery titled "In Pursuit." Instead, per Deadline, award-winning journalist Elizabeth Vargas became its new host, with approval from Walsh. "I am so excited to hear 'America's Most Wanted' is coming back and I support its return," Walsh said.
The very first episode of "America's Most Wanted" aired on February 7, 1988, and it featured fugitive David James Roberts, who was convicted of rape and murder. Roberts had been incarcerated for his crimes, but he escaped in 1986 on the way back to prison from a hospital where he had undergone pulmonary tests. As reported by the New York Post, Roberts went to work at a Staten Island homeless shelter after his escape and went by the name Bob Lord.
When "America's Most Wanted" aired, his photo was released to the public and one of the tips received by authorities led to his arrest. Although the FBI had wanted posters of Roberts, he said that the photo barely resembled him. "I almost broke out laughing," he said in an interview with the New York Post. However, "America's Most Wanted" released a more accurate representation of his appearance, and that helped the tipster identify him. "I got caught because of that program. The picture they had was me," Roberts stated.
