Most missing persons cases that are solved are due to the public's tips. The American public is a very valuable tool for law enforcement in missing person's investigations.
Example: AMW viewer tips have located over 60 missing children, 1200+ violent fugitives, and 19 of the FBI's 10 most wanted felons; more than any single unit of the bureau...
http://www.amw.com/missing_children/resources.cfm
If Your Child is Missing
Act IMMEDIATELY. Read more here or call 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).
A Message from John Walsh
When my son Adam was murdered, I began my journey through an America that I wish I knew nothing about. An America where adults do appalling things to children.
Back in 1981 when Adam was abducted, there weren't any resources for endangered children and their families. My wife Revé and I had no idea what to do. In an instant, our lives were turned completely upside down. We just began beating on doors asking for help. We called anyone and everyone. It felt as if we were in charge of the investigation. While we feared for our son's safety, we were also angry at the system that was supposed to protect our son and help us.
Adam's abduction was our private hell -- but it was not an isolated incident. Life is an obstacle course for children in America today. Sadly, stranger abduction cases are just the tip of the iceberg. Physical and psychological violence and abuse, abduction, molestation, and sexual exploitation are all overwhelming in magnitude yet largely unrecognized and underreported.
From the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
With viewers' help America's Most Wanted has helped reunite abducted children with their parents and put lots of perverts behind bars.
AMW is only on TV for 1 hour a week. NCMEC is there 24/7. Since 1984, they've handled 2.5 million calls, assisted law enforcement in the recovery of more than 157,720 children.
Their CyberTipline has handled more than 1,075,400 reports of child sexual exploitation.