FBI to mark 50 years of its 'Ten Most Wanted' list

March 13, 2000
Web posted at: 11:36 p.m. EST (0436 GMT)

In this story: Public awareness pays off Changing face of crime RELATED STORIES, SITES

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The FBI on Tuesday will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its "Ten Most Wanted" list of fugitives -- born by accident in 1950 when a wire service reporter asked the FBI to name the "toughest guys" being sought.

The FBI then decided to provide the names of 10 dangerous fugitives.

The resulting story -- carried on the International News Service, later part of United Press International -- received so much public attention that on March 14, 1950, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover inaugurated the "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" program.

	GALLERY
Current FBI Ten Most Wanted list

Public awareness pays off

Public awareness and assistance that resulted from publicity surrounding the list has ever since provided the FBI with a major boost in catching notorious fugitives.

In 50 years, 458 fugitives have appeared on the list and 429 have been arrested, 137 of them as a direct result of citizen tips.

FBI Deputy Director Tom Pickard and other FBI officials will be joined by UPI's Helen Thomas and John Walsh of "America's Most Wanted" during a 10 a.m. ceremony at FBI headquarters to commemorate the program.

Changing face of crime

FBI Director Louis Freeh released a statement in advance of the ceremony describing the changes that have taken place in the types of crimes committed by the most wanted fugitives:

• In the 1950s, bank robbers and car thieves were on the list.
• In the 1960s, kidnappers and saboteurs became the most sought after.
• In the 1970s, organized crime leaders were prominent.
• In the 1990s, the most wanted fugitives were often international drug dealers, terrorists and serial murderers.

Federal Bureau of Investigation
   • The FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.