"For decades, some cold cases have been reduced to files in a cabinet, but not anymore." — Ashley Flowers
"If you need your fix, if you can't get enough true crime, I'm going to play a clip of the episode that we have available right now." — Ashley Flowers
"The last thing she said to Adam when she left him was, 'I'm going to the lamp section,' and he says, 'Okay, mommy, I know where that is.'" — Ashley Flowers
This episode begins with a preview of a true crime case involving the disappearance of Adam Walsh from a Sears store on July 27, 1981. Host Ashley Flowers sets the scene, describing the events leading up to Adam's vanishing while his mother, Revei Walsh, was shopping. The initial confusion and search within the store are detailed, including the fruitless paging of Adam and the mistaken belief that his grandmother had him. The narrative highlights the growing concern as the store's employees are questioned and a potential incident involving a group of boys being asked to leave by security is introduced, though the security guard does not identify Adam among them.
The summary then elaborates on the increasing dread experienced by Adam's parents, John and Revei Walsh, as the hours turn into days with no sign of their son. The initial investigative focus by the police is mentioned, suggesting that the early stages of the case involved delving into family dynamics and secrets, hinting at a key piece of information uncovered by the lead investigator. The episode serves as a teaser, encouraging listeners to join the Crime Junkie fan club to hear the full story.
The latter part of the transcript includes promotional material for the Crime Junkie fan club, detailing benefits such as early and ad-free access to regular episodes, and a backlog of over 30 fan club episodes for $5. It also mentions an upcoming merchandise store with exclusive early access for fan club members. Finally, the host introduces another podcast, "Dark Down East," hosted by Kylie Lo, which focuses on New England's mysteries and victim advocacy.