Photo credit: Creative Commons
“The Hunt” with John Walsh premiered on CNN on July 13th. On Sunday, July 26th the show closed in on one of Washington’s most baffling and disturbing cases: William Bradford Bishop, Jr. wanted for the murder of his wife, his mother, his three children.
Washington is a company town, so if you lived here in 1976 you probably knew someone that knew Bradford Bishop. We all did. The tragedy took place in the tony historic neighborhood of Carderock Springs in Bethesda, an upscale community with plenty of tennis and swimming in a clubby atmosphere where foreign service folks played alongside economists from the World Bank and IMF.
Old FBI poster: Photo credit Ben Tankersley
William Bradford Bishop, Jr. has alluded authorities for about 38 years. He was last seen September 19, 1994 in Basel, Switzerland according to investigators. On April 10, 2014, he was added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List. Now The Hunt – CNN’s investigative docu-series – reopened the case that continues to haunt us.
The case is best described by Bethesda Magazine.
A rendering by scultptor Karen T. Taylor commissioned by the FBI
Hollywood on the Potomac discussed the new show with John Walsh prior to its launch.
“I had this opportunity and offer from Jeff (Zucker). We’ve been talking for a better part of the year. I thought, you know what, as tough as it is, we weren’t the victims. Adam (his son) was the victim of that horrible kidnapping and murder, and maybe it’s time to saddle back up. So I’m going to saddle up. I’m a horse guy. That’s what I always say, “Saddle up.” So I’m going to saddle back up Sunday at 9:00, and see if people will watch CNN and help us catch these horrible guys.”
We’re here to do exactly that – help catch these horrible guys and William Bradford Bishop, Jr. is on the top of our list because we still remember.
“Be vigilant and be street smart. Be careful. 80% of crimes against children is somebody they trust, that’s somebody they know: That Catholic priest, that Rabbi, that soccer or football coach. So be that on-the-job parent or grandparent.”
Join “The Hunt”: Got a tip? Call 1-866-THE-HUNT.
