On July 27, 1981, Adam Walsh was abducted from the Hollywood Mall while shopping with his mother. A massive search effort was launched, but Adam's body was not found until 16 days later, in a canal in rural Indian River County. The case went cold, despite a thorough investigation and numerous tips. However, in 2006, police re-examined the evidence and identified Ottis Toole, a serial killer who had died in prison in 1996, as the prime suspect. Toole had confessed to the crime while in prison, but his confession was not taken seriously at the time. The Walsh family finally had closure, but the case highlighted the need for more effective communication and cooperation between law enforcement agencies. The Adam Walsh case also led to changes in the way missing children's cases are handled, with the creation of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and the implementation of the AMBER Alert system.