Dale’s Daily Data: FBI Ten Most Wanted

It started in 1949 with a news story about the “toughest guys” that the FBI wanted to capture. There was so much response to the story and it got so much publicity that the FBI decided to create a "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list to publicize the criminals they feel are especially dangerous.  All 56 field offices submit the names of candidates and the cases they’re working on for inclusion on the list Then FBI headquarters decides which ones to put on the list.  The criteria for selection is pretty simple, the criminal has to have a lengthy record and is considered especially dangerous.

The only way to get off the list is to be captured or die.  As of 2010, more than 460 of the criminals that have appeared on the list have been caught or located.  Located means either they’ve been found already in jail under another name or they’ve been found dead.

There have only been a handful of cases where someone has been removed from the list because they were no longer dangerous or a menace to society.  Only eight women have appeared on the Ten Most Wanted list.

One of the biggest aids in helping the FBI has been the Fox TV show “America’s Most Wanted.”  That show features a Dirty Dozen list that currently includes three of the FBI Ten Most Wanted.

The FBI Ten Most Wanted made its first appearance on this date in 1950.

SOURCE:  History Channel