Longshot: anyone remember the update where the guy had a goofy paper hat?

[ccrankles]

I realize this is not much to go on, but I'd appreciate any help you might be able to provide. I'm trying to find some details about a Wanted segment. I don't remember anything about the crime the man committed. What I remember is that they ran an update saying that after the broadcast a family had called in saying they recognized him. He had lived nearby (maybe rented an apartment from them?) and they had a home video of him bounding down the driveway with a goofy, pointy paper hat on his head. Then they showed the video again in slow motion with creepy music. They then ran a split screen with his original mugshot and a still of him from the video with the paper hat. Eventually they ran a second update reported that he had been arrested.

Like I said, I can't remember what his crime was, but he was a scary dude. The juxtaposition of his crime, the silliness of the video, and Robert Stack's seriousness always stayed with me. This would've been probably early to mid '90s.

Again, I realize I haven't given you much to go on, but I'm really hoping someone can fill in the details. Thanks.

[crystaldawn]

That would be the John James Irwin segment. Haven't seen this one in a long time but I think he was a con-man and suspected of murdering his mother and/or grandmother.

[ccrankles]

WOW! It's incredible that you could get that. Thank you so much!

[bell83]

Crystaldawn is amazing when it comes to that stuff, ccrankles...she can figure out almost any segment from the smallest hints.

[MegtheEgg86]

Originally Posted by ccrankles

I realize this is not much to go on, but I'd appreciate any help you might be able to provide. I'm trying to find some details about a Wanted segment. I don't remember anything about the crime the man committed. What I remember is that they ran an update saying that after the broadcast a family had called in saying they recognized him. He had lived nearby (maybe rented an apartment from them?) and they had a home video of him bounding down the driveway with a goofy, pointy paper hat on his head. Then they showed the video again in slow motion with creepy music. They then ran a split screen with his original mugshot and a still of him from the video with the paper hat. Eventually they ran a second update reported that he had been arrested.

Like I said, I can't remember what his crime was, but he was a scary dude. The juxtaposition of his crime, the silliness of the video, and Robert Stack's seriousness always stayed with me. This would've been probably early to mid '90s.

Again, I realize I haven't given you much to go on, but I'm really hoping someone can fill in the details. Thanks.

I have never seen, nor ever heard of this segment until now...but believe me, I will be on the warpath trying to find it now. That is too priceless.

[crystaldawn]

Originally Posted by bell83

Crystaldawn is amazing when it comes to that stuff, ccrankles...she can figure out almost any segment from the smallest hints.

Aww thanks bell83!

Meg, one pretty memorable thing I remembered about the segment was the scene of Irwin's mother or grandmother on the floor in her very upscale home with blood all over her. Pretty disturbing.....

[ccrankles]

Originally Posted by MegtheEgg86

I have never seen, nor ever heard of this segment until now...but believe me, I will be on the warpath trying to find it now. That is too priceless.

It was an in-joke in my family for years. Anything--an envelope, a paper bag, a magazine--at absolutely any time would by turned into a creepy UM guy party hat. As I remembered, and like crystaldawn said, he was an unpleasant guy. But the hat was too much for us, and we could not keep our composure.