'Most Wanted' Seeking Germ Suspects

By Stephen M. Silverman

10/19/2001 at 11:01 AM EDT

The United States Postal Service and the FBI has turned to the Fox TV show "America's Most Wanted" in the current effort to catch the suspected terrorists who have been mailing letters laced with deadly anthrax germs to network news anchors and to members of Congress. According to "AMW" host John Walsh, Chief Postal Inspector Kenneth Weaver contacted producers of the show late Wednesday night and asked if the "AMW" telephone hotlines could be employed in the hunt. On Thursday, the FBI and the Post Office announced a $1 million reward for information leading to the capture of the individual or individuals who sent the letters. The Post Office reportedly does not have a dedicated phone line devoted to the case. "The FBI is swamped, and they were beginning to get calls at local post offices," Walsh, 55, was quoted as saying by the New York Post. The show's producers will hire extra staff to handle what's expected to be an onslaught of tips. "AMW" recently did an entire show on the FBI's 22 most wanted terrorists. Walsh promises an update of that show soon. At the moment, "AMW" is being pre-empted by the baseball playoffs leading into the World Series.