This year marks the 75th anniversary of the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives program. The Top Ten List, as it’s sometimes known, has included some of the most elusive and dangerous criminals in recent history, including 9/11 terrorist Osama bin Laden, serial killer Ted Bundy, and mob boss Whitey Bulger, to name a few. The FBI established the program in 1950 in conjunction with the nation’s news media, with the goal of harnessing the public’s attention and assistance in finding key offenders. Of the 535 fugitives who have been placed on the list, 496 have been captured. The first person to be placed on the list in 1950 was Thomas James Holden, wanted for the murder of his wife, her brother, and her stepbrother. He was arrested in 1951, found guilty of murder and sent to prison. He died in prison at the age of 57. The person who spent the least amount of time on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List was Billy Austin Bryant, who was wanted for bank robbery and killing two FBI agents. On January 8, 1969 warrants were issued for his arrest and his name was put on the FBI’s Top Ten List. At approximately 6:50 p.m. that same day, a tip was received, alerting police to where Bryant was hiding. Police stormed the house, arrested Bryant, and in March 1969 he was indicted by a federal grand jury. He was convicted on November 3, 1969 and sentenced to 54 years in prison. He had spent a total of two hours on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List.
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| Thomas James Holden |
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| Billy Austin Bryant |
