Looking at the History of Amarillo on ‘America’s Most Wanted’

We all are familiar with the appearances that Amarillo made on the show COPS while it was on the air. I was surprised to find out recently that we also have a bit of a history with the show America's Most Wanted.

Get our free mobile app

Digging through old news articles, I found several separate occasions where Amarillo and America's Most Wanted crossed paths. It makes me wonder if there are some that I've missed.

One Guy was on America's Most Wanted and Unsolved Mysteries

On one occasion, a man was was accused of killing his wife and found himself not only on their website, but he was also featured on an episode. The case also was featured on an episode of Unsolved Mysteries.

The suspect in that case, Ngoc Van Tran, was eventually arrested in Mexico. According to the information I was able to find, he will be up for parole in 2022.

Couple on a Crime Spree

Then, there is the case of a couple that went on a bit of a crime spree in the late 90s. In Lubbock, they even robbed a sheriff in his home. Eventually they were were caught in Las Vegas. Potter, Wheeler, and Lubbock counties all had claims to the duo.

The Brittany Holberg Case

The Brittany Holberg case was a brutal one. Three segments of America's Most Wanted were devoted to it. She was accused, and eventually found guilty of, the murder of A.B. Towery Sr. He was found stabbed 58 times and had been beaten with a claw hammer. She was arrested at a McDonald's after being featured on the show.

It's Not All Bad News

Not every instance of Amarillo and America's Most Wanted was because someone from our area was on the run. In one instance, a fugitive on the run was actually found in Amarillo. When the episode ran, people recognized him and were able to tell police his whereabouts leading to his arrest.