JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation's "10 Most Wanted" list turned 50 on Tuesday. CNN's Pierre Thomas takes a look at its changing role in fighting crime.</s>PIERRE THOMAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In 1949, an enterprising reporter decided to do a newspaper story about the FBI's 10-most-dangerous fugitives. The article struck a chord, and a year later, Director J. Edgar Hoover approved a new program aimed at seeking the public's help in tracking down violent criminals. From escaped mobster Thomas James Holden (ph) to serial killers Ted Bundy and Andrew Cunanan, the top "10 Most Wanted" list, 50 years old.</s>THOMAS J. PICKARD, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, FBI: I always like to think that we have the help of the public and they are our best ally.</s>THOMAS: 458 fugitives have been on the list: 429 have been caught. The longest time on the list, suspected cop killer Donald Eugene Webb, 18 years and counting. The shortest time, two hours, suspected murderer Billie Austin Bryant, posted and caught January 8th, 1969. The goal of seeking the public's help in locking up bad guys has not changed, but the technology has dramatically.</s>PICKARD: It used to be in the post offices, then the radio, television, now it's on the Internet. This has helped us tremendously.</s>THOMAS: The broad reach is needed because of the increasingly international nature of crime. Among those on the current FBI top 10 list: Ramon Eduordo Arellano-Felix, a suspected international drug dealer, and alleged terrorist, Osama Bin Ladin. Of the current top 10, as many as six may be outside the</s>U.S. (on camera): So 50 years later, the top 10 Most Wanted list, seeking the public's help not just locally and nationally, but also globally. Pierre Thomas, CNN, Washington.
FBI's `10 Most Wanted' List Turns 50