New Crime-Fighting Initiative Debuts on Fox 50

RALEIGH, N.C. — A locally produced crime show featuring some of the coldest cases in the Triangle area arrived on the airwaves this weekend.

"N.C. Wanted" premiered Saturday  following WRAL’s 10 p.m. News on FOX 50. WRAL-TV news anchor Gerald Owens hosts the show.

The show will profile some of North Carolina's most wanted fugitives, cold cases and other aspects of the criminal justice system.

"There are so many cases out there where investigators are just stumped," Owens said. "They've got nothing to go on. We're going to take a more comprehensive look at these stories than we have in our newscasts, because we're going to have more time to devote to them."

Also premiering was a 24/7 crime tip hotline, 1-866-43-WANTED (1-866-439-2683), that will allow viewers to call in with crime tips, as well as a new, comprehensive Web site, www.ncwanted.com.

Producers of "N.C. Wanted" have worked closely with local law enforcement agencies in 22 counties, as well as "America's Most Wanted" host John Walsh and the show's producers. "America's Most Wanted" airs Saturday nights at 9 p.m.

"We're really fortunate in that we can do this -- that we have great leadership within our company (Capitol Broadcasting Co.) that will allow us to put this kind of program out to benefit our viewers," Owens said. "We're excited about it."