Last month, 7-year-old Somer Thompson did not return home from school with her brother and sister. Cops say she ran ahead of them on their walk home, and was seen on a sidewalk outside a vacant home being remodeled a few hundred yards ahead before she vanished.

The story had the nation, including the AMW newsroom in Washington, D.C., praying for the best and fearing the worst.

"We all think it will never happen to us, we all think we're immune. It always happens to someone who's not expecting it," says AMW correspondent John Turchin, who worked on the story. "Three kids just walking together, and one just ran a little ahead of them on the sidewalk and she vanished. Aliens didn't drop out of the sky and put her on a spaceship, you know?"

The police and the rest of the community were baffled. There were no witnesses that claim to have seen Somer being snatched. Two days later, police found the answer no one wanted to hear.

"Two detectives, Bruce Owens and Sgt. Joey Jett, are driving to work early in the morning, and both happened to see garbage trucks picking up trash in residential areas," John said. "They both got the same idea. If not for these two men who went to the Sheriff and suggested they follow every single truck that picks up garbage in that area, she would have never been found. She'd be under a hundred tons of garbage."

Somer's body was found in a Georgia landfill 55 miles away and was identified by the clothing on her body and a birthmark on her left leg. Along with her remains, the landfill contained a substantial amount of evidence that may be able to help police find out whoever committed the atrocious act.

"They're going through every piece of garbage, looking for letters, looking for bills, anything that kind of gives them a zeroing-in point," John said. "These two detectives did an amazing job. They think it's routine, but Somer's mother, Diena Thompson, the sheriff, myself, and everyone else thinks it's a miracle."

John met with Diena and her family one evening for the story, and it was very emotional experience. While he says these types of cases are always hard, this particular case hit John a little too close to home.

"It was gut-wrenching. Somer was a twin, and I have twin girls myself," John said. "When Diena was talking about how her son lost the sister who came into this life with him, I started thinking about the day my daughters were born and how it would feel if they lost each other. It jolted my heart."

While abduction stories happen disconcertingly often and can seemingly happen to anyone, John offers some consolation in the form of cautionary advice.

"The only thing to say to parents is to keep talking to your kids, keep telling them reality stories," John said. "Keep letting them know this kind of stuff happens in every single community, because there are sick people out there. We never seem to get rid of them."

Watch the Somer Thompson case on this Saturday's show, but in the meantime, get the full story at AMW.com.

C.J. Davis, on break from college, was walking to the corner market in Berkeley, Calif. when he met his untimely fate.

Cops say four members of the North Side Oakland gang approached Davis and fatally shot him with their assault rifles. Behind one of the firearms, cops say, was fugitive Rafael Campbell.

"I monitor the news for the West Coast and noticed this story up in Northern California about a triple murder," says AMW producer Andrew Holland. "I made the calls to Berkeley Police Department, and they needed our help with leads."

While the first murder happened, when cops say gang members opened fire on C.J. Davis, the other two murders occurred during the subsequent high-speed chase.

Two officers were in the vicinity of the scene, one who heard the gunshots and another who saw the suspects' Cadillac fly by at a high rate of speed. The chase ended in a massive crash that killed two other innocent people.

Although three of the four alleged gang members said to be involved have been arrested, Campbell is still on the run.

"When I told AMW's Co-Executive Producer, Steve Katz, about the story, he suggested I produce the first act of the show with straight action from top to bottom, no voiceovers or sound bites. It was a great idea and a new kind of story-telling for us. In the end, I think that enhanced the drama."

One of the most enthralling scenes of the reenactment is the intense, high-speed chase. Andrew said the crew achieved this effect with a little help from some boys in blue and some Hollywood magic.

"We could not have done it without the cooperation of the Berkeley P.D," Andrew said. "They blocked the streets and supplied officers to portray themselves."

On set, recreating that fatal collision was an intense moment when safety awareness was critical.

"Paramedics were on standby, but we had a great team of stunt coordinators come up from L.A. to consult. They were top-notch professionals and made sure we go our shots and got them without anyone getting hurt," Andrew said.

You can see the action-packed recreation on the show this Saturday, and can check out the full story on AMW.com in the meantime. Your tips could be what bring alleged gang banger Campbell to wear his well-earned prison stripes.

"Cops are hoping our show will produce the one lead that will put Rafael Campbell behind bars," Andrew said. "There's a very good chance Campbell could still be hanging out in the Oakland area with members of his gang, so viewers should keep their eyes peeled in that neck of the woods."