The Atlanta Child Murders

Wayne Williams

1979-1981

Atlanta

Between July 1979 and May 1981, Atlanta, Georgia, was gripped by fear as a series of murders claimed the lives of at least 28 African American boy & young men with ages ranging from 7 to 27. The victims were predominantly from low-income neighborhoods. They were found strangled, beaten, or asphyxiated. Many were discovered in wooded areas or bodies of water. The pattern and frequency of the murders caused widespread panic and led to a massive investigation involving local and federal authorities. The case, known as the Atlanta Child Murders, remains one of the most haunting and controversial in American criminal history.

Wayne Bertram Williams, born on May 27, 1958, in Atlanta, was a freelance photographer and music promoter. He became a suspect in the Atlanta Child Murders case in May 1981. On the early morning of May 22, 1981, police conducting surveillance on a bridge over the Chattahoochee River heard a splash and stopped Williams' car as he was leaving the area. Two days later, the body of Nathaniel Cater was found downstream. Fiber evidence from Williams' home, car, and dog was found to match fibers on several victims, including Cater and Jimmy Ray Payne.

Williams was arrested and charged with the murders of Cater and Payne. During his trial, prosecutors presented evidence linking him to several other victims through fiber analysis. On February 27, 1982, Williams was convicted of the two murders and sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison. Although he was not tried for the other murders, authorities attributed many of the child killings to him, leading to the closure of those cases.

The conviction of Wayne Williams has been met with ongoing controversy. Some community members and victim families have questioned the evidence and whether Williams was responsible for all the murders. Critics argue that the investigation may have been rushed and that other potential suspects were overlooked. In March 2019, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms ordered a reexamination of the evidence using modern DNA technology in hopes of bringing closure to the victims' families.

The Atlanta Child Murders had a profound impact on the city and the nation, highlighting issues of race, class, and the value placed on Black lives. The case has been the subject of numerous books, documentaries, and television series, including HBO's "Atlanta's Missing and Murdered: The Lost Children." Efforts continue to honor the victims, including plans for a permanent memorial in Atlanta.

The Victims

The following is a list of known victims associated with the Atlanta Child Murders, along with their ages and dates of disappearance or discovery:

1. Edward Hope Smith, 14 – Disappeared July 20, 1979; body found July 28, 1979.

2. Alfred James Evans, 13 – Disappeared July 25, 1979; body found July 28, 1979.

3. Milton Harvey, 14 – Disappeared September 4, 1979; body found November 5, 1979.

4. Yusuf Bell, 9 – Disappeared October 21, 1979; body found November 8, 1979.

5. Angel Lenair, 12 – Disappeared March 4, 1980; body found March 10, 1980.

6. Jeffrey Mathis, 10 – Disappeared March 11, 1980; body found June 9, 1980.

7. Eric Middlebrooks, 14 – Disappeared May 18, 1980; body found May 19, 1980.

8. Christopher Richardson, 12 – Disappeared June 9, 1980; body found January 9, 1981.

9. LaTonya Wilson, 7 – Disappeared June 22, 1980; body found October 18, 1980.

10. Anthony Carter, 9 – Disappeared July 6, 1980; body found July 7, 1980.

11. Earl Terrell, 10 – Disappeared July 31, 1980; body found August 10, 1980.

12. Clifford Jones, 13 – Disappeared August 20, 1980; body found August 21, 1980.

13. Darren Glass, 10 – Disappeared September 14, 1980; body never found.

14. Charles Stephens, 12 – Disappeared October 9, 1980; body found October 16, 1980.

15. Aaron Wyche, 10 – Disappeared November 10, 1980; body found November 11, 1980.

16. Patrick Rogers, 16 – Disappeared November 10, 1980; body found November 16, 1980.

17. Lubie Geter, 14 – Disappeared January 3, 1981; body found February 5, 1981.

18. Terry Pue, 15 – Disappeared January 22, 1981; body found January 23, 1981.

19. Patrick Baltazar, 11 – Disappeared February 6, 1981; body found February 13, 1981.

20. Curtis Walker, 13 – Disappeared March 6, 1981; body found March 13, 1981.

21. Joseph Bell, 15 – Disappeared March 2, 1981; body found April 19, 1981.

22. Timothy Hill, 13 – Disappeared March 15, 1981; body found March 23, 1981.

23. Eddie Duncan, 21 – Disappeared March 20, 1981; body found March 31, 1981.

24. Larry Rogers, 20 – Disappeared March 30, 1981; body found April 9, 1981.

25. Michael McIntosh, 23 – Disappeared March 25, 1981; body found April 18, 1981.

26. Jimmy Ray Payne, 21 – Disappeared April 23, 1981; body found May 27, 1981.

27. Nathaniel Cater, 27 – Disappeared May 22, 1981; body found May 24, 1981.