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Wayne Williams

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For other people named Wayne Williams, see Wayne Williams (disambiguation).

Wayne Williams
File:Wayne-Williams-Mugshot.jpg
Williams's mugshot at the age of 23, June 21, 1981.
Born
Wayne Bertram Williams

(1958-05-27) May 27, 1958 (age 66)
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Conviction(s)Murder
Criminal penaltyLife imprisonment
Details
VictimsConvicted of 2 murders, suspected to have murdered at least 23 more
CountryUnited States
State(s)Georgia
Date apprehended
June 21, 1981

Wayne Bertram Williams (born May 27, 1958) is an American serving life imprisonment for the 1981 killing of two adult men in Atlanta, Georgia,[1] and believed by police to be responsible for at least 23 of the 30 Atlanta murders of 1979–1981, also known as the Atlanta Child Murders. He was never tried for the child murders and continues to maintain his innocence. Since Williams became a suspect in May 1981, there have been no similar killings of black children or adolescents in Atlanta.[2]

Early life and education

Wayne Williams was born on May 27, 1958, and raised in the Dixie Hills neighborhood of southwest Atlanta, Georgia, the son of Homer and Faye Williams. Both of his parents were teachers. Williams graduated from Douglass High School and developed a keen interest in radio and journalism. He constructed his own carrier current radio station and began frequenting stations WIGO and WAOK, where he befriended a number of the announcing crew and began dabbling in becoming a pop music producer and manager.[3]

Atlanta murders

Williams first became a suspect in the Atlanta murders on the morning of May 22, 1981, when a police surveillance team, watching the James Jackson Parkway bridge spanning the Chattahoochee River (a site where several victims' bodies had been discovered), heard a "big loud splash", suggesting that something had been thrown from the bridge into the river below.[4][5] The first automobile to exit the bridge after the splash, at roughly 2:50 a.m., belonged to Williams. When stopped and questioned, he told police that he was on his way to check on an address in a neighboring town ahead of an audition the following morning with a young singer named Cheryl Johnson. However, both the phone number he gave police and Cheryl Johnson turned out to be fictitious.[6]

Two days later, on May 24, the nude body of 27-year-old Nathaniel Cater, who had been missing for four days, was discovered in the river. The medical examiner ruled he had died of probable asphyxia but never specifically said he had been strangled. Police thought that Williams had killed Cater and that his body was the source of the sound they heard as his car crossed the bridge.[7]

Williams failed three polygraph tests, and hairs and fibers retrieved from the body of another victim, Jimmy Ray Payne, were found to be consistent with those from his home, car, and dog. Co-workers told police they had seen Williams with scratches on his face and arms around the time of the murders which, investigators surmised, could have been inflicted by victims during a struggle.[7] Williams held a press conference outside his home to proclaim his innocence, volunteering that he had failed the polygraph tests, which would have been inadmissible in court.[8]

Williams was again questioned by police for twelve hours on June 3rd and 4th at FBI headquarters and released without arrest or charge but remained under surveillance.[9]

Arrest and trial

Williams was arrested on June 21, 1981, for the murders of Cater and Payne.[10] His trial began on January 6, 1982, in Fulton County. During the two-month trial, prosecutors matched to a number of victims nineteen sources of fibers from Williams's home and car: his bedspread, bathroom, gloves, clothes, carpets, dog, and an unusual, trilobal carpet fiber. Other evidence included witness testimony placing Williams with several victims while they were alive and inconsistencies in his accounts of his whereabouts.[11] Williams took the stand in his own defense but alienated the jury by becoming angry and combative.[12] After twelve hours of deliberation, the jury found him guilty on February 27 of the murders of Cater and Payne. He was sentenced to life imprisonment.[13] After Williams became a suspect, the killings stopped.[2]

In the late 1990s, Williams filed a habeas corpus petition and requested a retrial. Butts County Superior Court judge Hal Craig denied his appeal. Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker said that "although this does not end the appeal process, I am pleased with the results in the habeas case" and that his office will "continue to do everything possible to uphold the conviction."[14] In early 2004, Williams sought a retrial once again, with his attorneys arguing that law enforcement officials covered up evidence of involvement by the Ku Klux Klan, and that carpet fibers linking him to the crimes would not stand up to scientific scrutiny.[15] A federal judge rejected the request for retrial on October 17, 2006.

Aftermath

Neither Williams nor anyone else was tried for the murder of a boy, later identified as Curtis Walker, age 13, whose body was dumped into Atlanta's South River in 1981. This was the same case which led to the stakeouts of Atlanta bridges by the Atlanta Police and the FBI that resulted in Williams becoming a suspect in May 1981 and his apprehension in the following month.[16] Williams is serving his sentence at Telfair State Prison.[17] On November 20, 2019, Williams was again denied parole. He will next be eligible for parole in November 2027.[18]

Reopening investigations

Williams has maintained his innocence from the beginning and claimed that Atlanta officials covered up evidence of KKK involvement in the killings to avoid a race war in the city. His lawyers have said the conviction was a "profound miscarriage of justice" that has kept an innocent man incarcerated for the majority of his adult life and allowed the real killers to go free.[19] In contrast, Joseph Drolet, who prosecuted Williams at trial, has stood by Williams's convictions, noting that after Williams was arrested, "the murders stopped and there has been nothing since."[20]

Other observers have criticized the thoroughness of the investigation and the validity of its conclusions.[16][21] The author James Baldwin, in his essay The Evidence of Things Not Seen (1985), raised questions about Williams's guilt. Members of his community and several of the victims' parents did not believe that Williams, the son of two professional teachers, could have killed so many.[22] On May 6, 2005, DeKalb County Police Chief Louis Graham ordered the reopening of the murder cases of four boys killed in that county between February and May 1981 that had been attributed to Williams.[22][23] The announcement was welcomed by relatives of some victims, who said they believe the wrong man was blamed for many of the murders.[24]

Graham, an assistant police chief in neighboring Fulton County at the time of the murders, said his decision to reopen the cases was driven solely by his belief in Williams's innocence. Former DeKalb County Sheriff Sidney Dorsey, who was an Atlanta homicide detective at the time, also said he believed Williams was wrongly blamed for the murders. "If they arrested a white guy," he said, "there would have been riots across the U.S.."[25][26][27][28] Dorsey is currently serving a life sentence for ordering the murder of his election opponent Derwin Brown.[29]

Fulton County authorities have not reopened any of the cases under their jurisdiction.[22]

According to an August 2005 report, Charles T. Sanders, a white supremacist affiliated with the KKK and an early suspect in the murders, once praised the crimes in secretly-recorded conversations. Although Sanders did not publicly claim responsibility for any of the deaths, he told an informant for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in the 1981 recording that the killer had "wiped out a thousand future generations of niggers".[30] An anonymous alleged former friend of Sanders told documentarian Payne Lindsey (Atlanta Monster) that Sanders had taken credit for the murders mentioned in a 1986 Spin article,[31] claiming that his brothers were also involved.

He did not directly implicate the KKK or lead his friend to believe that anyone else from the organization was involved. Sanders allegedly mused over how lucky he was that he and Williams had the same carpet and that they both owned a white German shepherd. The anonymous former friend went on to say that, "Once it was pinned on Wayne Williams, they were through. That was their way out."[32] Police dropped the probe into possible Klan involvement when Sanders and two of his brothers passed lie detector tests. The case was once again closed on July 21, 2006.[33][34]

Former FBI profiler John E. Douglas wrote in his book Mindhunter that, in his opinion, "forensic and behavioral evidence points conclusively to Wayne Williams as the killer of eleven young men in Atlanta." He added, however, that he believed there was "no strong evidence linking him to all or even most of the deaths and disappearances of children in that city between 1979 and 1981".[35]

In 2007, the FBI performed DNA tests on two human hairs found on one of the victims. The mitochondrial DNA sequence in the hairs would eliminate 99.5% of persons, and 98% of African-American persons, by not matching their DNA. However, they matched Williams's DNA and so did not eliminate the possibility that the hairs were his.[35]

DNA testing was performed in 2010 on scalp hairs found on the body of 11-year-old victim Patrick Baltazar. While the results were not firmly conclusive, the DNA sequence found appears in only 29 out of 1,148 African-American hair samples in the FBI's database, and did not rule out Williams.[36] The Baltazar case was included among ten additional victims presented to the jury at Williams's trial, although he was never charged in any of those cases.[37]

Dog hairs also found on Baltazar's body were tested in 2007 by the genetics laboratory at the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, which found a DNA sequence also present in the Williams family's German Shepherd. However, the director of the laboratory, Elizabeth Wictum, pointed out that while the results were "fairly significant", they were inconclusive. Only mitochondrial DNA was tested which, unlike nuclear DNA, cannot be shown to be unique to one dog. This means that while the report said the hairs on the bodies contained the same DNA sequence as Williams's dog, the same DNA sequence occurs in about 1 in 100 dogs.[38] The FBI report stated only that "Wayne Williams cannot be excluded" as a suspect in the case.[39]

A Department of Justice study, released in April 2015, concluded that numerous hair analyses conducted by FBI examiners during the 1980s and 1990s "may have failed to meet professional standards." Defense attorney Lynn Whatley immediately announced that the report would form the basis for a new appeal, but prosecutors responded that hair evidence played only a minor role in Williams's conviction.[40]

On March 21, 2019, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields announced that officials would re-test evidence from the murders, which will be gathered by the Atlanta Police Department, Fulton County District Attorney's Office, and Georgia Bureau of Investigation. In a news conference, Mayor Bottoms said, "It may be there is nothing left to be tested. But I do think history will judge us by our actions, and we will be able to say we tried."[41][42]

Media

Williams appears as the main antagonist in several media portrayals of the case. He was first depicted in the 1985 television miniseries The Atlanta Child Murders and was played by Calvin Levels. In 2000, Showtime released a drama film titled Who Killed Atlanta's Children? with Clé Bennett playing Williams. In 2019, Williams was featured in season 2 of the Netflix series Mindhunter alongside others such as Charles Manson and David Berkowitz;[43] Williams's character was portrayed by Christopher Livingston.[44]

See also

  • Grim Sleeper, serial killer with exclusively African-American victims
  • Samuel Little, serial killer of mostly African-American women

General:

References

  1. ^ Saferstein, Richard (1987). Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall. p. 75. ISBN 978-0131932692.
  2. ^ a b Harris, Art (February 28, 1982). "Atlanta Jury Convicts Williams of Two Murders". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  3. ^ Stuart, Reginald (June 22, 1981). "Suspect in Atlanta: Young, Big Ideas, But a Career of Limited Achievement". New York Times. New York City: New York Times Company. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  4. ^ Rawls Jr., Wendell (January 9, 1982). "ATLANTA OFFICER SAYS SUSPECT CAR HALTED ON BRIDGE". New York Times. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  5. ^ "Police Officer possibly asleep on bridge: expert". Gadsden Times. Gadsden, Alabama: New Media Investment Group. February 21, 1982.
  6. ^ Soledad O’Brien (host) (July 4, 2011). CNN SPECIAL: Atlanta Child Murders. CNN.
  7. ^ a b "Victims linked to Atlanta serial killings". CNN. Atlanta, Georgia: Turner Broadcasting Systems. June 1, 2010. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
  8. ^ Polk, Jim; Zdanowicz, Christina (September 6, 2010). "CNN viewers: Williams 'guilty' in Atlanta child murders". CNN. Atlanta, Georgia: Turner Broadcasting Systems. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
  9. ^ Willis, Ken. "Fiber evidence leads to arrest". ajc.com. The Atlanta Constitution. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  10. ^ "Lawyer Sees Hope for Retrial in Atlanta Murders". The New York Times. New York City: New York Times Company. August 30, 1987. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  11. ^ Rawls, Wendell Jr. (February 25, 1982). "Final Testimony Hurts Defense In Atlanta Trial". The New York Times. New York City: New York Times Company. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  12. ^ Rawls, Wendell Jr. (February 25, 1982). "Final Testimony Hurts Defense In Atlanta Trial". The New York Times. New York City: New York Times Company. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  13. ^ Rowson, Kevin (April 30, 2015). "Atlanta Child Murders: Wayne Williams hopes for appeal". USA Today. McLean, Virginia: Gannett Company. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  14. ^ Robinson, Daryl A. (July 10, 1998). "Attorney General Baker Announces Wayne Williams' Convictions Upheld" (Press release). Atlanta, Georgia: Department of Law, State of Georgia. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  15. ^ "Convicted killer blamed for Atlanta child murders seeks new trial". WDUN. Atlanta, Georgia. The Associated Press. February 24, 2004. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  16. ^ a b Breed, Allen G. (May 15, 2005). "Atlanta Revisits 1981 Child Murders". Associated Press. Retrieved May 29, 2018 – via truthinjustice.org.
  17. ^ Boone, Christian (August 10, 2012). "Wayne Williams' old car finds a new home". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Atlanta, Georgia: Cox Enterprises. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  18. ^ Associated Press. "Atlanta child murders suspect denied parole". The Washington Post. The Washington Post. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  19. ^ Radzicki McManus, Melanie (January 26, 2018). "Was the Wrong Person Convicted in the Atlanta Child Murders?". HowStuffWorks. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  20. ^ "Police Reopen Atlanta Child Killing Cases". Fox News. New York City: News Corp. Associated Press. May 7, 2005. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  21. ^ Kays, John (June 9, 2010). "Just a Few of The Anomalies of The Atlanta Child Murders!". NewsBlaze. Adelaide, South Australia: NewsBlaze Pty. Ltd. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  22. ^ a b c "Missing in Atlanta". The Investigators. Season 5. Episode 141. May 20, 2004. TruTV. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ Police reopen some Atlanta child killing cases in The Augusta Chronicle May 7, 2005
  24. ^ Atlanta murder cases are reopened after 20 years in The Augusta Chronicle on October 5, 2005
  25. ^ Police chief reopens 5th child slaying case in The Augusta Chronicle on May 11, 2005
  26. ^ "Cold-case squad to probe decades-old Atlanta murders". CNN Justice. May 7, 2005. Archived from the original on July 8, 2012.
  27. ^ Former DeKalb sheriff prefers talk of Williams' innocence in The Augusta Chronicle on May 30, 2005
  28. ^ Child killer called innocent in The Augusta Chronicle on June 4, 1998
  29. ^ Joshua Sharpe, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "18 years ago: DeKalb's sheriff had his political rival murdered". ajc. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  30. ^ Weber, Harry R. (August 7, 2005). "Klan Was Probed in Child Killings In Atlanta". Washington Post. Washington DC: Nash Holdings LLC. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  31. ^ "Atlanta Child Murders: Our 1986 Feature, "A Question of Justice"". Spin Magazine (Excerpt from original September 1986 article and full article investigating and exploring the Sanders brothers involvement.).
  32. ^ "Atlanta Monster". Season 1 Episode 7: Conspiracy? 36:50.
  33. ^ "Was Wayne Williams framed?/Recruiter for KKK said to admit role in Atlanta murders". Houston Chronicle. Section A, Page 4, 2 STAR Edition. October 9, 1991. Archived from the original on June 15, 2012.
  34. ^ New Questions in Atlanta Murders - Did prosecutors withhold evidence of Klan involvement in children's death? p. 36 in ABA Journal, The Lawyers Magazine in May 1992
  35. ^ a b Douglas, J. and Olshaker, M. Mindhunter: Inside the FBI Elite Serial Crime Unit. William Heinemann (1986), p. 147-9. ISBN 0434002623.
  36. ^ https://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/06/09/williams.dna.test/index.html
  37. ^ Harry R. Weber (June 26, 2007). "DA: DNA Tests Link Williams to Killings". Associated Press. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
  38. ^ Harry R. Weber (June 26, 2007). "DA: DNA Tests Link Williams to Killings". Associated Press. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
  39. ^ Jim Polk, CNN (September 6, 2010). "DNA test strengthens Atlanta child killings case". CNN.com. Retrieved February 10, 2014. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  40. ^ "Atlanta Child Murders: Wayne Williams hopes new information leads to appeal". Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  41. ^ Sharpe, Joshua. "Police plan to re-test Atlanta Child Murders evidence". ajc. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  42. ^ "Atlanta's Mayor pushes for review in 'Child Murders' cases". The Public's Radio. March 21, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
  43. ^ Barcella, Laura (February 1, 2018). "Was Serial Killer Wayne Williams Really the Atlanta Monster Who Murdered Dozens of Black Kids?". A&E. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  44. ^ "Christopher Livingston". IMDb. Retrieved November 8, 2019.

Bibliography

  • Whittington-Egan, R.; Whittington-Egan, M. (1992). The Murder Almanac. Glasgow: Neil Wilson Publishing. ISBN 978-1-897784-04-4.
  • Wynn, D. (1996). On Trial for Murder: Over 200 of the most dramatic trials of the 20th century. London: Pan. ISBN 978-0-330-33947-6.
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