5 Shocking Facts About The Atlanta Serial Killer Case And The New DNA Evidence Hunt

The Atlanta Child Murders, a horrific series of killings that terrorized the city between 1979 and 1981, remains one of the most controversial and emotionally charged cold cases in American history. The legacy of the Atlanta serial killer is not one of closure, but of persistent doubt and a decades-long pursuit of justice for nearly 30 young African-American victims. As of December 18, 2025, the most significant recent development is the re-examination of crucial DNA evidence, a move initiated by city officials to finally bring definitive answers to the victims' families.

The central figure in the tragedy, Wayne Bertram Williams, was convicted for two adult murders, but authorities controversially closed the majority of the child murder files, attributing them to him. This decision has fueled intense speculation for over four decades, prompting a renewed effort to use modern forensic science to test the aging evidence. The results of this new round of testing, which are still awaited, could either solidify Williams' guilt across all cases or potentially reopen the investigation to find a true unknown serial killer.

Wayne Williams: The Convicted Killer and Suspect's Profile

Wayne Bertram Williams, born on May 27, 1958, was an Atlanta native from the Dixie Hills neighborhood. His parents, Homer and Faye Williams, were both teachers, placing him in a stable, middle-class environment.

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Williams showed an early interest in media and law enforcement, working as a freelance photographer and a talent scout, and even as an announcer for WIGO radio at the age of 15. His connection to the victims was often based on his alleged attempts to recruit young Black men for musical acts.

His biography is inextricably linked to the Atlanta Child Murders case, which the FBI designated as "ATKID."

• Full Name: Wayne Bertram Williams
• Date of Birth: May 27, 1958
• Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia (Dixie Hills Neighborhood)
• Occupation: Freelance Photographer, Talent Scout, former WIGO Radio Announcer
• Arrest Date: June 21, 1981
• Conviction: February 27, 1982, for the murders of two adult men, Nathaniel Cater and Jimmy Ray Payne.
• Sentence: Two consecutive life sentences.
• Status in Child Cases: Never formally charged, but authorities closed 22 of the 29 child murder cases, officially attributing them to Williams.

Williams's arrest came after he was stopped by police on the James Jackson Parkway bridge over the Chattahoochee River in the early morning hours of May 22, 1981. This was moments after a splash was heard, and two days later, the body of Nathaniel Cater was found downstream.

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The prosecution's case relied heavily on "fiber evidence," linking fibers from Williams' home, car, and dog (a German Shepherd) to the bodies of the victims, including the two adult men for which he was convicted.

The Unsettled Legacy: Controversy and the Victims

The period between 1979 and 1981 was a time of unprecedented fear and systemic failure in Atlanta. The victims were overwhelmingly African-American children, teens, and young adults, mostly boys, who were kidnapped and murdered.

The total number of victims associated with the case is generally cited as 29 or 30.

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The immense pressure on the city to find the perpetrator led to the controversial decision to close the child murder files after Williams's conviction for the adult murders of Nathaniel Cater and Jimmy Ray Payne. Many critics, including some victims' families and civil rights leaders, argued that the rush to judgment ignored other potential suspects, including members of the Ku Klux Klan, who were briefly investigated.

The victims, such as Alfred Evans, Eric Middlebrooks, and Yusuf Bell, represent the heart of the tragedy, and their families have never been fully satisfied with the official conclusion that Williams was responsible for all the killings.

The New DNA Hunt: A Fresh Look at Cold Case Evidence

The most significant recent update to the Atlanta serial killer case is the official re-opening of the investigation. In 2019, then-Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced that the city would re-examine the decades-old evidence using modern forensic techniques.

This decision was driven by the desire to use advanced DNA analysis, which did not exist at the time of the original investigation, to either confirm Williams's involvement or identify new suspects in the unsolved child murders.

The key pieces of evidence—including hair, fibers, and other biological samples—were sent to a specialized, private laboratory in Salt Lake City, Utah, known for its expertise in analyzing degraded or aged DNA evidence.

The Current Status of the Re-examination:

As of late 2025, the results of the forensic testing from the Utah lab have not been publicly released, creating a tense and anxious waiting period for the victims' families and the public.

The complexity of the evidence—some of which is over 40 years old—and the sheer volume of samples contribute to the prolonged timeline. The re-examination is intended to answer the lingering question: Was the Atlanta Child Murders case the work of a single serial killer, Wayne Williams, or was there a systemic failure that allowed other perpetrators to escape justice?

Williams's attorney, Janis Mann, has repeatedly called on officials to release the DNA test results, arguing that new evidence could exonerate her client and potentially lead to the identification of the person or persons responsible for the other deaths.

The Enduring Need for Closure and Justice

The Atlanta Child Murders remain an open wound in the city's history. The re-examination of the DNA evidence is a critical step toward achieving true closure, regardless of what the results reveal. It represents an acknowledgment of the systemic failures that plagued the original investigation and a commitment to the families who have waited over four decades for definitive answers.

The hope is that this new round of forensic testing will provide the irrefutable evidence needed to either formally link Williams to the child murders or, conversely, clear him and reopen the cold case files to pursue other suspects. In the meantime, the city is moving forward with plans for a memorial to honor the 29 victims, ensuring that their lives are remembered beyond the trauma of their loss.