5 Chilling Serial Killers Who Shook Atlanta, GA: The Latest Updates On Unsolved Cases

Atlanta, Georgia, has a complex and often terrifying history with serial crime, a legacy that continues to haunt the city and its surrounding metro area today, as of December 12, 2025. While the name "Atlanta" is globally synonymous with the infamous Atlanta Child Murders of 1979-1981, the city's true crime narrative extends far beyond that single, tragic chapter, encompassing a century of unsolved mysteries and convicted killers who preyed on vulnerable populations. The most current developments center on a renewed push for transparency in old cases, particularly the long-awaited release of modern DNA testing results, which could finally bring closure to decades-old wounds.

The Southern metropolis, a hub of commerce and culture, has unfortunately served as the hunting ground for several prolific and brutal killers, some of whom were caught and others who remain unidentified to this day. This deep dive explores the most notorious serial killers linked to Atlanta, providing fresh insight into the cold cases and the modern-day figures who have stained the city's history since the turn of the millennium.

The Ghosts of the Past: Atlanta's Most Notorious Serial Killers

Atlanta's history of serial crime is often divided into two major eras: the early 20th-century terror and the crisis that gripped the city's youth in the late 70s and early 80s. These cases highlight the enduring challenge of identifying and stopping a serial offender.

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1. Wayne Williams and the Atlanta Child Murders (1979–1981)

The period between 1979 and 1981 saw a devastating series of killings that targeted at least 28 Black children, teenagers, and young adults in the Atlanta metropolitan area. This crisis, known as the Atlanta Child Murders, remains one of the most painful and controversial chapters in American criminal history.

• Victim Count: Officially linked to 28 victims, primarily children and young adults.
• The Suspect: Wayne Bertram Williams, a 23-year-old freelance photographer and music promoter, was arrested in 1981.
• Conviction: Williams was convicted in 1982 for the murders of two adult men, but authorities controversially closed the majority of the child murder cases, attributing them to Williams.
• Current Status: Williams is serving life imprisonment, but he maintains his innocence.

Current Update: The Demand for DNA Transparency

The most pressing and current angle in the Atlanta Child Murders case involves the ongoing re-examination of evidence using modern forensic technology. In 2019, then-Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced a re-opening of the cases to allow for new DNA testing on decades-old evidence.

As of late 2024 and 2025, the investigation remains active but shrouded in mystery. A year after DNA samples were reportedly sent to a specialized lab in Utah, there has been no public report on what the testing may have revealed. This silence has fueled ongoing skepticism and frustration among victims' families, many of whom have publicly demanded that the results of the DNA testing be released to the public, believing Williams did not act alone, or was not the killer of their child.

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2. The Atlanta Ripper (1911–1912)

Decades before the terror of the Child Murders, Atlanta was gripped by a different kind of serial killer, a figure who has achieved near-mythical status in true crime circles.

• Victim Count: Suspected of killing at least 15 Black women, though some estimates place the number higher, up to 21.
• Modus Operandi: The victims were often brutally stabbed or slashed in a manner that earned the killer the moniker "The Atlanta Ripper," a nod to Jack the Ripper.
• Resolution: The killer was never identified or caught, and the case remains one of Atlanta's most infamous cold cases.

The Modern Era: Serial Killers in Post-2000 Atlanta

While the Child Murders dominate the historical narrative, the metro Atlanta area has faced new serial threats in the 21st century. The following cases demonstrate that modern policing techniques and inter-county cooperation (Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb) are essential to stopping a killer who crosses jurisdictional lines.

3. Aeman L. Presley (The Metro Atlanta Shooter)

Aeman Lovel Presley represents one of the most significant serial killer arrests in the metro Atlanta area in the 2010s. His crimes spanned multiple counties and terrorized residents in a short, brutal spree.

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• Victim Count: Convicted of four murders, with police suggesting he "could be more."
• Timeframe: 2014.
• Modus Operandi: Presley's victims were killed by gunfire in seemingly random attacks, including a homeless man and a hairdresser. The use of the same firearm was the key piece of ballistic evidence that linked the four murders.
• Apprehension: Presley was caught in December 2014 after allegedly evading fare at a MARTA station (Georgia State Station), a twist of fate that led to the end of his killing spree.
• Current Status: In 2019, Presley pleaded guilty to two DeKalb County murders and was sentenced to two life sentences without the possibility of parole.

4. Charles Lee Duffy (The Metro Atlanta Strangler)

Operating in the mid-2000s, Charles Lee Duffy targeted women in the metro Atlanta area, highlighting the ongoing vulnerability of individuals in the region.

• Victim Count: Convicted of murdering three women.
• Timeframe: June to August 2005.
• Modus Operandi: Duffy was a rapist and serial killer who murdered his victims in a short, intense period of activity.
• Current Status: Duffy is currently serving multiple life sentences for his crimes.

5. Samuel Little (The Nation’s Most Prolific Serial Killer)

While Samuel Little, who died in 2020, was not an Atlanta resident, his confirmed victims across the state of Georgia cement his place in the state's dark history and demonstrate the reach of a cross-country killer.

• Victim Count: Confessed to killing 93 people nationwide, making him the most prolific serial killer in U.S. history.
• Georgia Connection: Little confessed to killing two women in Macon, Georgia, and authorities have worked to link him to other unsolved murders across the Southeast, including those in the wider Georgia region.
• Topical Authority: His case is a constant reminder to Atlanta-area law enforcement that unsolved cases may be linked to transient, national serial offenders.

The Enduring Mystery: Unsolved Cases and Hidden Killers

The conversation about serial killers in Atlanta is not just about those who have been caught; it is also about the cases that remain open. Crime experts and former homicide detectives have repeatedly suggested that Atlanta is likely "hiding some of the most prolific serial killers" in the U.S. due to a high rate of unsolved murders, particularly those involving strangulation.

The Atlanta Police Department maintains a list of cold homicide cases, many of which involve victims of violent, unresolved crimes that fit the profile of a serial killer's work. Cases from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s remain on the books, including those from the Wayne Williams era that were never officially closed by the courts.

The commitment by the city to re-examine evidence in the Atlanta Child Murders shows a modern dedication to leveraging advanced DNA technology to seek truth and closure, even decades later. This ongoing effort serves as a beacon of hope for families of all unsolved murder victims in Fulton and DeKalb counties, suggesting that the shadows of Atlanta's past may still yield to the light of modern forensic science.