Billy Wayne Williams found in Global, Find A Grave Index for Burials at Sea and other Select Burial Locations, 1300s-Current found in Florida Death Index, 1877-1998 The Atlanta Child Murders were a time in the city's history where fear gripped black neighborhoods as child after child was found dead or never found at all. [14] A federal judge rejected the request for retrial on October 17, 2006. Feb. 28 (UPI) -- A swimmer visiting a beach in New South Wales, Australia, found a mussel-covered message in a bottle that turned out to have traveled more than 185 miles. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. [11] After 12 hours of deliberation, the jury found him guilty on February 27 of the murders of Cater and Payne. 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. March 1 (UPI) -- Officials at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium confirmed a cheetah briefly escaped from its enclosure, but was behind a public barrier at all times. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. "[30] Police dropped the probe into possible Klan involvement when Sanders and two of his brothers passed lie detector tests. The five of us, my mom, dad, my siblings, the five of us she will always be here.". And new results have implicated Williams in the death of at least one 11-year-old victim. The end of 1979 brought two more child victims: Yusef Bell had been strangled, and Angel Lenair was tied to a tree with her hands bound behind her, also strangled. Some of the fibers linking Williams to the slayings were taken from the suspect's newly occupied bedroom. The FBI report said this: "Wayne Williams cannot be excluded as the source of the hair.". Wayne Williams has always maintained his innocence, claiming that the KKK was involved. Contribute to this page. Atlanta, Georgia (CNN)-- Almost 30 years ago, when Wayne Williams went on trial in two deaths that became known as the Atlanta child murders, DNA testing was not yet a staple of courtroom science . The testimony from Homer Williams, 68, came after an expert testified there was no way anyone could say positively that fibers found on the bodies of 12 of 28 young blacks slain in Atlanta came from Williams' home and bedroom. Best Known For: Wayne Williams is suspected of murdering more than 20 Black youths from 1979 to 1981 in Atlanta, Georgia. Where did Wayne Williams dump his victims? In a sense, the murders could have hypothetically given him back a sense of control. In the midst of his scheduled hearing, Houston police released a new booking photo taken after . Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. HOUSTON - Gerald Wayne Williams, 34, is now sought by Houston police after they say he's been charged with murder in connection with the shooting of a teenager who was killed in a road rage . Information and photos on his parents, grandparents, children, baby mothers, brothers, and cousins. She said, "My mom passed away many, many, many, many weeks ago. Bettmann/Contributor/Getty ImagesPolice officers carrying shotguns provide tight security for Wayne Williams as he is taken to court. Reginae, . Wayne Williams poses along the fence line at Valdosta State Prison, Valdosta, Georgia, in 1999. . One shot, one strangled. [37], 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. During his 40 years in prison, Wayne Williams has maintained his innocence. Netflix's "Mindhunter" dove back into the life of serial killer Wayne Williams, who was only convicted of killing two men in Atlanta, Georgia, but whom many believe to be responsible for at least 23 murders during the period of 1979 to 1981.Like many of the show's characters, Williams was portrayed as complex and almost impenetrable. The 68-year . Williams was questioned first by defense attorney Al Binder and then cross-examined by . He was caught virtually red-handed in one of the murders and witnesses saw him with other victims. Wayne Bertram Williams was born on May 27, 1958, in Atlanta. His parents, both college-educated and . Gerald Wayne Williams, 34, posted his $350,000 bail . At the time of his arrest, the 23-year-old was living at this address on Penelope Road with his parents. The first two victims were boys aged 13 and 14, Edward Teddy Smith and Albert Evens, found on August 7th in 1979. This allowed investigators to narrow their search, and they soon staked out all 14 bridges that span the river in the Atlanta area. Victims 3, 4, & 5 turned up before 1979 ended 1980 saw nine further childrens bodies found. The Kings are firmly against the death penalty, so they pushed to have his death sentence tossed, in exchange for life in prison. If I had to do it over, I'd do it again.'. He also earned a brief flicker of fame after being covered in Jet magazine. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. . Offers may be subject to change without notice. [9], Williams was arrested on June 21, 1981, for the murders of Cater and Payne. Extra food support ends for millions of low-income U.S. taxpayers, Man arrested after explosive device found in his luggage at Pennsylvania airport, Study: Vitamin D could help keep dementia at bay. Because the hairs were incomplete, the type of testing, called mitochondrial DNA, can trace only the maternal line. Wayne was born in Hollytree, Alabama to Horace T. & Vicie Mae Williams on March 11, 1935. Williams, a bespectacled, balding man, described how his son grew up much like any other child with a penchant for electric trains, fishing and the later interest in broadcasting. The defense is expected to produce another fiber expert -- Charles Morton of Oakland, Calif. -- before it concludes its case. Homer C. Williams, father of Wayne B. Williams, took the witness stand today in defense of his only child . The new documentary will tell the inside story of the shocking case and take a new look at the original trial . How did Jo Jo Bell connect to Wayne Williams? At the same time, the judge decided to allow those two hairs found on Baltazar to be sent to the FBI's DNA laboratory at Quantico, Virginia. Wayne Williams And The Mystery Of The Atlanta Child Murders. Bettmann/Contributor/Getty ImagesWayne Williams, the man believed to be responsible for the Atlanta Child Murders. [36], 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." Polish basketball player breaks slam dunk world record. However, he also opined that Williams did not commit all the crimes, adding the cryptic note, "It isn't a single offender, and the truth isn't pleasant.". Douglas advised prosecutors to focus on Williams failures and his inconsistent statements during his cross-examination. [17] In contrast, Joseph Drolet, who prosecuted Williams at trial, has stood by Williams's convictions. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Bresee told the jury that he was doing more fiber research than anyone in the nation, and added that his efforts were designed to bring fiber analysis 'out of the realm of the subjective and into the world of science.' And if you're interested in learning a little more about Wendy's life story, her new Lifetime biopic, Wendy Williams: The Movie premieres Jan. 30, 2021, at 8 p.m. EST on the Lifetime channel. Little has been reported about Williams' early life, but his public journey to infamy began on July . She's appeared on The Masked Singer, became the subject of a new biopic, and has covered more celebrity drama (including some of her own!) They showed me you can still be parents and also make an impact on your community.". Former DeKalb County Sheriff and convicted murderer Sidney Dorsey, who was an Atlanta homicide detective at the time, also said he believed Williams was wrongly blamed for the murders. Both his parents, Faye and Homer Williams were both school teachers. And though the murders seemed to stop once Williams was taken into custody, the lack of evidence fueled speculation of his innocence. By age 23, he was jumping from one thing to the next, going from radio work to record production to talent scouting. The first victims of the Atlanta Child Murders were two boys, one 14 and the other 13, both of whom disappeared within three days of each other. The project was part of a 10-episode podcast titled Atlanta Monster, which digs into the nearly 40-year-old case. "If they arrested a white guy," he said, "there would have been riots across the U.S.."[23][24][25][26] Dorsey is now serving a life sentence after being convicted of ordering the murder of his election opponent Derwin Brown. However, both the phone number he gave police and Cheryl Johnson turned out to be fictitious. He told the police that he was a talent scout and was checking on an address ahead of an audition with a singer named Cheryl Johnson. Since the 1980s, the infamous . 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. Williams on Dec. 8, 1980, personal questions were among the first the defendant asked him. Williams was born and raised in Atlantas Dixie Hills neighborhood, from which many of the Atlanta Child Murderers victims would later disappear. He thanks you for reading his content. According to Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Wayne Williams sends Christmas cards and letters to families of the victims declaring his innocence. Although Williams was linked to those victims and nine others by fibers from other parts of his house and car, the testimony from the elder Williams could cause jurors to question those links as well as the carpet square connection. Wayne Bertram Williams was born on May 27, 1958, in Atlanta, Georgia. Distractify is a registered trademark. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Fibers found on the victims' bodies, state experts have testified, were 'microscopically and optically consistent' with fibers from seven different points in Williams' home and car -- especially his carpet and his bedspread. 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. Can your weight be different at different locations on Earth? This, in turn, inspired the police surveillance that ensnared Williams on May 22. During the two-month trial, prosecutors matched to a number of victims 19 sources of fibers from Williams's home and car: his bedspread, bathroom, gloves, clothes, carpets, dog, and an unusual trilobal carpet fiber. March 1 (UPI) -- A North Carolina woman found out she had won a $1 million Powerball prize just hours before celebrating her 58th birthday. [7], Williams is serving his sentence at Telfair State Prison. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. He had already devoted much of his work to interviewing serial killers and assassins, which would go on to include James Earl Ray, David Berkowitz a.k.a Son of Sam, and Richard Speck. Now, I only ask for the chance to do my part in restoring the confidence so many once had in me.. He had made acquaintances among the announcing crew of local radio stations and attempted a career as a pop music producer and manager, apart from being a DJ and a freelance photographer. By March 1980, the death toll had reached at least six. "I've got to be strong for my son," Wendy said firmly, and audiences would agree that she's been doing a great job. But many soon believed that his trail of death may have been far more gruesome and that he was the man behind the Atlanta . The case was once again closed on July 21, 2006. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Two dogs rescued after falling through ice on Colorado lake. In late May, a group of law-enforcement officers on surveillance at the river heard a loud splash around 3 a.m. On the bridge, a car fled the scene, and the police pursued and pulled it over. In addition to her parents, she is also preceded in death by her husband, Donald Wayne Trail Sr. In 1976, young Wayne Williams graduated from Douglass High School and went on to enroll in Georgia State University, only staying for a year before he quit. [7], Williams failed three polygraph tests. Wayne Williams was born in Atlanta in 1958. But that was only a matter of judgment, not exact science. The same year, DNA testing of dog's hair matched with that of the Williams family's German Shepherd which, while not conclusive, occurs in about 1 in 100 dogs. On February 27, 1982, following 12 hours of deliberation, the jury found him guilty of the murders of Cater and Payne, and sentenced him to two consecutive life terms. Other evidence included witness testimony that placed Williams with several victims while they were alive, and inconsistencies in his accounts of his whereabouts. He was first depicted in the 1985 television miniseries The Atlanta Child Murders and was played by Calvin Levels. The couple got divorced after Kevin Hunter Sr. fathered a child with mistress Sharina Hudson. The witness said he was interested in entertainers who sang songs he wrote and that he had been impressed by Jo Jo Bells abilities in an audition conducted by Mr. Williams at Atlanta Studios. 'He didn't kill very much so I guess he just gave it up,' he said. From then on, it seemed like the once-promising young man began to lose direction. Dog rescued after falling 12 feet into Georgia storm drain. ATLANTA, Ga. (CBS46) -- Wayne Williams is in prison convicted of murdering two adult men, but for 40 years he's been accused of being the man behind The Atlanta Missing and Murdered Children. Todd Wyatt Williams 11 Aug 1974 Pasadena, Harris, Texas, United States - 29 Nov 2021 managed by William Dowden last edited 23 Feb 2023. All I know was it was a long time ago. The body of 21-year-old Jimmy Ray Payne was also found nearby apparently allowing cops to build their case. He graduated from Wainae High School and immediately entered the Navy. Related news. "I think they said [they] could not rule out whoever the hairs were from as being the possible donor.". In late December 1979, the police again intercepted his car and found several police equipments including a siren, three emergency lights, a police scanner, a CB radio and headlights with flashers. . Williams was never convicted of the rest of the murders in the Atlanta Child Murders case but local police alleged that he was responsible for them. Law enforcement arrested 23-year-old Wayne Williams on June 21, 1981, and subsequently put him on trial for two of the murders. By: Mike McPadden. You know how you lose track of the day and time? Dorothy (Williams) Toney 19 Aug 1893 Eureka, Aiken, South Carolina, United States - 27 Jan 1998 managed by Kimberly Smith. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Obituary for Mr. Wayne Williams On Wednesday, December 7th, Jessie Wayne Williams finished his race on this earth. Who Are Some of the Famous Figures Wendy Williams Has Dated? After the verdict, the Atlanta police department closed 22 other cases, but Williams was never tried, or charged, for those crimes. There was also a bombshell report by Spin magazine, which revealed that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) had suppressed evidence that may have implicated a member of the Ku Klux Klan in the murders. He has maintained his innocence even as he was convicted in 1982 of the murders of two adults and then sentenced to two life terms in prison with the possibility of parole. The elder Williams told the jury of eight blacks and four whites that the carpet squares in a small back room of his home were not installed until May 25, 1981 -- a day after Cater's body washed up in the Chattahoochee River. Wayne Bertram Williams was born in 1958 and raised in the Dixie Hills neighborhood of Atlanta (where also many of the Atlanta Child Murders' victims either lived or disappeared from), the only son of teachers Homer and Faye Williams. Out whoever the hairs were from as being the possible donor. `` Road with his parents found. Falling through ice on Colorado lake families of the shocking case and take new... ' he said of deliberation, the jury found him guilty on February 27 of the Figures! This: `` Wayne Williams sends Christmas cards and letters to families of the day and time,! 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