The Atlanta Child Murders (2019)
While touting itself as a mecca for progressive expansion, early 1980s Atlanta has a dark secret. Over two years, at least twenty-nine black children, teens, and young adults have been systematically abducted and murdered from low income neighborhoods. As the mothers of the victims beg law enforcement to take action, the investigation languishes while the country looks on. Suspects include the KKK, the police and known pedophiles. The nightmare is seemingly over when Wayne Williams, a young black man, is arrested and the majority of the crimes are attributed to him. But was he simply a scapegoat? In this 3-part special we explore the case from those closest to it while highlighting the enduring questions surrounding this tragic chapter in Atlanta's history.
Seasons & Episode
From 1979 to 1981, a string of murders of black children are terrorizing the city of Atlanta, igniting terror and frustration from a community that feels increasingly neglected. But is it the work of the KKK or a cold-blooded serial killer?
As the weeks pass, young black males are killed with horrifying frequency. An inventive tactic finally gives law enforcement their first real lead with suspect Wayne Williams, but will they have enough to arrest him?
After an intense investigation, Wayne Williams goes on trial for one of the most notorious murder cases in Atlanta's history. The public struggles with the question of Williams's guilt. He is convicted but was justice truly served for the families?