Tayari's Blog: The Atlanta Child Murders, Case Re-Opened

Comment #1, by Your Occasionally Cryptic Friend

Oh dear. Just when I thought I was going to get away with it.

Comment #2, by scott rippy

i am a white male from southern illinois an i remember the atlanta murder cases imoved to atlanta in 1986 an i still to this day think wayne williams is innocent. they which at the time was george bush and our government needed a scape goat and it was wayne williams what ever happened to the rookie cop who said he heard a splash in the water and if he is down below the bridge dont you think there would be officers on top of the bridge at both ends. if not than why was one officer by himself below the bridge.if a white male was arrested at that time there would have been a major riot in atlanta. and the time line for the fiber evidence wayne williams had no access to his fathers car at that time. it was in the shop at the time of some of the murders. so myn question is the night he went across the bridge where there not officer staking out the bridge on both side and if it is say 2am or 3am are you just going to stop your car on a bridge at that time.oh no he must have drove across the bridge rolled down the window and thrown the body over a three foot railing will his car was still moving with on arm driving and the other one thowing the body out the window i hope to see the day when he is free because when it hits the fan there is going to be some big names involved maynard jackson, louis brown, louis slayton,eldrin bell,george bush,ronald reagan , and so on it stink of a conspiricy this case is going to shed some light on how a person can be railroaded and spend over 20yrs in prison. that my friend is a terrible thought that it could be you or me next

Comment #3, by theapologist

There's definitely a sexual angle to these murders . Otherwise , why did some of the boys found with other underwear on ? Why were some of them known to be street hustlers and to hang out with known pedophiles and homosexuals ? I think that Wayne Williams was indeed involved , but was not alone . Why did he and his father supposedly burn photographs and negatives right before Williams was arrested ? Was his father involved ? Was he covering up for his son ? The homosexual angle is a political bombshell for a tolerant city like Atlanta , so if DeKalb Chief Louis Graham really wants to get to the bottom of this , he's gonna have to ruffle some really sensitive political and social feathers . This case has fascinated me almost as much as President Kennedy's assasination . Wayne Williams can't explained what he was doing on that bridge that night , so his credibility is indeed suspect , but I don't think that he did all of that by himself . Call me a conspiracy theorist if you like , but . . .

Comment #4, by tayari

Yes, I agree with both of you that the resolution of this case was profoundly unsatisfying. I am very pleased that the case is being reopened. The families, the city, the nation, the WORLD deserves to know the truth.

Comment #5, by theapologist

P.S- Congratulations on your success as an author . I'm currently writing a book about some of my childhood experiences and hope to finish writing it by early next year . I'll pick your brain for advice on how to become published . Take care and know that I'm following the Atlanta MMC case with both antennas up . There will be a special expose in tomorrow's AJC on Wayne Williams , in case you didn't know. Have you visited "crimestories.com?" They have some very interesting info concerning the MMC .

By the way , I taught Spanish at Spelman from 2000-2001 , but you may not have been there then . . . take care . . .

Comment #6, by theapologist

Before I read your book , I need to read James Baldwins " The Evidence of Things Not Seen." That should be a good sequey (sic) into your book .

Comment #7, by tayari

I don't really think you need to read Baldwin first. Leaving Atlanta is a novel about what it was like to grow up in Atlanta. Baldwin's book is more of a historical contexing piece. I think you may actually prefer to read Leaving Atlanta FIRST. Let yourself get into the minds of the children. Leave your grown up theoretical self behind and just try and imagine what it was like for those of us at the ground-zero of the child murders.

Comment #8, by theapologist

Good point . Do you think that it would be appropriate to teach Leaving Atlanta to, say , middle or high school children , as a critical thinking literature course ? ? ? Do you think that the material would be too heavy for them ? Do you think that parents would have a problem with such material ?

Comment #9, by tayari

I think that young readers may very well like Leaving Atlanta. It's not an upsetting piece in the way that I think you mean. One thing I really stress is that there is no "body count" in the book. It's really a classic American coming of age story, but set against the backdrop of this important historical moment. I think you'll see what I mean when you read it.

Comment #10, by Patricia

After Wayne Williams convicted, 20/20 the news program had an interview with Wayne and did show some video of the investigation. During the video, (this never happened to me before or since) the video showed a person in law enforcement getting into a vehicle and without any hesitation, I said outload, "that is him". This person was a big witness against Wayne Williams, but before trial he had a heart attack and died.
Toward the end of the show, the person that had done the investigation said he did not believe Wayne Williams could have physically done the murders. However, after Williams had been arrested the murders had stopped. I said outloud again "of course they quit, the guy is dead". I was totally surprised by my reaction and have given it many hours of thought. The only thing I can come up with is when I was 6 yrs old, I was molested by a neighbor and I thought he was going to kill me. Somehow, I feel I picked up on something about this man. The feeling about the man is still strong today. Now, maybe there is nothing to it, sure sounds weird to me. However, wanted to pass the info on. The man had all kinds of opportunity and opportunity to even plant evidence on Williams. Do not really want this posted...just for someone who is looking into the case to listen. Thanks

Comment #11, by Abati

You are invited to hear the live interviews of “On The Real Side” hosted by Emmett Abati Doe with the Authors of “THE LIST” the 1983 Pulitzer Prize Nominated Book that documented the behind the scene un and under-reported facts of The Atlanta Child Murders. The June 8, (Noon to One cst) Program Guest was the Authors of THE LIST, the DeKalb County Police Chief, Louis Graham and Catherine Leach, the Mother of 13 year old Curtis Walker victim # 21 on the list. The July 5th Program’s Guest at the “Open Journal” (Noon Hour cst.) was the Authors Chet Dettlinger, and Jeff Prugh, and Wayne Williams Lead Attorney Michael-Lee Jackson. Part Three of “GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER THE ATLANTA CHILD MURDERS” is scheduled for August 2nd at the Noon Hour cst. Go WWW.KPFT.ORG “Archives”. Tayari Jones you are invited to contact me, so you can be my guest “ON THE REAL SIDE”. I’m Emmett Abati Doe (It’s OK, to repost this)

Comment #12, by Damatri`

Ok I think it was a cover up, there was alot of homosexual activities going on in Atlanta, and a thing about the property.

Indeed there was a lot going on. But what about THE LIST all the other kids that were either kidnapped or killed,and wasn't placed on the Atlanta child murders list?