Wayne Williams Case Study

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Wayne Williams, a born native of Atlanta, Georgia convicted of murdering two black male adults and listed as the prime suspect in the killing of more than 20 black youths from 1979 to 1981, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Biography, 2015) The key facts and critical issues in Wayne Williams’s case started with fibers evidence found on one of the victims that matched those found in Williams's car and home; therefore he was arrested. William was labeled the Atlanta Child Murderer, responsible for the deaths of more than 20 others as a result of convincing circumstantial and DNA evidence, Williams was not charged with the other twenty victims. (Biography, 2015)

On July 28, 1979, a woman came across two corpses hidden under bushes at the side of the road. …show more content…

A seven-year-old girl was reported missing; the FBI was called in to help local police. A major investigation started, and an FBI profiler worked on the case as well. The bodies of the victims were found in wooded areas; however, in April 1981, the killer changed his MO and started dumping the bodies in the Chattahoochee River. (Biography, 2015) The investigators were allowed to narrow their search, and they soon staked out fourteen bridges that surrounded the river in the Atlanta …show more content…

Also, witnesses testified that they had seen Williams with some of the victims. A criminalist, Larry Peterson of the Georgia State Crime Laboratory began to identify distinctive fibers found on the victims’ bodies. (Nickell, 2011) These fibers were yellowish-green nylon, and violet acetate, in all twenty-eight different fibers plus dog hairs were recovered. (Nickell, 2011) The investigator during the investigation found physical evidence of matching fibers on victims Cater’s personal and on Williams’s personal possessions. Williams was arrested, and on February 27, 1982, he was found guilty of the murders of Cater and another man, Jimmy Ray Payne, 21. (Biography, 2015) Williams was sentenced to two consecutive life terms. However, after Williams’s trial was over more investigations linked William’s DNA from his hairs found on different victims matched 98 percent certainty and hairs matching William’s German shepherd “Sheba” were found on the victims as well. (Edward, 2016) However, two percent doubt was not enough to convict Williams with the others deaths. After Williams’s conviction, the murders stopped. (Edward,

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