Wayne Williams

Between 1980 and 1981, the residents of Atlanta lived in growing fear and outrage as a serial killer methodically hunted their children. The body count reached 22 victims before the killer was apprehended. They ranged in age from 7 to 28, and most were young males. Some were shot or strangled; others were stabbed, bludgeoned, or suffocated. All the victims were black. The deaths of so many black young people gave rise to a variety of theories and accusations, including the belief in a plot by white supremacists to systematically kill all black children. Others began to think the children were being killed by Satan worshippers, blood cultists, or even copycat murderers. The Ku Klux Klan came under close scrutiny, but no link could be ...