Police Reopen Atlanta Child-Killing Cases (WoW!)

[jefferson_dem]

By HARRY R. WEBER, Associated Press Writer

ATLANTA - A police chief has reopened an investigation into four of the child slayings that terrorized the Atlanta area more than two decades ago, saying he believes the man suspected in most of the killings is innocent. Altogether, 29 people — all of them black, most of them boys — were killed in the Atlanta area between 1979 and 1981.

Wayne Williams, 47, is serving a life sentence for the murders of two young men. After his conviction, authorities blamed him for 22 of the other slayings but never charged him.

Dekalb County Police Chief Louis Graham said he plans to take another look at the slayings of four boys between February and May 1981. Graham, who became chief last year, said he took an interest in revisiting the cases after looking through some old news clippings.

"After Wayne Williams was arrested, there was this decision by some people to close the cases, and I have never been one to espouse that kind of investigation or paint that kind of broad brush," Graham told The Associated Press. "I have never believed that he did anything."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=5&u=/ap/20050507/ap_on_re_us/atlanta_child_killings

[katmondoo]

1. From everything I have read about this case I still believe him guilty

[Brewman_Jax]

2. Needs to be investigated

I thought that it was too convenient to convict him of 2 crimes, and then blame everything else on him. From what I read, he may be guilty of some, but not all of the murders.

[kevinam]

3. I have a problem with this...

This first problem I have is at the bottom of the snips. Graham told the AP "I have never believed that he did anyting". Oh, that says great things about our criminal justice system. Even the police chief doesn't have faith in it. I have never heard of any credible evidence that Wayne Williams was framed for the crimes he was convicted. Now don't get me wrong. I live in the Atlanta area. The area certainly did have problems back then, and still does now. Does the Police Chief, beyond his ESP, have any reason to investigate these cases or is it a wild goose chase?? If he is going to spend tax payer's money for this, he should have a damn good reason. Hell, I don't think the killings in Buckhead on Super Bowl weekend were ever solved. That is a more recent black eye for the city.

Kevin.