1 00:00:01,040 --> 00:00:04,040 Speaker 1: Welcome to the new summer series of Atlanta Monster, where 2 00:00:04,080 --> 00:00:06,960 Speaker 1: we will uncover new stories around the Atlanta child murders. 3 00:00:07,480 --> 00:00:10,520 Speaker 1: I'm your host, Jason Hope, and in our first episode, 4 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:12,680 Speaker 1: we talked to the men and women that reported on 5 00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:15,960 Speaker 1: the case that gripped Atlanta and the nation nearly forty 6 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:19,520 Speaker 1: years ago. The time has healed old wounds. One thing 7 00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:23,000 Speaker 1: is clear. The nightmare of that traumatic time sticks with 8 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:28,560 Speaker 1: many even to this day. You don't want to believe 9 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:32,400 Speaker 1: that you've given anybody an opportunity to do anything to 10 00:00:32,440 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 1: harm anybody, because it means that you could have been 11 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:41,760 Speaker 1: a part of fueling what may have happened. In other words, 12 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:45,120 Speaker 1: if he wasn't an overnight photographer, maybe he wouldn't have 13 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:49,080 Speaker 1: had the opportunity to do this. To think that you 14 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:52,000 Speaker 1: have come face to face with someone who could potentially 15 00:00:53,159 --> 00:00:57,960 Speaker 1: kill that many people and be that close to where 16 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:01,880 Speaker 1: you shake their hand, You've hugged them, you have laughed 17 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:06,040 Speaker 1: with them, that's the hard part. You don't want to 18 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:12,880 Speaker 1: think that he was so wrong in judging somebody. I 19 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:17,680 Speaker 1: don't want to believe that he did that because somehow 20 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:21,000 Speaker 1: I feel that I may have had some role in 21 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:25,800 Speaker 1: helping in Atlanta. Another body was discovered today there at 22 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:29,039 Speaker 1: Police Task Force headquarters. There are twenty seven faces on 23 00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:32,399 Speaker 1: the wall, murdered, one missing. We do not know the 24 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:34,600 Speaker 1: person or persons that are responsible. Therefore, we do not 25 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 1: have the moody from Tenderfoot TV and how still works 26 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:41,400 Speaker 1: in Atlanta. Like eleven other recent victims in Atlanta, rogers 27 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:44,840 Speaker 1: apparently was ASPHIXI victor. Atlanta was unlikely to catch the 28 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:49,840 Speaker 1: killer unless he keeps on killing. This is Atlanta Monster. 29 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:08,840 Speaker 1: I'm Joscelyn Dorsey. I'm Director of Editorials and Public Affairs 30 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 1: at WSBTV, which is now Cox Media Group Atlanta, and 31 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:17,680 Speaker 1: I've been there for forty five years. I started out 32 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:21,680 Speaker 1: as a street reporter in nineteen seventy three and worked 33 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 1: in the newsroom from nineteen seventy three to nineteen eighty three, 34 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:28,680 Speaker 1: and after that became the director. Jocelyn Dorsey was the 35 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:32,440 Speaker 1: first African American television news anchor in Atlanta, arriving from 36 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:35,760 Speaker 1: Ohio in nineteen seventy three. During her career, she has 37 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:39,120 Speaker 1: reported on numerous happenings in and around Atlanta, including the 38 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:42,399 Speaker 1: Atlanta child murders, with reporting on the psychics and community 39 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 1: efforts to help local kids who are highly distressed at 40 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:49,120 Speaker 1: the time. Through the central character art the Art Institute 41 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 1: in Atlanta, Police hope to teach children about safety in 42 00:02:51,639 --> 00:02:54,639 Speaker 1: a way that can be fun. The four primary messages 43 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:58,400 Speaker 1: are don't get into a car with strangers, don't take candy, money, 44 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:01,440 Speaker 1: or gifts from strangers, play in groups, and if you 45 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:05,080 Speaker 1: need help, go to a police officer, firefighter, or bus driver. 46 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:09,680 Speaker 1: They're your friends. Art Institute Community Relations director Liz get 47 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 1: says besides the basic themes, teachers can use the book 48 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:16,400 Speaker 1: as a teaching tool. The coloring book, produced by students 49 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:19,320 Speaker 1: of the Art Institute on a volunteer basis, is being 50 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:22,360 Speaker 1: donated to the Atlanta Police Bureau later this week. The 51 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:26,480 Speaker 1: printing costs for the fifty copies were donated by Diggler Brothers, 52 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:29,400 Speaker 1: a local firm, and officials say you'll be seeing a 53 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:33,520 Speaker 1: lot more of Artie in public service announcements soon. Joscelyn 54 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:38,880 Speaker 1: Dorsey Action News, but that's not the only part of 55 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:41,440 Speaker 1: her involvement with this story. Jocelyn was one of the 56 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:43,760 Speaker 1: first to discover Wayne in his teen years, where he 57 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 1: was already hard at work at the radio station he 58 00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:50,120 Speaker 1: had built in his house. I first met Wayne Williams 59 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:53,800 Speaker 1: as a street reporter. We got the story of this 60 00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 1: young whiz kid who had started a radio station in 61 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:01,839 Speaker 1: his basement, so I covered the store. He was fascinated 62 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:06,920 Speaker 1: with media, and normally I mentor young people who are 63 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:10,640 Speaker 1: interested in the business, and he was very interested and 64 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:17,440 Speaker 1: wanted to come and see the station. From there, we 65 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:22,240 Speaker 1: maintained a relationship because he asked questions and wanted to 66 00:04:22,279 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 1: shadow me and all of that. Paul paula Celli worked 67 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:29,520 Speaker 1: in the newsroom at WSB. Also he saw firsthand and 68 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:31,840 Speaker 1: for the first time in his life, a new world 69 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 1: when he wasn't entirely prepared for. I went to WSB 70 00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:42,560 Speaker 1: is the executive producer and assistant news director. Atlanta was 71 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:46,000 Speaker 1: a very aggressive news community who was a hot growing 72 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:49,400 Speaker 1: city at the time. We were calling these kids street kids. 73 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:55,039 Speaker 1: The Omni is a complex of amusement arcades, theaters, restaurants, 74 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:59,400 Speaker 1: shops in the heart of Atlanta. It's a meeting place 75 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:02,560 Speaker 1: for the city. Is Footloose Young Blacks, a place which 76 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:05,160 Speaker 1: many of the missing and murdered children used to visit. 77 00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:09,080 Speaker 1: Most of them were what the locals called street wise, 78 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 1: coming often from broken homes. They hustled for money, did 79 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:16,480 Speaker 1: odd jobs, sometimes had trouble with the law. They were tough. 80 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:23,039 Speaker 1: I mean, I remembered my father said, what in the 81 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:25,480 Speaker 1: world is going on down there? And I said to him, Dad, 82 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:28,000 Speaker 1: I got to tell you something. I would have known 83 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:31,600 Speaker 1: more about what was on the surface of the moon 84 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:36,120 Speaker 1: then I knew about how people lived in public housing 85 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:39,680 Speaker 1: in Atlanta, Georgia. I was totally unprepared for the world 86 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:42,640 Speaker 1: that I walked into. I didn't know that there were 87 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:46,720 Speaker 1: children who had no one with primary responsibility for those children. 88 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:49,000 Speaker 1: I didn't know that there were children who would be 89 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 1: out at two and three o'clock in the morning being 90 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:54,640 Speaker 1: a mule for a drug dealer or selling homosexual favors. 91 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:58,200 Speaker 1: It was a world that was totally separate and apart 92 00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:01,120 Speaker 1: from the caudal world that I grew up there. I 93 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:03,840 Speaker 1: had no concept that people lived like that. I had 94 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:07,039 Speaker 1: no concept that there was that level of child abuse 95 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:10,120 Speaker 1: in society. And Atlanta was having an epidemic of child 96 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:13,400 Speaker 1: abuse at the time, and it was particularly impactful and 97 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:15,839 Speaker 1: harmful to the minority kids at the time, and that 98 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:18,680 Speaker 1: was the big subject that never got addressed out of this. 99 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:21,120 Speaker 1: You know, they wanted to get this problem out of 100 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:23,240 Speaker 1: the way as fast as they could. And I'm not 101 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:26,600 Speaker 1: sure that Atlanta ever looked into that talk about a 102 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:29,440 Speaker 1: child being vulnerable. A nine year old on the street 103 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:31,760 Speaker 1: at three o'clock in the morning, and then you've got 104 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 1: people prowling those streets looking for god knows what. Back 105 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:40,480 Speaker 1: in those days, we had what we called stringers. We 106 00:06:40,480 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 1: were shooting sixteen millimeter film and we would give a 107 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 1: camera to a freelancer, especially on the overnight crew, and 108 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:53,320 Speaker 1: he decided he wanted to be a photographer. He kept 109 00:06:53,320 --> 00:06:56,760 Speaker 1: shadowing them, would come in all the time volunteer and 110 00:06:56,760 --> 00:06:59,160 Speaker 1: I told him, I said, you know, we can't pay 111 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:01,720 Speaker 1: people to volunteer here, but if you want to try 112 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:03,800 Speaker 1: out to be a stringer, you could be a stringer. 113 00:07:04,080 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 1: And that's what he did. He was freelancing for us 114 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 1: as a photographer. Wayne's world, his world was the world 115 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 1: of the stringer. His world was the world of going 116 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:20,640 Speaker 1: around looking for trouble with night and taking pictures of it. 117 00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:25,680 Speaker 1: He was a component of that very world. He was 118 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:29,520 Speaker 1: just a young kid, and I mean he was right 119 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:31,920 Speaker 1: out of high school. I think when he first started 120 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:36,600 Speaker 1: working with us, I didn't know much about his home life. 121 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:41,240 Speaker 1: I knew his parents, and he was a child that 122 00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:45,600 Speaker 1: was born later in their lives because they had had 123 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:49,480 Speaker 1: problems having a child. And I remember his mom telling 124 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:53,840 Speaker 1: me that he was a very special child because you know, 125 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:58,040 Speaker 1: she thought she wouldn't be able to have children. His 126 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:01,680 Speaker 1: father was in the business. I think he was a freelancer. 127 00:08:01,680 --> 00:08:05,080 Speaker 1: He may have actually worked for a newspaper, but um 128 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:08,440 Speaker 1: he was a photographer, so I imagine his interest came 129 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:12,800 Speaker 1: from his dad. Jocelyn got to know Wayne and Wayne's family. 130 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 1: But what was Wayne really like. He wasn't charming, and 131 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:22,240 Speaker 1: a lot of people didn't like him. He was kind 132 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:24,320 Speaker 1: of what people would call a nerd. You know, he's 133 00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:28,680 Speaker 1: very nerdy, very bright. So I never thought that there 134 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 1: was anything strange because I knew a lot of nerdy 135 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:35,319 Speaker 1: kids growing up, and you know, I just thought that 136 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:39,040 Speaker 1: he was different. He did have a way about him 137 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 1: that rubbed some people the wrong way. We heard this 138 00:08:42,040 --> 00:08:46,319 Speaker 1: over and over again. Wayne was nerdy, pudgy, highly intelligent. 139 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:50,240 Speaker 1: He is a highly intelligent young man, A good student. 140 00:08:50,320 --> 00:08:52,560 Speaker 1: When he was in school, he was a very intelligent 141 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:56,200 Speaker 1: young man. I said, you're very intelligent. I said, what's 142 00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:57,679 Speaker 1: your a cue and he said, I don't believe in 143 00:08:57,720 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 1: accus and I said, well, you must have done well, 144 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:02,480 Speaker 1: and they just seem to be educated in articulate or whatever. 145 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:05,240 Speaker 1: As a student, he was extremely bright. He was a 146 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:10,640 Speaker 1: pretty intelligent guy too. He had a very high i Q. Brilliant, asshole, 147 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:15,720 Speaker 1: unassuming and cocky at the same time. He comes across 148 00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:19,400 Speaker 1: as a nerd. He's a nerd. He's a little nerdy. 149 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:23,360 Speaker 1: He is so mild mannered. He couldn't hurt fly, small, 150 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:27,280 Speaker 1: not very threatening at all. Old kid with the classes, 151 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:30,480 Speaker 1: one of those pudgy little guys whose mom made him 152 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:34,079 Speaker 1: practice of piano. A little fat five seven, Wayne Williams, 153 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:37,720 Speaker 1: very quick mind mentally, he could just run over the 154 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:41,280 Speaker 1: average person. Wayne Williams quiet, didn't say much, and he 155 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:48,480 Speaker 1: got his job done and left. In our newsroom, there 156 00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:50,920 Speaker 1: are quite a few guys who would tease him because 157 00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 1: of the way he looked. And this is back in 158 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:57,000 Speaker 1: the sevenings too, so the times were very different. But 159 00:09:57,160 --> 00:10:02,280 Speaker 1: we don't know what impact had had on Wayne. You 160 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 1: really didn't have a lot of involvement with people because 161 00:10:05,920 --> 00:10:07,800 Speaker 1: you were so busy trying to get that story on 162 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:12,400 Speaker 1: the air. I didn't know him enough to know what 163 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:15,600 Speaker 1: was inside of his head. I knew it was different 164 00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:25,640 Speaker 1: from most people. I guess. I defended him because I 165 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:30,480 Speaker 1: have known people like him, and um, I felt sorry 166 00:10:30,559 --> 00:10:33,839 Speaker 1: for them because I know that they've been bullied or 167 00:10:34,559 --> 00:10:37,640 Speaker 1: people have said unkind things to them. So I have 168 00:10:37,760 --> 00:10:40,640 Speaker 1: a a soft spot in my heart for people like that, 169 00:10:40,760 --> 00:10:43,720 Speaker 1: and so I got to be a bit more defensive 170 00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:48,040 Speaker 1: because I felt as if they thought he was nerdy 171 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:52,040 Speaker 1: or something was wrong with him. He kept to himself 172 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:55,440 Speaker 1: a lot because of that. But he worked a different 173 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 1: shift too. That's maybe the other reason he decided to 174 00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:01,840 Speaker 1: work overnight so he wouldn't have to come in contact 175 00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:05,680 Speaker 1: with people all the time. When the time came, Jocelyn 176 00:11:05,720 --> 00:11:08,120 Speaker 1: Dorsey ended up having to fire Wane because he was 177 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:10,480 Speaker 1: taking footage and selling it to the other stations. On 178 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:13,720 Speaker 1: the side, you'll recall that Monica Coppan also said that 179 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:19,200 Speaker 1: strange things were happening. This man was a freelancer for WSBTV, 180 00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:24,200 Speaker 1: and that's not something you hide. So the part of 181 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:28,679 Speaker 1: the story was, yes, someone has been arrested in connection 182 00:11:28,760 --> 00:11:33,120 Speaker 1: with this case, but this person also has worked here 183 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:37,520 Speaker 1: as a freelance photographer, so that put us in a 184 00:11:37,559 --> 00:11:41,640 Speaker 1: different vein from the other stations. Then there was still 185 00:11:41,679 --> 00:11:46,080 Speaker 1: the question is he guilty or is he not. I 186 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:49,080 Speaker 1: can remember Don McClellan, who was the reporter then and 187 00:11:49,080 --> 00:11:52,200 Speaker 1: it since has retired. He had a huge file on 188 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:57,600 Speaker 1: the Missigan murdered children. Don did that story that night, 189 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:03,280 Speaker 1: and I can remember him being as a good reporter 190 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:05,679 Speaker 1: should be. I'm just going to give you the facts, 191 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:13,280 Speaker 1: but this still is alleged. Wayne's departure from WSB did 192 00:12:13,320 --> 00:12:18,440 Speaker 1: not end well. I distanced myself from him after he 193 00:12:18,559 --> 00:12:22,640 Speaker 1: left the station. Um, we did not leave on great terms. 194 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:27,120 Speaker 1: So UM, I think he knew that he had done 195 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:32,760 Speaker 1: something wrong and regretted it, but it was it was 196 00:12:32,920 --> 00:12:40,920 Speaker 1: not something that could be repaired easily. And then he 197 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:43,800 Speaker 1: left and decided that he was going to go into 198 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:47,640 Speaker 1: the music business. And he would call me and ask 199 00:12:47,720 --> 00:12:50,920 Speaker 1: me if I knew any young people or if I 200 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:53,240 Speaker 1: could help him in this music business, and I told 201 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:56,080 Speaker 1: him I really didn't know anything about it, and so 202 00:12:56,640 --> 00:12:59,280 Speaker 1: I really felt that this was not my place to 203 00:12:59,280 --> 00:13:02,439 Speaker 1: give him any a dies and suggested, you know, maybe 204 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:05,719 Speaker 1: he talked to somebody else. And after that our relationship 205 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:24,679 Speaker 1: kind of drifted. The city struggled to find the killer, 206 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:28,920 Speaker 1: and the body count only grew larger. How would they 207 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:34,880 Speaker 1: know when they found him. Dr Alvin Passant was an 208 00:13:34,920 --> 00:13:39,840 Speaker 1: African American psychiatrist with the Harvard and he became a 209 00:13:40,080 --> 00:13:42,800 Speaker 1: regular that we touched with because the story had all 210 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:46,679 Speaker 1: of these racial overtones to it that again puzzled us, 211 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:49,560 Speaker 1: why is this happening? Why are all these kids minority kids? 212 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:54,920 Speaker 1: It became this gigantic crossword puzzle that just engrossed all 213 00:13:54,960 --> 00:14:02,240 Speaker 1: of it. I've been doing interviews since nineteen Of all 214 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:04,560 Speaker 1: of them, that was the most chilling one I ever did. 215 00:14:05,160 --> 00:14:08,480 Speaker 1: We were sitting in the snack room of WSP and 216 00:14:08,600 --> 00:14:11,359 Speaker 1: I was doing an interview with him because his contention 217 00:14:11,559 --> 00:14:15,319 Speaker 1: was is that this perpetrator had to be African American 218 00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:18,200 Speaker 1: because where these crimes were committed and at the times 219 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:20,040 Speaker 1: that they were committed, a white man would have stood 220 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:23,480 Speaker 1: out like a sore phone. So the question then became, 221 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:27,400 Speaker 1: why would an African American male be doing this to 222 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:32,400 Speaker 1: young African American primarily males. And he had a theory 223 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:35,520 Speaker 1: on that that he wanted to cleanse the race. He 224 00:14:35,600 --> 00:14:38,760 Speaker 1: was embarrassed by these guys, and while we were doing 225 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:41,120 Speaker 1: the interview, I looked up at the camera and I 226 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:44,560 Speaker 1: planted to the lens and I said, whoever is doing 227 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:47,040 Speaker 1: this might be on the other side of that lens 228 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 1: right there. What do we say to him? And he 229 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:53,080 Speaker 1: looked at me and he said, well, not much we 230 00:14:53,080 --> 00:14:55,120 Speaker 1: could say to him directly that I'm going to tell 231 00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:58,000 Speaker 1: you this much. When they arrest him, you're going to 232 00:14:58,120 --> 00:15:04,200 Speaker 1: know him. Hmm, So you're gonna know him. Phrase literally 233 00:15:04,280 --> 00:15:27,840 Speaker 1: was found my spine with the children. I remember getting 234 00:15:27,840 --> 00:15:32,440 Speaker 1: a call Mark Picard too thirty in the morning and 235 00:15:32,560 --> 00:15:35,000 Speaker 1: Mark called me and said, you will never believe what 236 00:15:35,120 --> 00:15:39,480 Speaker 1: has just happened. He said, they just arrested Wayne Williams 237 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:43,760 Speaker 1: and I dropped the phone. I couldn't believe it. I 238 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:47,240 Speaker 1: was in such a state of shock. I just could 239 00:15:47,280 --> 00:15:52,640 Speaker 1: not believe what I was hearing. And then, of course 240 00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:57,000 Speaker 1: all the events started to unfold, with him being arrested 241 00:15:57,440 --> 00:16:24,480 Speaker 1: on the fiber evidence and then going to trial. The 242 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:27,080 Speaker 1: home of the man taken into custody by the FBI 243 00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:29,200 Speaker 1: has from time to time this evening taken on the 244 00:16:29,240 --> 00:16:34,080 Speaker 1: aspect of a reporter's convention. His mother maintains her vigil inside, 245 00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:36,480 Speaker 1: waiting by the phone, waiting to hear from her son 246 00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:39,880 Speaker 1: who was down at FBI headquarters and his father who 247 00:16:39,920 --> 00:16:43,000 Speaker 1: has now joined them, to say that the police actions 248 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:45,200 Speaker 1: of the past several hours were a shock to the 249 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:48,400 Speaker 1: family that lives here and the neighborhood is an understatement. 250 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:51,440 Speaker 1: The neighbors I spoke with say that the family more 251 00:16:51,520 --> 00:16:53,920 Speaker 1: or less kept to themselves, and that the young man 252 00:16:53,960 --> 00:16:56,840 Speaker 1: who was being questioned by the FBI was friendly, but 253 00:16:56,920 --> 00:16:59,040 Speaker 1: only friendly enough to say hi. They really didn't know 254 00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:03,560 Speaker 1: much more about him. This episode began on Thursday May 255 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:05,840 Speaker 1: when the man was stopped by the Task Force at 256 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:09,000 Speaker 1: the Chattahoochee River. He was questioned about the possibility of 257 00:17:09,080 --> 00:17:11,679 Speaker 1: dropping something into the river, which he was denied, and 258 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:13,680 Speaker 1: then he was let go for any lack of reason 259 00:17:13,720 --> 00:17:17,359 Speaker 1: to hold him. But surveillance on him continued until he 260 00:17:17,440 --> 00:17:21,720 Speaker 1: was taken into custody by the FBI around three o'clock Wednesday. 261 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:24,800 Speaker 1: The man was most recently involved in a company which 262 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:29,639 Speaker 1: he formed the search out talented local youngsters singing, dancing, acting, 263 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:32,080 Speaker 1: and so forth. It is reported that he told his 264 00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:34,440 Speaker 1: family that he was trying to set up an audition 265 00:17:34,720 --> 00:17:36,960 Speaker 1: on the night that he was questioned by the Task 266 00:17:36,960 --> 00:17:39,560 Speaker 1: Force at the Chattahoochee River, and that he had a 267 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:43,320 Speaker 1: friend in his car, supposedly also for an audition when 268 00:17:43,359 --> 00:17:46,879 Speaker 1: he was taken into custody on Wednesday. The FBI apparently 269 00:17:46,880 --> 00:17:48,520 Speaker 1: had a pretty good idea of what they were looking 270 00:17:48,560 --> 00:17:51,080 Speaker 1: for when they executed the search warrant here at the home. 271 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:55,600 Speaker 1: Among the things that it removed, it took pieces of blankets, robes, 272 00:17:55,960 --> 00:17:59,639 Speaker 1: human hair, and dog hair. We understand that this material 273 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:02,480 Speaker 1: has been taken to the State crime Lab where it 274 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:05,800 Speaker 1: is either being processed now or will be processed first 275 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:09,119 Speaker 1: thing in the morning. That should determine whether the people 276 00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:13,400 Speaker 1: here can finally rest in peace or whether they're nightmare 277 00:18:13,760 --> 00:18:16,080 Speaker 1: and a possible solution to some of the murders is 278 00:18:16,119 --> 00:18:24,680 Speaker 1: at hand. Mark Picard, Action News. Mark Picard was also 279 00:18:24,760 --> 00:18:27,920 Speaker 1: a reporter at w SPTV on the front lines during 280 00:18:27,960 --> 00:18:30,800 Speaker 1: the case. In fact, he was there the night Wayne 281 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:34,600 Speaker 1: was taken downtown. Much to the surprise of the rest 282 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:37,800 Speaker 1: of the media. Picard was inside the house with Wayne 283 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:40,320 Speaker 1: and his parents that night. When he returned from his 284 00:18:40,359 --> 00:18:45,840 Speaker 1: interview with authorities, I got a phone call from a 285 00:18:45,960 --> 00:18:51,240 Speaker 1: police source who said that the task force were searching 286 00:18:51,560 --> 00:18:55,679 Speaker 1: Wayne's house and uh I should get over there with 287 00:18:55,720 --> 00:18:57,480 Speaker 1: the crew. And I got there and for a while 288 00:18:57,640 --> 00:19:00,159 Speaker 1: we were the only crew. They're reporting on what was 289 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:04,920 Speaker 1: going on. I guess Wayne either saw us outside or 290 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:10,480 Speaker 1: was watching television, and he did ask me to come inside. 291 00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:17,840 Speaker 1: He put in a cassette in an old cassette recorder 292 00:19:17,960 --> 00:19:22,440 Speaker 1: and recorded our conversation. The rationale behind it, I think 293 00:19:22,560 --> 00:19:27,280 Speaker 1: was to offer a defense for himself. At the end 294 00:19:27,320 --> 00:19:31,439 Speaker 1: of the conversation, he gave me the cassette and said, 295 00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:34,040 Speaker 1: hold on to this. This is going to be valuable. 296 00:19:35,520 --> 00:19:38,679 Speaker 1: It was a crazy night. I went back to the 297 00:19:38,720 --> 00:19:43,000 Speaker 1: station and immediately turned over the cassette to my news 298 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:44,760 Speaker 1: director and that was the last I ever saw it. 299 00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:50,480 Speaker 1: Early that next morning, Piccard was inside the house again, 300 00:19:51,440 --> 00:19:54,439 Speaker 1: this time at the hastily called press conference thrown together 301 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:59,400 Speaker 1: by a still unnamed suspect in Wayne Williams. You will 302 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:03,000 Speaker 1: hear him, but you will see reporters and photographers. Did 303 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:05,800 Speaker 1: they ever call you a suspect? They ever used words 304 00:20:05,920 --> 00:20:09,199 Speaker 1: they did as strong in a suspect. They openly see it. 305 00:20:09,640 --> 00:20:12,399 Speaker 1: You Kio, Nathan U Cat and you know it, and 306 00:20:12,480 --> 00:20:17,359 Speaker 1: you land to listen. I just remember it was a circus. 307 00:20:18,080 --> 00:20:20,920 Speaker 1: It was the center ring in the three wing circus. 308 00:20:23,400 --> 00:20:27,600 Speaker 1: All of it was surreal. In my reporting career, I 309 00:20:27,640 --> 00:20:31,119 Speaker 1: was relatively young and fresh, and this was crazy to me. 310 00:20:31,359 --> 00:20:34,439 Speaker 1: I was trying to keep perspective and not let the 311 00:20:34,520 --> 00:20:42,600 Speaker 1: events overtake me. At that press conference, Wayne passed out 312 00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:45,440 Speaker 1: as resume to the media. The FPI kept a copy 313 00:20:45,480 --> 00:20:47,800 Speaker 1: of this resume and we found it in their case file. 314 00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:51,679 Speaker 1: Despite Wayne being a mere twenty two years old, the 315 00:20:51,760 --> 00:20:56,040 Speaker 1: resume was already five pages long. FBI records indicated that 316 00:20:56,119 --> 00:20:58,520 Speaker 1: this resume was also one of the items found in 317 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:01,119 Speaker 1: the white station wagon when they searched the vehicle on 318 00:21:01,240 --> 00:21:06,480 Speaker 1: June three. Though we worked as a stringer and freelancer 319 00:21:06,520 --> 00:21:10,679 Speaker 1: at WSB for approximately three years, Wayne's resume indicated he 320 00:21:10,760 --> 00:21:14,440 Speaker 1: was employed at WSB from January ninety nine to March 321 00:21:14,520 --> 00:21:21,080 Speaker 1: ninety nine. The murders began in June of nineteen seventy nine. 322 00:21:24,520 --> 00:21:28,080 Speaker 1: The resume listed an extensive set of positions and accomplishments, 323 00:21:28,640 --> 00:21:34,280 Speaker 1: and personal and professional references from NBC News, CNN, Arista Records, 324 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:42,320 Speaker 1: the City of Atlanta Public Safety, and Jocelyn Dorset. His 325 00:21:42,440 --> 00:21:46,359 Speaker 1: resumes list of professional references includes many familiar names in 326 00:21:46,400 --> 00:21:49,400 Speaker 1: the local media Most of those references say they knew 327 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:53,040 Speaker 1: Williams only briefly and not very well, but it is 328 00:21:53,080 --> 00:21:56,439 Speaker 1: clear Wayne Williams is a bright and ambitious person. He 329 00:21:56,520 --> 00:21:59,119 Speaker 1: started a radio station in his parents home when he 330 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:02,320 Speaker 1: was only twelve, and his teams you spent time hanging 331 00:22:02,320 --> 00:22:05,680 Speaker 1: around many of the city's radio stations, doing odd jobs, 332 00:22:05,760 --> 00:22:08,920 Speaker 1: mostly as an unpaid volunteer, and talking to the people 333 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:15,520 Speaker 1: he met about broadcasting. This was a surprise to Jocelyn. 334 00:22:16,320 --> 00:22:18,680 Speaker 1: Why would he list her as a professional reference when 335 00:22:18,720 --> 00:22:22,760 Speaker 1: she had been the one to fire him from WSP. Shockingly, 336 00:22:22,960 --> 00:22:25,960 Speaker 1: the defense team from a Williams even reached out to Dorsey. 337 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:31,320 Speaker 1: Before the murder trial, his lawyers had called and asked 338 00:22:31,320 --> 00:22:34,280 Speaker 1: if I would testify in his defense, and of course 339 00:22:34,320 --> 00:22:37,720 Speaker 1: our lawyers said, no, we're not. We're not doing that, 340 00:22:38,440 --> 00:22:41,600 Speaker 1: um because there have been some personnel issues that we 341 00:22:41,640 --> 00:22:44,360 Speaker 1: had had with him, and you know, we told them 342 00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:47,360 Speaker 1: that that would not be something that they would want 343 00:22:47,440 --> 00:22:52,119 Speaker 1: us to have to reveal. You know, they wouldn't want 344 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:55,159 Speaker 1: me to because we had to dismiss him and it 345 00:22:55,280 --> 00:22:59,199 Speaker 1: may not look good. I mean, that's certainly not a 346 00:22:59,240 --> 00:23:05,080 Speaker 1: great character reference to say you got fired. I actually 347 00:23:05,119 --> 00:23:07,399 Speaker 1: had to go down to the courtroom, and it was 348 00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:13,320 Speaker 1: very awkward because our lawyers were arguing right up to 349 00:23:13,359 --> 00:23:16,720 Speaker 1: the point where they thought I might have to testify, 350 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:19,359 Speaker 1: And so it was really awkward because I was down 351 00:23:19,680 --> 00:23:23,280 Speaker 1: at the courtroom and some of my peers were wondering 352 00:23:23,320 --> 00:23:26,960 Speaker 1: what I was doing there, and I couldn't say anything. 353 00:23:28,280 --> 00:23:31,320 Speaker 1: So they took me off into a room and made 354 00:23:31,320 --> 00:23:36,120 Speaker 1: me sit and just wait until they could figure out 355 00:23:36,680 --> 00:23:40,120 Speaker 1: what the lawyers were going to do. His lawyer decided 356 00:23:40,119 --> 00:23:43,320 Speaker 1: not to call me to the stand. It was pretty 357 00:23:43,359 --> 00:23:47,840 Speaker 1: nerve wracking. You can imagine what I was going through 358 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:52,040 Speaker 1: during that time period of us wondering, you know, who 359 00:23:52,040 --> 00:23:55,760 Speaker 1: could have done this. I was reporting a lot of 360 00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:59,520 Speaker 1: the homicides at the time, and um, there were so 361 00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:02,640 Speaker 1: many humors that were going on that that was probably 362 00:24:02,680 --> 00:24:18,639 Speaker 1: the worst thing. Newsrooms were hearing rumors and stories constantly. 363 00:24:18,920 --> 00:24:22,280 Speaker 1: Questions arose in many of the reporters heads, including Captain 364 00:24:22,359 --> 00:24:25,640 Speaker 1: Dave Folk, who wondered what was happening at the Williams home. 365 00:24:26,600 --> 00:24:29,280 Speaker 1: Captain Dave and others questioned the role of Homer Williams, 366 00:24:29,280 --> 00:24:32,400 Speaker 1: Wayne's father, a topic that came up over and over 367 00:24:35,200 --> 00:24:38,040 Speaker 1: at the time. Both the news media and officials investigating 368 00:24:38,040 --> 00:24:40,280 Speaker 1: the case. We're also curious as to the role of 369 00:24:40,320 --> 00:24:44,200 Speaker 1: Homer and his wife Faye. I'd like to know more 370 00:24:44,240 --> 00:24:47,600 Speaker 1: from him. He seemed like his mother was a shot caller. 371 00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:50,720 Speaker 1: She was the spokes version for it all when he 372 00:24:50,840 --> 00:24:55,520 Speaker 1: was happening. See he has been tried and me as 373 00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:58,760 Speaker 1: well say his vision had been convicted long before by 374 00:24:58,960 --> 00:25:02,399 Speaker 1: the media. The Williams claimed that police, desperate for a 375 00:25:02,440 --> 00:25:06,240 Speaker 1: break in the case, set up their son's arrest. They 376 00:25:06,440 --> 00:25:14,280 Speaker 1: didn't have and don't have enough evidence. Not on to indicted, 377 00:25:14,440 --> 00:25:17,160 Speaker 1: but to the rest. I'd just like to give them 378 00:25:17,240 --> 00:25:19,080 Speaker 1: a warning that when don't they believe it or not, 379 00:25:19,160 --> 00:25:23,280 Speaker 1: the killer is still at large. He's out there. I'm 380 00:25:23,359 --> 00:25:28,320 Speaker 1: on the parting in Atlanta. Gotta gimen kevinn. Are you 381 00:25:28,359 --> 00:25:31,040 Speaker 1: going to try the owner put at Lama, gott bring 382 00:25:31,200 --> 00:25:34,160 Speaker 1: confid on my phone. My house is not the thing. 383 00:25:34,359 --> 00:25:40,919 Speaker 1: I have faith. I have faith in there and and 384 00:25:41,080 --> 00:25:44,600 Speaker 1: all the homofectual stuff. They're talking about paying from those 385 00:25:44,680 --> 00:25:49,040 Speaker 1: street curing what they called cure stat Williams made the 386 00:25:49,080 --> 00:25:51,800 Speaker 1: call to w g s T news radio last night 387 00:25:51,880 --> 00:25:55,199 Speaker 1: during a live interview with Dr Joseph Lowry, President of 388 00:25:55,200 --> 00:26:01,280 Speaker 1: the Southern Christian Leadership Conference where from But I did 389 00:26:01,480 --> 00:26:03,840 Speaker 1: a lot of cover up and we are going to 390 00:26:03,920 --> 00:26:08,119 Speaker 1: expose a lot of it tomorrow morning. But when tomorrow came, 391 00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:12,160 Speaker 1: a very subdued Homer Williams and his attorney Lynn Whatley 392 00:26:12,520 --> 00:26:15,040 Speaker 1: had little to say. It is our conclusion at this 393 00:26:15,160 --> 00:26:19,520 Speaker 1: time that no statements will be made. I think that's 394 00:26:19,520 --> 00:26:24,760 Speaker 1: a conspiracy. Um. I definitely feel that have the wrong 395 00:26:25,040 --> 00:26:29,560 Speaker 1: place that pl that, and I say a game that's 396 00:26:29,600 --> 00:26:34,359 Speaker 1: weighing his vvus as skate. I don't know about his ties. 397 00:26:34,440 --> 00:26:36,800 Speaker 1: I don't know about who he knew or what he knew. 398 00:26:37,560 --> 00:26:40,720 Speaker 1: He's very quiet, who would not talk. And if so 399 00:26:40,760 --> 00:26:43,840 Speaker 1: many victims were linked to the fiber evidence originated from 400 00:26:43,840 --> 00:26:46,800 Speaker 1: the carpet and blankets in the Williams house, how did 401 00:26:46,800 --> 00:26:50,480 Speaker 1: this all tie together? What happened at the house, And 402 00:26:50,720 --> 00:26:53,080 Speaker 1: if they were killed at that house and loaded in 403 00:26:53,119 --> 00:26:58,080 Speaker 1: the car, who helped kill them? Who helped load him up? 404 00:26:59,800 --> 00:27:03,800 Speaker 1: Is not a logical question, Veenelope wrote him, because that's 405 00:27:03,840 --> 00:27:07,040 Speaker 1: where the carpets were, what the dog was You don't 406 00:27:07,040 --> 00:27:10,639 Speaker 1: take your dog to kill somebody. What was going on 407 00:27:10,680 --> 00:27:15,600 Speaker 1: in the house, fiber or fiber there, It's it's you know, 408 00:27:16,480 --> 00:27:20,280 Speaker 1: not enough questions asked, but enough to honestly send him 409 00:27:20,280 --> 00:27:24,159 Speaker 1: to prison. But who else needs to be in prison? 410 00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:33,520 Speaker 1: Wayne William's parents, who wouldn't talk if somebody was killed 411 00:27:33,520 --> 00:27:36,959 Speaker 1: in your house? Don't you think you'd know? The carpet 412 00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:39,720 Speaker 1: has been messed up, the floor and there was some 413 00:27:39,800 --> 00:27:45,080 Speaker 1: hollering or something. I didn't see it, but I heard 414 00:27:45,480 --> 00:27:50,040 Speaker 1: that the police found some burned film in the backyard 415 00:27:50,080 --> 00:27:53,040 Speaker 1: of the house. I'd like to know what was on 416 00:27:53,119 --> 00:27:58,639 Speaker 1: that film. Maybe it was enough film or pornography. Maybe 417 00:27:58,680 --> 00:28:05,399 Speaker 1: he did take and photographic evidence. It was destroyed. Mrs 418 00:28:05,400 --> 00:28:09,840 Speaker 1: Williams was outspoken in the defense of your son. I 419 00:28:09,920 --> 00:28:14,720 Speaker 1: wanted to hear more from Homer. He was an accomplished photographer. 420 00:28:15,880 --> 00:28:20,199 Speaker 1: But what did you know about that case? The FBI 421 00:28:20,280 --> 00:28:22,760 Speaker 1: noted changes in the house from the time they visited 422 00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:28,960 Speaker 1: one and when they executed a search warrant on June three. 423 00:28:30,840 --> 00:28:33,399 Speaker 1: When they went back to the house, FBI special agents 424 00:28:33,400 --> 00:28:37,120 Speaker 1: observed a number of changes. Furniture from Wayne's bedroom had 425 00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:42,760 Speaker 1: moved to other rooms. Business papers and unidentified documents previously 426 00:28:42,760 --> 00:28:48,719 Speaker 1: observed have been removed. New indoor outdoor carpeting have been 427 00:28:48,760 --> 00:28:54,480 Speaker 1: added to a room since the may visit. What exactly 428 00:28:54,560 --> 00:28:57,600 Speaker 1: was happening in the Williams house as investigators were closing 429 00:28:57,640 --> 00:29:01,840 Speaker 1: in on their suspect. Was Williams family removing items from 430 00:29:01,880 --> 00:29:05,880 Speaker 1: the house? And if so, why I'd like to know 431 00:29:05,920 --> 00:29:09,320 Speaker 1: what they found? It didn't burn. Wouldn't you like to 432 00:29:09,360 --> 00:29:12,600 Speaker 1: go to the evidence locker and just have everybody lay 433 00:29:12,720 --> 00:29:17,800 Speaker 1: these pieces out, lay out the autops report, the crime 434 00:29:17,840 --> 00:29:21,240 Speaker 1: scene information? How were the bodies placed? Why was that 435 00:29:21,320 --> 00:29:25,320 Speaker 1: such a secret? Captain Dave wasn't the only one that 436 00:29:25,400 --> 00:29:28,960 Speaker 1: wanted it no more. I heard from people on the 437 00:29:29,000 --> 00:29:32,800 Speaker 1: task force and my police sources who didn't believe Wayne 438 00:29:32,960 --> 00:29:36,600 Speaker 1: or his dad were responsible. That was one of the 439 00:29:36,760 --> 00:29:39,920 Speaker 1: threads that was out there, a suspicion that he may 440 00:29:39,960 --> 00:29:43,720 Speaker 1: have been involved. But he's not around for anybody to 441 00:29:43,760 --> 00:29:45,680 Speaker 1: pursue that, and I'm not sure anything was done in 442 00:29:45,720 --> 00:29:58,960 Speaker 1: that regard. Many reporters continued to hear from Wayne during 443 00:29:59,280 --> 00:30:03,400 Speaker 1: but also after the trial. I would hear through people 444 00:30:03,880 --> 00:30:08,240 Speaker 1: from him occasionally when he was in jail, and um, 445 00:30:08,280 --> 00:30:13,400 Speaker 1: it was it was just quite shocking. The first time 446 00:30:13,440 --> 00:30:15,360 Speaker 1: he reached out, I was in the radio station and 447 00:30:15,360 --> 00:30:17,840 Speaker 1: he called me. We had this long talk on the 448 00:30:17,920 --> 00:30:21,640 Speaker 1: tape that, of course I don't have anymore we write. 449 00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:23,360 Speaker 1: I haven't written to him in a while, but he 450 00:30:23,440 --> 00:30:27,480 Speaker 1: used to write me. He'd write and criticize stories, tell 451 00:30:27,520 --> 00:30:30,480 Speaker 1: me problems in the prison, that kind of thing. The 452 00:30:30,560 --> 00:30:33,120 Speaker 1: story is headlined on the cover, but it's what is 453 00:30:33,160 --> 00:30:35,880 Speaker 1: inside that is bound to raise a few hackles. And 454 00:30:35,920 --> 00:30:39,120 Speaker 1: the article, Williams again said he is innocent and even 455 00:30:39,120 --> 00:30:41,080 Speaker 1: says he did not know the two he is charged 456 00:30:41,120 --> 00:30:45,160 Speaker 1: with killing, Nathaniel Cater and Jimmy ray Pay. The magazine 457 00:30:45,160 --> 00:30:47,600 Speaker 1: promises a second installment in the interview they say was 458 00:30:47,640 --> 00:30:50,840 Speaker 1: conducted at the jail. But how did that interview happen? 459 00:30:51,280 --> 00:30:54,840 Speaker 1: Fulton County Sheriff Leroy Stinchcomb told me tonight no jail 460 00:30:54,920 --> 00:30:58,400 Speaker 1: personnel let anyone interview Williams, and he wants to know 461 00:30:58,440 --> 00:31:01,800 Speaker 1: how it happened to He told me he isn't pointing fingers, 462 00:31:01,840 --> 00:31:04,080 Speaker 1: but says the only people allowed to see Williams are 463 00:31:04,120 --> 00:31:07,960 Speaker 1: the d a's office, William's parents, Williams attorneys, and people 464 00:31:08,080 --> 00:31:11,680 Speaker 1: working on the defense who were approved by Williams attorneys. 465 00:31:11,680 --> 00:31:14,840 Speaker 1: Stinchcomb says they're about six of them, and he's giving 466 00:31:14,840 --> 00:31:18,200 Speaker 1: those names to Judge Clarence Cooper. This morning, Cooper is 467 00:31:18,240 --> 00:31:20,280 Speaker 1: hearing the case and he told me he'll have no 468 00:31:20,400 --> 00:31:24,880 Speaker 1: comment until later. If then Attorney Mary Welcome would only 469 00:31:24,920 --> 00:31:27,400 Speaker 1: say she knew about the article, which he wouldn't see. 470 00:31:30,280 --> 00:31:32,400 Speaker 1: The impact of this case still sticks with those who 471 00:31:32,440 --> 00:31:36,800 Speaker 1: covered it, triggering a surprising range of emotions then and now. 472 00:31:38,040 --> 00:31:42,760 Speaker 1: There was a certain exhilaration actually to be honest, not 473 00:31:42,920 --> 00:31:46,720 Speaker 1: to in any way see any advantage in the suffering 474 00:31:46,720 --> 00:31:49,600 Speaker 1: of the families who have lost their children. Just as 475 00:31:49,640 --> 00:31:52,400 Speaker 1: a news story. It was probably the biggest that I'd 476 00:31:52,400 --> 00:31:55,360 Speaker 1: ever been involved with, and so I felt an exhilaration 477 00:31:55,400 --> 00:31:58,160 Speaker 1: at that point, but I also felt an obligation to 478 00:31:58,240 --> 00:32:04,479 Speaker 1: be fair and to get it right. Literally wake up 479 00:32:04,480 --> 00:32:06,800 Speaker 1: in the middle of the night. It just flash awake, 480 00:32:07,480 --> 00:32:09,920 Speaker 1: and I remember seeing in my mind, you know, the 481 00:32:10,040 --> 00:32:11,920 Speaker 1: nightmares that I would have. I would be in one 482 00:32:11,920 --> 00:32:14,800 Speaker 1: of those projects and a killer would be stocking me. 483 00:32:15,040 --> 00:32:17,480 Speaker 1: It affected me to that level. I'm Becky Leaf was 484 00:32:17,560 --> 00:32:20,840 Speaker 1: the ABC reporter at the time who would report it 485 00:32:20,880 --> 00:32:24,040 Speaker 1: on Ted Bundy. She had the exact same experience reporting 486 00:32:24,040 --> 00:32:25,800 Speaker 1: on Ted Bundy. She said, I would wake up in 487 00:32:25,840 --> 00:32:27,480 Speaker 1: the middle of the night and I would see Bundy 488 00:32:27,720 --> 00:32:29,800 Speaker 1: in my room, and it was that kind of thing 489 00:32:29,840 --> 00:32:33,480 Speaker 1: with the Atlanta child murders. For me, I'm glad that 490 00:32:33,560 --> 00:32:36,040 Speaker 1: I never had to deal that much with that kind 491 00:32:36,040 --> 00:32:41,320 Speaker 1: of story again, the incarnate evil that can live in then. 492 00:32:45,240 --> 00:32:49,280 Speaker 1: The only thing that I really felt was why he 493 00:32:49,440 --> 00:32:53,480 Speaker 1: was working an overnight shift, and I always wondered why 494 00:32:53,560 --> 00:32:57,440 Speaker 1: he was so interested in covering homicides or breaking news. 495 00:32:59,280 --> 00:33:01,680 Speaker 1: I guess the hard thing for me is to think 496 00:33:01,760 --> 00:33:05,840 Speaker 1: that I would have been such a poor judge of character. 497 00:33:07,760 --> 00:33:10,880 Speaker 1: We've had enough. I mean, it was, it was very tense, 498 00:33:11,360 --> 00:33:15,720 Speaker 1: and I think people breathe the collective sigh of relief 499 00:33:16,200 --> 00:33:36,280 Speaker 1: and buried it. Thank you for joining us. We hope 500 00:33:36,320 --> 00:33:39,080 Speaker 1: you enjoyed the first of our special summer series of 501 00:33:39,120 --> 00:33:42,719 Speaker 1: Atlanta Monster. Be on the lookout for more new episodes 502 00:33:42,880 --> 00:33:48,880 Speaker 1: in the coming weeks. Atlanta Monster is a joint production 503 00:33:48,920 --> 00:33:53,160 Speaker 1: between How Stuff Works and Tinderfoot TV. Original music is 504 00:33:53,200 --> 00:33:57,400 Speaker 1: by Makeup and Vanity Set. Audio archives courtesy of WSB 505 00:33:57,800 --> 00:34:02,040 Speaker 1: News Film and Video Tape Collection, Round Media Archives, University 506 00:34:02,080 --> 00:34:06,000 Speaker 1: of Georgia Libraries. For the latest updates, please visit Atlanta 507 00:34:06,080 --> 00:34:21,920 Speaker 1: Monster dot com or follow us on social media.