1979

IN MEMORIAM

Edward Hope Smith

       Edward Hope “Teddy” Smith went missing on July 21, 1979.  Smith was 14 years old, 5’4”, 125 lbs. He was a student at Therrell High School in Atlanta.  Smith lived at 4191 Cape St.           in the Kimberly Court housing projects in Southwest Atlanta.  

The last known sighting of Smith occurred on July 25, 1979.  He was seen leaving Greenbrier Skating Rink, located at 3850 Stone Road, with friends in the early morning hours by Eddie Eugene, the owner of Greenbrier Skating rink.  After leaving the skating rink, Smith was seen with his girlfriend near Campbellton & Fairburn Rd.

On July 28, 1979, A woman searching for discarded cans found Smith’s body in a wooded area across the street from 1881 Niskey Lake SW. The coroner determined his cause of death to be a gunshot wound to the upper back from a 22; the bullet was not recovered.  The socks and sun visor that he was wearing when he was last seen were missing. When canvassing the area where Smith’s body was found, police located a second body approximately 75 yards away. The body was badly decomposed. It was later identified as 13 year old Alfred “Q” James Evans.  Evans was reported missing on July 25, 1979.

The Kimberly Housing Projects where Smith lived in the same apartment complex that Lee Gooch and Terry Pue lived. 15 year old Lee Gooch was a runaway that the Atlanta Child Murders task force considered adding to the list of Atlanta’s missing and murdered children until he was found. Pue went missing around January 21, 1981.  His body was found on January 23, 1981. 

Some witness statements place Smith and Evans at the same party on County Line Road prior to their disappearance. Witnesses claim that Smith frequented the house on Niskey lake SW. to practice karate and meet up with friends.

The murder of Edward Hope Smith was not cleared by Wayne Williams’ conviction for the murders of Nathaniel Cater and Jimmy Ray Payne.  His case remains open and unsolved.

Alfred "Q" James Evans

    Alfred “Q” James Evans went missing on July 25, 1979.  Evans was 14 years old, 5’4″, 87 lbs. He lived with his mother, Lois Evans, at 255                  Meadow Lake Dr. SE.  This location is currently located at approximately 460 East Lake Blvd.  

Evans had just graduated 7th grade at Drew Elementary school.  He spent his free time watching karate movies, boxing at Warren Memorial Boys’ Club located on SE Berne St and playing basketball at East Lake Meadows Community Center. Evans also frequented Municipal Auditorium where he watched wrestling matches.  

The last known sighting of Evans was on July 25, 1979.  Witness, Randy Joe Heath, told police that he gave Evans a ride to a bus stop located at Glenwood.  Evans was reportedly headed to see a Karate movie at the Coronet Theatre on Peachtree St. Several witness statements place Smith and Evans at a party on County Line Road prior to their disappearance.

On July 28, 1979, a woman searching for discarded cans found the body of 14 year old Edwards Hope “Teddy” Smith in a wooded area across the street from 1881 Niskey Lake SW.  Smith went missing on July 21, 1979. When canvassing the area, police located Evans’ body approximately 75 yards away. The coroner determined Evans’ cause of death to be “probably” death by asphyxiation.  The identification of Evans’ took approximately one year due to the level of decomposition. He was found wearing all black and an unidentified belt. Some still question the identification.  

There are numerous connections between Evans and other alleged Atlanta Child Murder victims.  Evans’ mother, Lois Evans, knew Doris Bell, “Jo Jo” Eugene Bell’s mother from jail. “Jo Jo” was another Atlanta Child Murder victim.  Jo Jo’s body was found in Rockdale county off Klondike Rd. on April 19, 1981. Evans was also connected to 16 year old alleged Atlanta Child Murder victim, Patrick “Pat Man” Rodgers.  His body was found on December 07, 1980. Rodgers also dated Evan’s cousin.

Evans death marked the beginning of the Atlanta Child Murder mystery.  The state identified four fiber and hair associations between Evans and Williams.  Evans’ case was introduced as a pattern case in the trial of Wayne Williams for the murders of Nathaniel Cater and Jimmy Ray Payne. The case was closed by Williams’ conviction.

Milton Harvey

      Milton Harvey went missing on September 4, 1979. Harvey was 14 years old, 5’0″, 90 lbs.  He lived with his mother and step father, Patricia and Roy Ellis, at 1396 Nash Rd. NW. He               formerly lived in the Leila Valley Housing Projects.  His family moved to Nash Rd. in 1973.

Harvey attended Harper high school.  Unlike many of the Atlanta Child victims, Harvey did not reside in a disadvantaged community.  His mother and stepfather moved their family to the home on Nash Rd. when Harvey was 8 years old.  He was known to assist neighbors with odd jobs and enjoyed playing basketball and going to the pool with friends.  

On September 4, 1979, Harvey stayed home from school.  He borrowed a yellow 10 speed bike from a friend so that he could ride approximately 3 miles to Citizens & Southern bank located at 3885 Old Gordon Rd and pay a credit card bill for his mother.  Witnesses place Harvey at the bank and bank records confirm that he paid the credit card bill. The last possible sighting of Harvey occurred at noon on September 4, 1979. A man working for a local drilling company across from Sandy Creek Rd reported seeing two black male youths pushing a bike southbound, north of Fulton Industrial Blvd.  Harvey was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, blue shorts, knee high socks with a stripe at the top and blue sneakers.

A week after Harvey’s disappearance, the borrowed yellow 10 speed bike was found beside a pine tree, on a remote dirt road, off of Sandy Creek Rd.  The dirt road was located between Harvey’s home and the bank.

On November 16, 1979, the badly decomposed remains of Milton Harvey were found off of Desert Rd at Redwine Rd by a man collecting cans.  This location is approximately 12-15 miles from Harvey’s home. Due to the condition of his remains and the lack of trauma to his bones, the coroner listed his cause of death as “undetermined”.  Harvey’s knee high socks with stripes and blue sneakers were missing.

East Point police did not initially attribute Harvey’s death to murder. An inmate provided information on a potential suspect; a 27 year old man that was 6’3” tall.  The tip from the informant did not lead to an arrest. Harvey’s case remains open and unsolved.

Yusuf Ali Bell

    Yusuf Ali Bell went missing on October 21, 1979.  Bell was 9 years old, 4’7″, 65 lbs. He lived at 396 Rawson St. SW in the McDaniel Glenn                Housing Authority with his mother, Camille Bell, brother, Jonathan, and sisters, Tonia and Marie.  Yusuf’s father, John Bell, did not reside in          the home.  

Bell was in 5th grade at Dunbar Elementary.  He was described as a gifted student, helpful, kind and well liked by his classmates.  He spent his free time playing sports and participating in activities at Warren Memorial Boys’ Club.

On October 21, 1979, Bell ran an errand for his elderly neighbor.  Birdsong paid him 17 cents to purchase snuff from the corner store for her.  Bell was last seen getting into a blue car at McDonald and Fulton Street SW. He was wearing only cut off brown shorts.   

On November 8, 1979, a 30 year old janitor named John Henry Tye found Bell’s body in the crawl space of an abandoned building located at 494 Martin St. S.E.  This building was the former home of E.P. Johnson Elementary school.  

The coroner determined Bell’s cause of death to be blunt force trauma and asphyxiation.  He was found wearing the brown shorts that he was last seen in. There was a piece of masking tape stuck to his shorts.  Evidence suggests that his shorts were freshly washed. Green fibers found on Bell’s body were consistent with those found on other Atlanta Child Murder victims. The state introduced Bell’s case as a pattern case in the trial of Wayne Williams for the murders of Nathaniel Cater and Jimmy Ray Payne.  The case was closed by Williams’ conviction. 

Angel Latrice Lenair

     Angel Latrice Lenair went missing on March 4, 1980.  Lenair was 12 years old, 5’4, 90 lbs. She lived at 1660 Stanton Rd. SW with her mother,         Venus Taylor and two siblings.  Her father, Richard Lenair, did not reside in the home.

Lenari attended Venetian Elementary school.  She enjoyed spending time with friends and watching her favorite television show, Sanford & Son.  

On March 4, 1980, Lenair completed her homework and headed to a friend’s house at 4:00 pm on the day of her disappearance.  She was wearing a denim outfit. Witnesses confirm that Lenair made it to her friend’s house and watched Sanford & Son. That is the last known sighting of her.  Lenair’s mother reported her missing when she did not return home as scheduled that evening.  

On March 10, 1980, Lenair’s body was found tied to a tree approximately 3 miles from her home.  There was an electrical cord around her neck and a pair of white women’s underwear in her mouth.  The underwear did not belong to her.  

The Medical Examiner determined Lenair’s cause of death to be death with asphyxiation by strangulation with an electrical cord.  Lenair’s hymen was not intact and she had genital abrasions. The vaginal injuries did not lead the Medical Examiner to conclude that Lenair was a victim of sexual assault.  

Two men were questioned as suspects in Lenair’s death.  One of the suspects wore an electrical cord as a belt and had a prior arrest for grabbing a child.  One of the men lived at 1720 Beechwood. His relative lived at 1596 Willowbrook. Although these suspects were not charged or arrested,  law enforcement suspect that Lenair was held for days prior to her murder at either 1950 Beecher and/or 1415 Westridge. The addresses listed are all within 0.5-2.5 miles of Lenair’s residence.

Lenair’s murder differs from that of other Atlanta Child Murder victims due to how her body was found and the injuries to her genitals. Her murder was initially associated with the Atlanta Child Murders, but law enforcement found insufficient evidence to link her murder to a serial killer or any other suspect.  Lenair’s case remains open and unsolved.

1980

Jeffery Lamar Mathis

     Jeffery Lamar Mathis went missing on March  11,1980. Mathis was 10 years old, 4’8”, 71 lbs.  He lived at 471 East Ontario in the West End             area with his mother, Willie Mae Mathis, and six siblings.  His father, William “Pappi” Mathis, was murdered during a robbery in 1974 at the         cemetery where he worked as a watchman.  

Mathis attended Joel Chandler Harris Elementary.  He was known to run errands and carry groceries for customers at the Kroger located on Cascade Rd.  

On March 11, 1980 at 7:00 pm, Mathis’ mother sent him to purchase cigarettes at Star Service Station on Gordon.  Witnesses place Mathis at the store. He was last seen wearing grey sweatpants, a white and green shirt and brown shoes.  A Barber at a barbershop located on the corner of Gordon & East Ontario stated that Mathis knocked on his window that evening.

Several months after Mathis’ disappearance, a girl reported that she witnessed him get into a blue car with two men on East Ontario near Anderson’s Produce.  The girl described the two men in the car as a light skinned man and a dark skinned man. A second witness, Willie Turner, said that he saw Mathis riding in a blue Nova, across from Stewart-Lake Shopping center, approximately two weeks after his disappearance.  Turner said that Mathis was in the car with one black man. On March 23, 1980 Turner was held at gunpoint behind a building, in the area of Campbellton road, by the driver of the blue Nova.

On February 19, 1981, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents with trained dogs discovered the skeletal remains of Mathis approximately 10 miles from his home in a heavily wooded area in Atlanta’s West End.  Some speculate that the remains may be those of Darren Glass.  

Mathis’ case remains open and unsolved. 

Eric Antonio Middlebrooks

    Eric Antonio Middlebrooks went missing on May 18, 1980.  Middlebrooks was 14 years old, 4’10”, 88 lbs. He moved to 345 Howell Dr. APT H-4      in the spring of 1980 with his foster parents, Robert & Evelyn Miller  His biological mother, Charlene Middlebrooks, gave Middlebrooks up to        the state when he was 4 months of age. She resided in North Carolina. He never knew his biological father.  Middlebrooks older half brother,      Kerry Middlebrooks, was an Atlanta Police Officer.

Middlebrooks attended Franklin D. Roosevelt High.  He swam at the neighborhood boys’ club with friends and was known to keep late hours running errands for neighbors.  

On May 18, 1980 Middlebrooks received a phone call at 10:00 pm prior to leaving home on his bike.  His foster mother, Mrs. Miller, stated that he borrowed the house key from her to enter their home and retrieve a hammer prior to leaving.  The hammer was to be used to repair his bike. During the investigation, another theory came to light suggesting that Middlebrooks was going to a store on Memorial drive on an errand for a neighbor. 

At 7:00 am on May 19, 1980, Middlebrooks body was found approximately 1 mile from his home in a rear garage of the “Hope-U-Like-It” bar located at 247 Flat Shoals Road, less than ½ mile from interstate 20 and near both Moreland Ave. and Memorial Dr. Middlebrooks was found beside his bike.  He was fully clothed, his pockets were turned inside out, no money was found on his body.

The coroner determined Middlebrooks cause of death to be blunt force trauma to the head.  He had two lacerations on the right side of his head, internal hemorrhaging, and stab wounds to his upper left chest and upper right arm.  

At the crime scene, Detective Bob Buffington of Atlanta Police Department noticed carpet fibers wedged in Middlebrook’s high top Converse tennis shoes and in his hair.  This carpet fiber discovery became a significant development in the case.  

It should be noted that Middlebrooks testified in a robbery case against three juveniles in a robbery case weeks prior to his death. 

The state introduced Middlebrooks case as a pattern case in the trial of Wayne Williams for the murders of Nathaniel Cater and Jimmy Ray Payne.  The case was closed by Williams’ conviction.

Christopher Phillipe Richardson

     Christopher Phillipe Richardson went missing on June 9, 1980.  Richardson was 12 year old, 5’0”, 85 lbs. He lived with his grandparents at             1495 Conway Road, East Lake Meadows. At the time of his disappearance, his father, Thomas Richardson, Jr., was serving 15 years in                     Reidsville Prison for armed robbery.  His step father was serving one year in prison for theft by taking. His mother, Sirlena R. Cobb, could not       be located. 

Richardson attended  Hooper-Alexander Elementary.  He often met friends at Midway Recreation Center located at Midway Park in Decatur, Dekalb County.

Richardson was last seen outside a Krystal restaurant on Memorial Dr. near the Belvedere Plaza Shopping Center.  He was headed to Midway Recreation Center to swim.  Richardson was wearing a light blue shirt, blue shorts and blue tennis shoes.  He was never seen alive again.

On January 9, 1981, Richardson’s skeletal remains were found beside another victim in a wooded area off Redwine Rd, approximately 1 mile from where Milton Harvey’s body was found in 1979.  Law enforcement was in the vicinity conducting a search for 14 year old Lubie Geter, a teen that went missing the week prior. A resident approached Investigator and notified them that his dog had a foul odor after going into the nearby woods.  When police investigated, they discovered the remains of two boys. The bodies were later identified as Earl Terrell and Christopher Richardson.  Terrell went missing on July 30, 1980.  While recovering the victim’s bodies, Investigators did not recover all of the victim’s remains.  Body parts and teeth were left at the scene, which has contributed to questions surrounding the identification of Richardson’s body.  The medical examiner also initially stated that the teeth found at the crime scene did not match Richardson’s dental records. Each body was missing items of clothing.  Richardson was wearing swim shorts that were unfamiliar to his family.  

Numerous items were found near the boys’ bodies including a Penthouse magazine, shotgun shells, a “Gallery” magazine, a cigarette butt, and magnetic recording tape.  Fingerprints from the magazines were matched with a potential suspect. After investigating the Atlanta Child Murder Task Force did not consider the man a “strong suspect in this case.”

Richardson’s cause of death was undetermined.  The case was introduced as a pattern case in the trial of Wayne Williams for the murders of Nathaniel Cater and Jimmy Ray Payne.  The case was closed by Williams’ conviction.

LaTonya Yovette Wilson

     LaTonya Yovette Wilson went missing on June 22, 1980.  She was 7 years old, 4’0, 60lbs. She lived with her parents, Clarence and Ella Wilson,       and siblings at 2261 NW Verbena Street in the Hillcrest Heights Apartment complex in Dixie Hills.  The Wilson family resided on the second         floor in Apartment 7.

Wilson was abducted from her family’s apartment in the early morning hours of June 22, 1980.  She was wearing a slip and white girls’ underwear. Unlike other Atlanta Child Murder victims, there were several witnesses and possible suspects in Wilson’s disappearance and murder.

The first witness, Gladys Durden, stated that she saw a black male enter the second story window four times on the morning of Wilson’s abduction.  The man exited the rear door of the apartment, leaving it slightly ajar. To abduct Wilson, the man had to climb over Wilson’s brother and walk past her parents’ bedroom.  Durden also witnessed the man in the parking lot of the apartment complex holding Wilson, while talking to another black male. Another Atlanta Child Murder victim, Nathaniel Cater, lived in the apartment upstairs from the Wilson family.  He is suspected to be one of the men seen in the parking lot that morning. 

A second witness, Amp Wiley, lived next door to the Wilsons.  He reported that he saw an older model van with two males and a female waiting near the rear of the Wilson’s apartment.  Upon returning to his apartment, he heard a commotion coming through his kitchen wall; the wall shared with the Wilsons. He stated that the commotion sounded like someone was getting “a whipping”.  He heard Mrs. Wilson yell “Stop!” Approximately an hour and a half later, Wiley left his apartment. He witnessed Mrs. Wilson sitting on the balcony outside of her apartment. She appeared upset. Wiley called out to her, but she did not respond.

A few days prior to Wilson’s abduction, an apartment maintenance employee completed work in the Wilson’s apartment.  This man later confessed to a murder and pictures of “all the victims” were found in his room after his arrest.

On October 18, 1980, Wilson’s body was found in a fenced area at the end of Verbena Street near the intersection with Sewanee Ave near the United Youth Conference Center.  Her remains were skeletal. Wilson’s cause of death was undetermined. Some law enforcement investigators concluded that Wilson was killed by a family member. Her case remains open and unsolved.

Aaron Darnell Wyche

     Aaron Darnell Wyche went missing on June 23, 1980.  He was 10 years old, 4’10”, 55lbs. He lived in Thomasville Heights Housing Authority at      1065 Henry Thomas Drive SE, Apt. 336 with his mother, Linda Wyche. His father, Jessie Griffin, did not reside in the home.  The Wyche                    apartment was located in the Thomasville Heights Housing complex adjacent to Patrick “Pat Man” Rogers’ apartment.  Rodger went missing        on November 10, 1980.  His body was found on December 7, 1980.

Wyche was last seen at Tanner’s Corner Grocery located at 828 McDonough Blvd SE. This location is approximately 0.6 miles from his home.  A witness saw Wyche get into a blue and white Chevy with 2 black men. The vehicle described by witnesses matched the description of the vehicle that tried to lure children near Jeffery Mathis’ middle school.  The children that the men tried to lure into the car memorized the license plate of the vehicle. The license plate was registered to a car that was found in front of a house where Jeffrey Mathis’ family first looked for him when he disappeared but there was a different license plate on the vehicle when it was found.  A female witness stated that she saw Wyche being led from Tanner’s Corner Grocery by a black male, approx. 30 years old, 6’0”, 180 lbs., with a mustache and goatee. The witness greeted Wyche and he responded to her. The witness said that Wyche did not appear to be in distress and acted as if nothing was wrong. Wyche appeared to willingly enter the blue late 70’s model Chevrolet with the man.  The witness stated that she saw the man “doing something” with his hands in his lap.

At 6:00 pm later that day, Wyche was seen at the Moreland Avenue Shopping center approximately 0.9 miles from Tanner’s Corner Grocery.  

The following day, June 24, 1980, the body of Aaron Wyche was found under a bridge on Constitution Rd. near Moreland Ave.  This location is 2 miles from Moreland Avenue Shopping center. He was wearing a red and black striped shirt with blue cut-off pants and high-tops.  The Medical Examiner determined Wyche’s cause of death to be “positional asphyxiation” from a broken neck suffered during the fall, presumably from the bridge above.  The Medical Examiner initially classified Wyche’s death as accidental, it was later attributed to Wayne Williams. The case was closed by Williams’ conviction for the murders of Nathaniel Cater and Jimmy Ray Payne.

Anthony Bernard Carter

     Anthony Bernard Carter went missing on July 6, 1980.  He was 9 years old, 4’5″, 73 lbs. He lived at 896 West End Ave in a red brick apartment       with his mother, Vera Carter. Carter attended E.R. Carter Elementary and frequently accepted odd jobs near the West End Mall.

He was last seen outside of his home playing hide & go seek with a cousin at 979 Cunningham Place.  After hiding during the game of hide & seek, he was never found.  

Carter’s body was found the following day, July 7, 1980, in a neighborhood warehouse area across from 657 Wells Street SW, in the rear of the 600 block of Glenn Street by people who worked 50 yards away.  The witnesses who discovered Carter’s body claimed that it was found July 6th.

Carter’s official cause of death was multiple stab wounds.  The Medical Examiner concluded that his body was most likely transferred land left at the location long after his death.

Carter’s murder was attributed to Wayne Williams.  The case was closed by Williams’ conviction for the murders of Nathaniel Cater and Jimmy Ray Payne.

Earl Lee Terrell

     Earl Lee Terrell went missing on July 30, 1980.  He was 10 years old, 4’7″, 80 lbs. Terrell lived at 1930 Browns Mill Road SE with his mother,           Beverly Belt, stepfather, James Belt, and his siblings.  His aunt, Vickie Terrell, lived in the home next door.  

Unlike other Atlanta Child Murder victims, Terrell was not a child from the streets that worked odd jobs to earn extra money.  He was in 3rd grade at Lakewood Elementary school.  

On the day of his disappearance, Terrell was at South Bend Park pool, across from Lakewood amphitheater with relatives.  The pool was 1 mile from him home. When Terrell was caught wrestling near the pool, lifeguard, Olivia Hickson, warned him to stop.  When he was caught wrestling a second time, he was kicked out of the pool. Terrell was instructed by a relative to wait on the bench outside of the pool.  Witnesses place Terrell on the bench outside of the pool. Another witness placed him on Jonesboro road at 3:30 pm, approximately 1 mile from the pool. She stated that he was crying.  Another witness placed him at a store approximately a block from his home buying a freezer pop. Other witness statements place him at a home near the pool looking for another boy that was not home.  Terrell was wearing gold swim trunks that he borrowed from his brother.

When Terrell did not return home that evening, his family searched for him.  On the early morning of July 31, 1980, a man called Terrell’s Aunt’s home twice.  He said that he had Terrell in Alabama. On the second call, the caller demanded $200 and stated that he would call back the following day, Friday, August 1, 1980.  The caller’s voice was described by Terrell’s Aunt as “a white man with a southern drawl”. The caller did not call back on Friday.  

On January 9, 1981, Terrell’s skeletal remains were found beside another victim in a wooded area off Redwine Rd, approximately 1 mile from where Milton Harvey’s body was found in 1979 and 10 miles from the South Bend Park Pool.  Law enforcement was in the vicinity conducting a search for 14 year old Lubie Geter, a teen that went missing the week prior. A resident approached Investigators and notified them that his dog had a foul odor after going into the nearby woods.  When police investigated, they discovered the remains of two boys. The bodies were later identified as Earl Terrell and Christopher Richardson; although Richardson’s identification has been called in to question.   Each body was missing items of clothing. Terrell was found in the gold swim trunks that he was wearing when he disappeared.  His cause of death was undetermined.  

Numerous items were found near the boys’ bodies including a Penthouse magazine, shotgun shells, a “Gallery” magazine, a cigarette butt, and magnetic recording tape.  Fingerprints from the magazines were matched to a potential suspect. After investigating the Atlanta Police Task Force did not consider the man a “strong spect in this case.”

It should be noted that police discovered a child pornography ring across from the South Bend pool.  John David Wilcoxen was convicted of child pornography after photos were discovered in his home. Terrell was seen at the home on several occasions.  Police did not consider Wilcoxen a suspect in Terrell’s murder because the boys in the photos were white.  

Atlanta Mayor, Maynard Jackson had unsuccessfully tried to get the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) involved in the missing and murdered children cases.  Since kidnapping across state lines is in the FBI’s jurisdiction, Terrell’s case prompted FBI involvement in the Atlanta Child Murders. The case was closed by Wayne Williams’ conviction for the murders of Nathaniel Cater and Jimmy Ray Payne.

Clifford Emanuel Jones

     Clifford Emanuel Jones went missing on August 20, 1980.  He was 12 years old, 4’1″, 87 lbs. Jones was visiting his maternal grandmother,               Dorothy Williams.  Williams lived on Lookout Ave NW., in Atlanta, GA. He formerly resided in Chattanooga, Tennessee but his family had               recently moved to Cleveland, Ohio.  He lived with his mother, Eunice E. Jones and his siblings at 916 E. 123 Street, Cleveland, Ohio. Mrs.                 Jones’ husband was killed in the Army 14 years earlier.  

On the day of Jones’ disappearance, he and his brother, Emanuel Jones, walked to a local store on Bankhead Hwy. Jones brother last saw him leaving the store to help a woman with her groceries.  After leaving the store, Jones and his cousin were collecting cans to cash in for cash. His cousin was last saw him at 8:00 pm near St. James & Lookout Ave. The boys got separated while collecting cans.  Clifford was wearing a red and blue striped shirt, shorts and tennis shoes. 

 On the morning of August 21, 1980, Jones’ body was found next to a dumpster, by a laundromat, located on Hollywood Rd. in the Hollywood Plaza shopping center.  This location was searched by Jones’ family the night before. Bruises and cuts were found on Jones’ face. Cuts were found in the corners of his mouth. He was wearing the striped shirt that he had on when he went missing, red and blue jogging shorts and white tennis shoes; his underwear were missing.  The jogging shorts and white tennis shoes did not belong to Jones. The underwear, shorts and tennis shoes that Jones was wearing at the time of his disappearance were never found. The medical examiner determined Jones’ cause of death to be ligature strangulation. The item used to strangle Jones was described as “ropelike”, possibly made of cloth. It was theorized that Jones’ shirt may have been the item used to strangle him.  Carpet fibers were discovered on the unfamiliar jogging shorts.

Jones case differs from other Atlanta Child Murder cases in that there are other viable suspects that were identified by eyewitnesses.  Three youths at the laundromat stated that they witnessed the Manager of the laundromat, James “Jaime” Edward Brooks, and a man named Calvin strangle, beat and carry Jones’ body to the trash.  One 19 year old witness named Freddie, whom the police classified as “retarded”, said Brooks fondled and anally raped Jones before strangling him with a yellow rope. After the rape, he said Brooks washed Jones’ body with soap and re-clothed him.  Two more witnesses saw a black man, in a hooded robe, walk from the manager’s home and place a large item in plastic next to the dumpster. After placing the item next to the dumpster, the man made a phone call. Police responded to an anonymous 911 call made at approximately the same time.  Another witness claimed the Brooks took Clifford and another man to his residence. He stated that he saw the hooded robe in Brooks’ home. Another man claimed that he spent the night with the Brooks. He and Brooks met at the Silver Dollar Saloon in November 1980. The man said that he also met two other Atlanta Child Murder victims, Nathaniel  “Nate Cater and Michael Mcintosh,  at local venues that Brooks also visited.

Although law enforcement did not connect Brooks to Jones’ murder, he was later sentenced in another case of aggravated assault and attempted rape.  Brooks was released during Williams’ trial and later died of AIDS.  

Jones case was closed by the conviction of Wayne Williams.  Trilobal fibers used to convict Wayne Williams in the Atlanta Child Murders were found on Jones’ body.  Jones case is significant in the Atlanta Child Murders case because there were at least five witnesses implicating at least one another man in his death. Clifford Jones’ case alone could in theory invalidate the entire case against Williams, which was built upon the fiber evidence.

Darron Glass

      Darron Glass went missing on September 14, 1980.  He was 11 year old, 4’9″, 75 lbs. Glass was made a ward of the state in 1980 after his              parents died.  He lived at 2289 Memorial Drive SE with his foster mother, Fannie Mae Smith, and three other children the  three months              prior to his disappearance. His sister lived on East Lake Drive.  

Glass attended Kirkwood Elementary.  He frequently played in Dreena Andreu’s yard.  Andreu lived next door to Kenny Brown, a possible witness in an Atlanta Child Murder case.  Glass was mildly mentally disabled with an IQ of 65. His foster mother described him as immature but street smart.  

On the day of his disappearance, Glass attended an Atlanta Braves game.  He returned home at approximately 4:00 pm. He was home a short time before going outside to play.  Shortly after he left, Smith said that she received an urgent phone call from someone claiming to be Darron but the caller quickly hung up before she could speak to him.  Glass was never seen again. He was wearing a yellow shirt, brown khaki pants and white tennis shoes at the time of his disappearance.  

There are other relevant factors in Glass’ disappearance.  His foster brother, Eric Carr, claimed to know his whereabouts and to receive calls from him until November 1980.  Glass’ Foster Care Case Worker, Thomas Bailey, said that he voiced his concerns about Glass’ placement in the Smith home due to people of “questionable character” in the home and suspicion of drug selling and use.  The same day that Bailey learned of Glass’ disappearance, he received a phone call from a woman claiming to be Glass’ older sister. Glass had an adult sister that resided out of state. After Bailey told the caller that Glass was missing, she hung up.  He did not hear back from her.  

Glass’ is a presumed victim of the Atlanta Child killer because he fits the demographics of the other victims.  His body was never found, and his case remains open and unsolved. He is classified as endangered missing.   

Charles Stephens

     Charles Stephens went missing on October 9,1980.  He was 10 years old, 5ft, 120 lbs. Stephens lived at 1707 Pryor Cir. with his mother, E             Ernestine Stephens, father Charles Stephens, Sr., and sister Tina L. Stephens.

Stephens was in 6th grade at Perkerson Elementary.  He was known to hang out at Zayre Department store in Stewart-Lakewood Shopping Center where another Atlanta Child Murder victim, 14 year old Lubie Geter, was last seen.  He was known to associate with a man that drove a Ford LTD, red exterior and interior.  This man was a client of Mary Welcome, Wayne Williams’ attorney. Stephens often ran errands for neighbors in the housing community.

Stephens was last seen at home watching TV and drawing. He reportedly left home to visit a friend or cousin in Carver Homes.  Neighbor, Jerome Clark, claimed that he saw Stephens on his skateboard near a dumpster in front of his house.  Then he saw a man standing between buildings 1701 and 1704. When Clark called out to him, he did not respond. Clark claimed that he saw the same man in the Pryor neighborhood on the evening Stephens’ body was discovered..  Stephens was wearing a T-shirt, pants and his sister’s shoes at the time of his disappearance.

The following day, October 10, 1980, Stephens’ body was found on a grassy hill near the rear entrance to Longview Trailer Park.  This location was approximately 5 miles from his home. Stephens T-shirt, socks and one shoe were missing. His boxers were located 950 feet away.  Rub marks were found on his nose and mouth. The Medical Examiner ruled his cause of death to be asphyxia. Due to the lack of injuries to Stephen’s neck, the Medical Examiner ruled the type of asphyxia to be suffocation.  Numerous hairs and fibers were discovered on Stephens body. Two caucasian hairs were found, along with dog hairs. Two pubic hairs, that did not belong to Stephens or Williams, were found on Stephen’s boxers. 

The state introduced Stephens’ case as a pattern case in Williams’ trial based on the fiber and hair evidence that linked him and Williams.  The case was closed by Williams’ conviction.

Aaron Jackson Jr.

     Aaron Jackson Jr. went missing on November 1, 1980.  He was 10 years old, 4’8″, 84 lbs. He lived in a green cinder block home located at 818       Norwood Rd with his father, Aaron Jackson, Sr.  He had two older sisters, Patricia and Lisa, and two brothers, Kevin and Lee. His mother,               Benny Jackson, lived in Washington D.C. Jackson moved to Atlanta with his father two years prior to his disappearance and death.  His Aunt         lived next door.

Jackson attended  Dobbs Elementary school and had friends in Thomasville Heights.  He knew two other Atlanta Child Murder victims, 10 year old Aaron Wyche and 16 year old Patrick “Pat Man” Rogers.  Wyche went missing on June 23, 1980. His body was found on June 24, 1980. Rodgers went missing on November 10, 1980.  His body was found on December 7, 1980. Jackson was known to swim at Thomasville Heights Recreation Center.  

On November 1, 1980, Jackson went missing from Moreland Avenue Shopping Center.  He was wearing a printed shirt, dark pants and sneakers.

The following day, November 2, 1980, Jackson’s body was found off Forest Park Rd on the southeast bank of the South River beside the bridge near the Lake Charlotte entrance.  His socks were missing and he was wearing blue jeans and a white shirt with brown designs and black tennis shoes. The Medical Examiner listed his cause of death as asphyxiation by suffocation. Jackson’s murder was attributed to Wayne Williams.  His case was closed with Williams’ conviction for the murders of Nathaniel Cater and Jimmy Ray Payne.

Patrick "Pat Man" Rogers

Patrick “Pat Man” Rogers went missing on November 10, 1980.  He was 16 years old, 145 lbs. Rogers lived in Thomasville Heights housing projects at 1095 Henry Thomas Drive SE., with his mother, Annie Grace Rogers, three brothers and four sisters.

Rodgers attended Grady High.  His classmate was friends with Wayne Williams.  Rodgers carried groceries at Moreland Avenue Shopping Center to earn extra money.  In his spare time, he enjoyed writing music with friends.  He knew several victims of the Atlanta Child Murders including 10 year old Aaron Wyche, 9 year old Aaron Jackson, 10 year old Darron Glass, 14 year old Lubie Geter and 13 year old Curtis Walker.  Rodgers frequently hung out at a fast food restaurant located on Moreland Ave. near I-20. 

On the day of disappearance, Rogers was last seen walking his 7 year old brother, Isaac, to his school bus stop located at Henry Thomas Drive SE.  A witness, Mary Harper, reported that Rodgers went to her apartment located at 1100 Henry Thomas Dr. SE, looking for her son, Joe Harper. Rodgers told Mrs. Harper that a man wanted to record his songs. 

A week prior to Rogers’ disappearance, a black man matching Wayne Williams’ description was seen leaving flyers in Thomasville Heights housing projects.  The man was soliciting young people to audition for a music group.

Police went to the Rogers’ home two days after he was reported missing.  A burglary warrant was issued for him in relation to a home burglary in the neighborhood.

On December 7, 1980, Rogers body was found on the Cobb County side of the Chattahoochee near the Paces Ferry Road bridge, caught on rafter cables.  The medical examiner determined his cause of death to be blunt force trauma to the head.

Rogers’ murder was the 24th case cleared by Williams’ conviction for the murders of Nathaniel Cater and Jimmy Ray Payne.

1981

Lubie “Chuck” Geter, Jr.

     Lubie “Chuck” Geter, Jr. went missing on January 3, 1981.  He was 14 years old, 5’1”, 125 lbs. Geter lived at 129 Dahlgren Street SE with his             parents, Lubie Geter Sr. and Assie Geter. Geter, Sr., brother Frankie Jordan, and sisters Marian, Pauline, Macheely and Betty.  

Geter attended JC Murphy High.  He had perfect attendance in school and was described as hardworking and intelligent.  He was not considered a street smart kid like some of the other Atlanta Child Murder victims.  Geter was known to carry groceries for neighbors and he worked at National Pride car wash located on the 1500 block of Memorial.  He often got air fresheners from the car wash to sell for extra money. He frequented Anne’s Snack Shop located on Memorial Drive.  

Geter was last seen at the Stewart-Lakewood Shopping Center on GA-6, selling “Zep Gel” car deodorizers outside Big Star Food Store.  His older brother dropped him at the shopping center to sell the deodorizers.  A witness said that he saw Geter getting into several vehicles; a red pickup, a white pickup, and a white and black Cutlass.  A witness testified at Williams’ trial that she saw Geter get into Williams’ car in front of the Sears at the Stewart-Lakewood Shopping Center.  He was wearing a purple coat, a green shirt, blue jeans and brown loafers at the time of his disappearance. His mother reported him missing the following day.

On February 5, 1981, nearly a month after his disappearance, Geter’s body was found by a dog that was destroying rabbit traps in a wooded area off of Vandiver Road, near Enon Rd.  This location is approximately 10 miles from where Geter was last seen. Calls from a man claiming responsibility for Geter’s death were traced to Stewart Avenue payphones. A juvenile witness placed Geter with Wayne Williams on January 2, 1981.  He also placed Williams at the Geter’s funeral.  

Geter’s body was missing all of his clothing except for white jockey shorts.  His blue Levi’s & brown belt were found 3/4 mile away in a brown bag three feet deep in a creek.  His blue shirt and shoes were found 300 yards away. The medical examiner determined Geter’s cause of death was asphyxiation by manual strangulation.

Carpet fibers and dog hairs linking Williams and Geter were introduced at the trial of victims Nathaniel Cater and Jimmy Rae Payne.  The state introduced Geter’s case as a pattern case in the trial of Wayne Williams for the murders of Nathaniel Cater and Jimmy Ray Payne.  His case was closed by Williams’ conviction. 

Terry Lorenzo Pue

     Terry Lorenzo Pue went missing on January 22, 1981.  He was 15 years old, 5’5″, 105lbs. Pue lived in a housing project located at 2548                   Hollywood Court NW with his father and mother, Clarence and Helen Pue.  He had three sisters and six brothers. 

Pue attended the Challenge School at West Hunter St. Baptist Church.  He knew Atlanta Child Murder victim, Lubie Geter, and Lee Gooch, an Atlanta child that was thought to be a victim but was located in January 1981.   Pue’s sister, Pamela Terrell, lived in East Lake Meadows. Pue frequently played basketball with his friend Bo near his sister’s home and was known to hang out in East Lake, East Point and the Omni.  Terrell last saw Pue three days prior to his body being found.

Pue was seen by numerous witnesses in the days prior to his death.  His brother, Tony, saw him board a bus on Hollywood Rd around 3pm on Wednesday, January 21, 1981. 16 year old neighbor Clinton Sewell said that Pue asked him to play basketball with him on the day of his disappearance.  Sewell declined because it was raining. Sewell believed that Pue went to play basketball by himself. Pue was last seen by a witness spending the night in a Krystal located at 4976 Memorial Dr. SE, then trading bottles for money near a shopping center on Memorial.  The Krystals was located approximately 14 miles from Pue’s home.  

On January 23, 1981, Pue’s body was found off Sigman Rd. in Rockdale County by a passerby.  This location is approximately 15 miles from the Krystals where Pue was last seen and 30 miles from his home.  An anonymous man made a called to police on January 8th, 1981 stating that they would find a boy’s body in the vicinity of Signman Rd. Police did not locate a body.  Just before Pue’s body was found, the man called again, claiming that he put a second body in the same location. Another call, believed to be from the same man, was traced to North Indian Creek Drive.  A few years after Pue’s body was found, skeletal remains were found in the wooded area off of Sigman Rd. The caller was never identified.

Surgical scars on Pue’s right knee helped the medical examiner identify his body.  Numerous signs of injury were found on his body: Abrasions were found on Pue’s elbow, several bruises were identified on his head and ligature marks were on his neck.  He was fully clothed in a blue windbreaker with the name “Kim” in red lettering on the back, a denim jacket, a yellow T-shirt with a design of a palm tree, sunburst and “Puerto Rico” on the front and “Washington High” in blue on the back, beige colored knit slacks, dark blue colored socks and Hush-Puppy shoes.  His cause of death was determined to be asphyxiation by ligature strangulation and possible manual strangulation.

A witness placed Pue with Williams’ one week prior to his body being discovered.  Several witnesses also placed William’s at the crime scene and at Pue’s funeral. The state introduced five fiber and hair associations between Pue and Williams at the trial of victims Nathaniel Cater and Jimmy Ray Payne.  

Pue’s case was introduced as a pattern case in Wayne Williams’ conviction for the murders of Nathaniel Cater and Jimmy Ray Payne.  The case was closed by Williams’ conviction

Patrick Wayne Baltazar

     Patrick Wayne Baltazar went missing on February 6, 1981.  He was 12 years old, 5’5”, 125 lbs. Baltazar lived in a Vine City apartment located         at 435 Foundry St.  The one room apartment was home to Baltazar, his stepmother, Sheila, and brothers Roger and Donald Ray. Baltazar’s           father, Russell, lived with his girlfriend a few blocks away from the apartment on Foundry St.  His mother, Grace, lived in New Orleans with           his nine brothers and four sisters. . 

Baltazar attended Bethune Elementary.  He performed numerous odd jobs to earn extra money including cleaning at Fisherman’s Cove restaurant, washing dishes at Papa’s Country Buffet on Buford Hwy and selling newspapers and cotton candy at the Galaxy Three Arcade.  Baltazar was known to visit his father’s job on Courtland St. He visited friends that lived near 2nd Avenue and Memorial and played in alleged Atlanta Child Murder victim, Jimmy Raye Payne‘s, front yard.  

Prior to Baltazar’s death, he used a local pay phone to call the Atlanta Task Force and report that a man was after him.  Law enforcement did not respond to the call. 

Baltazar was last seen at  Fisherman’s Cove located at 201 Courtland Street NW.  Witnesses reported that he was getting money from his father to attend the Golden Gloves boxing match.  Witnesses later reported seeing him at approximately midnight at the Galaxy Three Arcade in the Omni.

On February 13, 1981, Baltazar’s body was found in Corporate Square, between I-85 and Buford Hwy near Briarcliff, in an overgrown area behind the complex by a maintenance man working for the business office complex.  This location is approximately 12 miles from where Baltazar was last seen at the Galaxy Three Arcade.  

Witness, Margaret “Patsy” Jackson, reported seeing a light green 1968-1969 Chevy Impala parked in the area at approximately 7:15 on the morning of February 13, 1981.  She reported that the driver of the car was a white man in his late 20’s with brown shoulder-length hair, a small mustache, and close-set eyes. The man wearing a flannel plaid shirt and stared at Jackson as she entered the building.  

The Dekalb County Medical Examiner determined Baltazar’s cause of death to be asphyxiation due to strangulation.  There were ligature marks on Baltazar’s neck and scrapes, and bruises were found on his body. His body was clothed.  Numerous hair and fibers were found on his body and clothing. The state introduced eleven fiber and hair associations between Baltazar and Williams during Williams trial for the murder of victims Nathaniel Cater and Jimmy Ray Payne.  Baltazar’s murder was introduced as a pattern. The case was closed with Williams’ conviction

Curtis Lamar Walker III

     Curtis Lamar Walker III went missing on February 19, 1981.  He was 13 years old, 5’0”, 75lbs. Walker lived in Bowen Homes, apartment 497,         located at 946 Wilkes Circle NW. with his mother, Catherine Murray Leach, uncle, Stanley Murray, and his four siblings.  He formerly lived in       Thomasville Heights where several alleged Atlanta Child Murder victims lived. His father, Mr. Curtis Lamar Walker, Jr., did not reside in the             home.  He had an extensive extended family in the Atlanta area. Walker was in 7th grade at A. D. Williams School.

Walker left his home on February 19, 1981 after his mother told him to stay inside because of the missing children.  He was last seen at Archie & Gary Byron’s Gun Shop located at 2176 Bankhead Hwy. He and his 8 year old brother were known to frequent this area looking for ways to earn extra money.  The Task force tracked his scent to the rear of Center Hill School on Bankhead Hwy. A witness stated that he may have gotten into a yellow car. He was last seen wearing a brown and blue shirt, blue pants, and blue sneakers.

On March 6, 1981, Walker’s body was found snagged on a log by a fireman crossing the South River on Waldrop Rd, near Flat Shoals Pkwy.  He was found the same day that victim, Jeffrey Mathis’ body was found. A witness stated that they saw an old green Chevy parked nearby the Tuesday or Wednesday prior to Walker’s body being discovered.  This location was approximately .75 miles from the Chapel Hill Harvester Church where Rev. Earl Paulk received calls in February from someone claiming to be the killer.  Walker was only in his underwear. His clothing was never recovered. The medical examiner ruled his cause of death to be asphyxiation by strangulation.  Latent prints were found on Walker’s body.  

Walker’s uncle, Stanley Murray, was shot and killed in late 1981, in the same area where Walker’s body was found.  Murray’s murder was not included on the Atlanta Child Murder’s victim list. The case remains unsolved.

Curtis Walker’s murder case remains open and unsolved.

Joseph "Jo Jo" Eugene Bell

     Joseph “Jo Jo” Eugene Bell was 15 years old, 5’4″, 120lbs.  Bell lived on Lawton St. SW. with his grandmother, Mrs. Smith. His father was                deceased and his mother, Doris Bell, was in jail for killing him.  Bell had numerous family members, including half siblings, that lived in the          Atlanta area. 

Bell attended Booker T. Washington High School and frequented John Harland Boys’ Club located on Peoples St., next to Harris Homes housing project.  He worked at Cap’n Peg’s Seafood and was known to meet friends at the Dunbar Community Center.  He had an interest in radio and attended a radio class at the NFLPA camp at West Georgia College in Carrollton. A second alleged Atlanta Child Murder Victim, Cynthia Montgomery, also attended this camp.

Bell was last seen on or around March 2, 1981.  A witness at Cap’n Peg named “Dorsey” stated that she saw Bell leave the restaurant, reportedly to play basketball with friends.  Bell was seen playing basketball at Agnes Jones School where alleged Atlanta Child Murder victim, LaTonya Wilson, attended school. Wilson went missing on June 22, 1980.  Her remains were found on October 18, 1980. Bell’s 21 year old friend, Lugene, stated that he witnessed him get in to a station wagon with Wayne Williams on Westview Drive.  Bell’s half brother, Edward Mays, reported that he talked to Lugene on the day of his disappearance. At that time, Lugene was not able to describe the vehicle that Bell entered or identify the driver.  He stated that Bell was wearing a blue skullcap, jogging sweatshirt, green jacket, and brown baggy pants. A few days following March 2, 1981, Bell’s friend, Stanley Parker, stated that he saw Bell at a friend’s house on Gray street.  Bell told Parker that two men were after him. Parker discovered that Bell was missing on the news later that evening.  

Unlike other alleged Atlanta Child Murder victims, there was possible communication from Bell and individuals responsible for his murder.  On March 3, 1981, the Assistant Manager at Cap’n Peg’s restaurant received a call from someone claiming to be Bell. The caller used the manager’s name, stated that he was Jo Jo Bell and that “they” were going to kill him before the line went dead.  The following day a woman called Cap’n Peg’s stating that her man had Bell and that he was different from the other children murdered. She advised them not to call the police. At 7:00 pm on March 7th, 1981, Bell’s mother received two calls from a woman claiming that she had Bell. 

On April 19, 1981, Bell’s body was found in Rockdale County off Klondike Rd., where the South River takes a sharp turn off the county boundary line.  It was a 2 mile walk in the woods to reach this location. The location is 22.5 miles from where Bell was last seen. His body was only clothed in underwear.  The Medical Examiner determined his cause of death to be undetermined asphyxiation. Decomposition indicated that he had most likely been deceased since early March, not long after his disappearance.

Numerous witnesses came forward following Bell’s disappearance and murder.  On the afternoon of Bell’s disappearance, a witness claimed to have seen Wayne Williams at the South side of the River.  Another witness signed an affidavit stating that they saw someone other than Wayne Williams murder Bell. Bell also frequented a house on Gray street with his best friend and alleged Atlanta Child Murder victim Timothy “Timmy” Hill.  Hill went missing 9 days after Bell on May 13, 1981.  His body was found on May 30, 1981. A Classmate of Bells stated that he last saw Bell at the house on Gray Street.  The house of Gray street is a location that numerous victims were associated with.  Several people claimed that homosexual activity and pornography were prevalent in this house owned by pedophile, Thomas Terrell. Bell was reportedly wearing a baggy blue pin-striped suit and tie with a white t-shirt.  15 year old John Laster testified at trial to numerous interactions that he witnessed between Williams and Bell. 24 year old Kent Hindsman testified that he and Bell rode in the car with Williams. According to court records, Williams made the following statement to Hindsman and Bell, ‘I could be the President, I could be a Mayor, or I could even be a killer.

The State identified two fibers connecting Bell and Williams.  Bell’s murder was introduced as a pattern case in the trial of Wayne Williams for the murders of Nathaniel Cater and Jimmy Ray Rayne.  The case was closed by Williams’ conviction.

Timothy Lindale Hill

     Timothy Lindale Hill was 13 years old, 5’3”, 95 lbs.  He lived at 978 Sells Ave. with his mother, Annie and four siblings. 

Hill attended Dean Rusk elementary school.  He was best friends with Jo Jo Bell. Bell went missing 9 days prior to Hill’s disappearance.  His body was discovered on April 19, 1981 in Rockdale County.

Hill was last seen by his family on Wednesday, March 11, 1981.  He was playing with his niece in his backyard. His niece stated that he left in a taxi with a man who put a substance described as “mud” on his face.  34 year old witness and pedophile, Frankie Mealing, stated that he had sex with Hill and another boy in a house located at 530 Gray street on Thursday, Marych 12, at 5:00 PM.  The house was owned by 63 year old pedophile Thomas “Uncle Tom” Terrell.  A neighbor of Terrell’s stated that he saw a bucket that contained a drug that looked like mud at Terrell’s residence.  He reported that people would sniff the substance to get high. Mealing said that he went to Terrell’s second residence located at 522 Gray Street after having sex with Hill.  At 9:00 PM, Hill came to that residence and asked if he could spend the night because he had missed the last bus that evening. Terrell agreed. Hill spent the night with Terrell, Mealing and a man nicknamed “Curly”.  At 4:00 PM on Friday, March 13, Hill was seen standing on Gray street talking to a 16 year old girl. Mealing stated that he saw at least 10 of the alleged Atlanta Child Murder victims at the houses on Gray street prior to their disappearance and deaths. 

Hill was last seen wearing a black leather jacket, a beige shirt, yellow pants, brown shoes, white socks and a white cap.

On Sunday, March 15,  a witness that did not know Hill stated that he saw him at Morehouse College at a rally for Missing & Murdered Children.  The witness recognized his red baseball cap. The following Monday, his teacher Theresa Swindall received two calls from someone crying and claiming to be Hill.  The calls were traced to North Dekalb County.   

Frankie Mealing lived on Rock ST.  His roommate, Larry Hill was also known as Larry Marshall.  Larry Hill aka Marshall was a security guard at a telephone company near East Lake Meadows and at a Salvation Army. He had a son that was also named Timothy Hill.  When he was arrested in Connecticut in connection with a robbery, he told authorities that Timmy Hill, the victim not his son, delivered a note to his residence that instructed him to leave Atlanta.  The note was signed “Rev. E.C.” Reverend Earl Carroll lived near Terrell and was actively involved in the community trying to stop the abduction and murder of black children.  After Hill’s arrest in Connecticut, he was held in Atlanta on charges of criminal attempt to commit armed robbery against a Fred Smith.  He was not charged in connection with the Atlanta Child Murders.

A 15 year old who knew alleged Atlanta Child Murder victim, Yusuf Bell, stated that Larry Hill aka Marshall took him and Timmy Hill to have sex at the hous on Gray Street on March 9, 1981.  He said he also took them to the Salvation Army to steal, but Timmy came out crying and stating that someone had anally raped him inside the store.  This 15 year old last saw Hill when he went to wash a woman’s dog. He claimed that Hill encouraged homosexual relations to another witness who lived on Kimberly Rd..  This witness said a suspect in the Atlanta Child Murders, other than Wayne Williams, told him that Hill’s body and others would be found in the Chattahoochee River.

On March 30, 1981, Hills body was found in the Chattahoochee River approximately 1 mile south of the Campbellton Rd / GA-166 bridge by canoeists fishing, near Cochrane Road.  This location is located on the same property in which victims’, who were employed at homosexual entertainment venues, bodies were found in the 1970’s. Only one dirt road leads to this area.   

Hill’s body was clothed only in underwear.  The coroner determined his cause of death to be undetermined asphyxiation.  His murder was attributed to Wayne Williams. The case was closed with Williams’ conviction for the murders of Nathaniel Cater and Jimmy Ray Payne.

Eddie Lamar "Bubba" Duncan, Jr.

     Eddie Lamar “Bubba” Duncan, Jr. was 21 years old, 5’9″, 140lbs.  He lived in apartment 172 in Techwood Homes with his mother, Betty J.               Duncan, and his siblings.  His father, Eddie Lee Duncan Sr., did not reside with him. The red brick apartment was located on Hunnicutt St.             NW.  Mr. Duncan claimed that his son knew 13 year old alleged Atlanta Child Murder victim Timothy Hill. Hill went missing on March 11,               1981.  His body was found on March 12, 1981. He had other family members that resided in the Atlanta area.  

Duncan was friends with 16 year old alleged Atlanta Child Murder victim Patrick “Pat Man” Rogers.  Rogers went missing on November 10, 1980.  His body was found on December 7, 1980. Duncan worked in a small grocery store at the edge of Techwood.  He also completed odd jobs at a barber shop and Courtney’s Games and Things, owned by Willie Joe Terrell.

On March 20, 1981, Duncan got on a MARTA bus at 2:00 PM to drop dry cleaning off for 38 year old Calvin Coleman.  The two planned to meet up at Courtney’s Games and Things. Receipts from the dry cleaners show that Duncan did not drop the clothing off until approximately 6:00 PM and he never arrived at Courtney’s to meet Coleman.  He had also planned to meet his girlfriend, Racine Clements, that day.  

Witness, Earl Mallory, who knew Duncan through Courtney’s, said that he saw Duncan around 7:00 PM walking towards his apartment.  He reportedly heard Duncan say, “I’ve got $20 and we’re going to play some pool tonight when I get back.” Duncan’s 18 year old brother, Ricky Duncan, saw him walking to the Varsity restaurant.  He heard his brother say that he was going to get paid $200 to help someone move to South Carolina. Police believed there was some truth in this. A 15 year old neighbor reported that he saw Duncan at approximately 10:00 PM.  Duncan told him that he was getting the $200 for helping someone paint.

There are conflicting reports regarding where Duncan was last seen.  He was last seen either in the Courtney’s Game Room at the corner of Techwood and Mills St. or getting into a vehicle with a light skinned black man at corner of Techwood Dr. and North Ave near the Varsity.

Duncan was the first alleged Atlanta Child Murder victim to disappear after Larry Hill, a.k.a. Larry Marshall, was arrested.  After Marshall’s arrest, all the victims added to the Task Force’s list were 17 years old and older.

On March 31, 1981, the body of Eddie Duncan was found on the Douglas County side of the Chattahoochee at the GA-92 bridge, near Fulton’s southern boundary, by canoeists on the Chattahoochee.  Duncan’s body was clothed only in boxer shorts. His cause of death was undetermined. 24 hours earlier, alleged Atlanta Child Murder victim Timothy Hill’s body was found only a few feet away.  Duncan and Hill’s bodies were the only two bodies on the list of Atlanta Child Murder victims found in this area.  All other bodies recovered from the river were located on the North West section of town.   

Duncan’s murder was attributed to Wayne Williams. The case was closed by Williams’ conviction for the murders of Nathaniel Cater and Jimmy Ray Payne.  

"Little" Larry Eugene Rogers

     “Little” Larry Eugene Rogers was 20 years old, 5’1″, 110 lbs.  He lived with his foster father, George W. Hood, at 1585 Ezra Church Drive NW.         There are some reports that Rogers was developmentally delayed. He was known to play ball with children in the neighborhood and use a           bicycle for transportation.  He did not have a vehicle. He also completed various odd jobs such as raking leaves and cleaning gutters to earn       money.

Wayne Williams had interacted with Rogers, his brother and his foster brother, Gonzales, in the past.  In one incident, Williams heard over his police scanner that Larry Rogers’ younger brother was hit in the head with a 2×4.  He beat police to the scene and took him to the hospital. In another incident, he hid the boy and his foster brother in an apartment on Simpson Street, then took their mother to the location to meet them.

There are conflicting reports as to when and where Rodgers was last seen.  One witness reported seeing him get into a faded green Chevy station-wagon on March 30, 1981.  The driver of the station wagon was described as a light skinned black man. At Wayne Williams trial for the murders of Nathaniel Cater and Jimmy Ray Payne, Rogers’ friend, Nellie Trammell, testified that the man in the station wagon was Wayne Williams.  Another witness reported seeing Rogers on April 1, 1981 at Simpson Road NW & W. Lake Avenue NW. Rogers was last seen wearing red and white tennis shoes with jeans and a windbreaker.

On April 9, 1981, Larry Rogers’ body was found by the police in the kitchen of an abandoned apartment located at 460 Temple ST., just off Simpson ST. and a mile from Bankhead Highway.  The apartment was located near the bottom of a hill in a row of abandoned apartments at the intersection of Neal Pl. A stolen green four-door Buick Skylark was found in front of the building where Rogers was found.  The vehicle was missing all four tires and was stolen from Northside apartments. The body was clothed in white swim trunks under blue jogging shorts with a blue shirt stuffed into his trunks. 

The Medical Examiner determined Rogers’ cause of death to be asphyxiation by strangulation.  Due to the extensive damage to Rogers’ voice box, the Medical Examiner concluded that the method of strangulation was most likely a chokehold.  Seven fibers and hairs were found connecting Williams and Rogers.  

Rogers’ murder was introduced as a pattern case in the trial of Wayne Williams for the murders of Nathaniel Cater and Jimmy Ray Payne.  The case was closed by Williams’ conviction.

Jimmy Ray Payne

     Jimmy Ray Payne was 5’1″, 137lb.  Payne lived at 566 Magnolia St. NW, in the Vine City Terrace Apartment that he shared with his sister,              Evelyn Payne and stepfather, Ula Jones.  His mother, Ruby Nell, lived in Decatur at 1840 Hillsdale Dr. Payne’s father was John Henry Payne. 

Payne was unemployed and did not own a vehicle or possess a driver’s license.  He was friends with alleged Atlanta Child Murder victim “Pat Man” Rodgers. Rodgers went missing on November 10, 1980.  His body was found on December 7, 1980. He was known to hang out at Eagan Homes apartments on the Southeast side of Atlanta.  At the time of his death, Payne was under the care of a Dr. Roseman due to at least two alleged suicide attempts.

Payne was last seen by a member of his household on April 21, 1981.  He told his sister that he was going to the Omni to sell some 1951 nickels.  He was supposed to meet his girlfriend, Katherine Turner, at the Vine City MARTA station that afternoon but he never showed up.  She last saw him when he walked her to the train station earlier that day.  He was wearing a red jogging suit and white tennis shoes.  

On April 27, 1981, a man named Fred Wyatt produced Payne’s identification card at Cap’n Peg’s restaurant.  Several people claimed that Payne was trying to assume a new identity in the days prior to his disappearance.

Several people claimed to have seen Payne on the day of and the day following his disappearance.  18 year old Jerome Young told law enforcement that said he saw Payne in a coin shop located on E Ponce De Leon.  A witness called law enforcement stating that he saw Payne at a club on Peters Street S.W. Another witness testified that he saw Williams and Payne standing near a taxicab on US 78 near the Chattahoochee river.  The witness also saw a white station wagon parked across from the taxicab.

On April 27, 1981, Payne’s body was found by Jesse Arnold and his wife.  The Arnolds were fishing on the Chattahoochee river a mile north of the Bankhead Highway bridge on the east bank near Riverview Rd.  This location is Between I-285 and Buckhead. Payne’s body was approximately 200 yards downstream from 285. He was clothed only in red shorts.  A phone number found in Payne’s pocket was traced to an address on Kimberly Road. This address was where 15 year old Lee Gooch, a runaway that police considered listing among Atlanta’s missing and murdered children after his disappearance on January 5, 1981, and 14 year old Edward Hope Smith, an alleged Atlanta Child Murder victim that was found murdered on July 28, 1979, once lived.

The Medical Examiner determined Payne’s cause of death to be undetermined asphyxiation.  The state identified seven fiber and hair associations between Payne and Williams.  

On February 27, 1982, Wayne Williams was convicted of the murder of Nathaniel Cater and Jimmy Raye Payne. 

William "Billy Star" Barrett

     William “Billy Star” Barrett was 17 years old, 5’5″, 130lbs.  He lived in a red brick house located at 346 2nd Avenue NE in a red brick house             with his mother, Janie Glenn.  Barrett had  extensive family in the Atlanta area that included his father, William Tolbert, and his siblings.

Barrett had a complex past and was admitted to the Georgia Department of Offender Rehab.  He was also sent to a youth development center in Milledgeville the year prior to his disappearance and murder.  He worked odd jobs and did not have a vehicle. He rode the bus or his bicycle for transportation. A business man reported that Barrett and alleged Atlanta Child Murder victim Lubie Geter frequented his store on Memorial Dr.  Geter went missing on January 3, 1981. His body was found on February 5, 1981. 

Barrett was last seen on May 11, 1981 at the McDaniel-Glenn Housing Community Center paying a bill for his mother, Janie (Janice?) Glenn. This community center is where alleged Atlanta Child Murder victim Patrick “Pat Man” Rogers danced.  Rogers went missing on November 10, 1980. His body was found on December 7, 1980.  Reports vary regarding what Rogers was wearing at the time of his disappearance.

On May 12,1981, Barrett’s body was found by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents on a curb in a wooded area on Winthrop Dr.  This location is near 1-20 and Glenwood, near Greencove. Harold Wood, a custodian from Southwest High School, ran out a gas approximately one mile from where Barrett’s body was found.  He was arrested and questioned regarding the murder. He stated that he saw a black man with a white over blue Cadillac standing in the area in which the body was found. The man reportedly stared at him before driving away.  The police said that the description that Wood gave of the man fit the description of the man who found the body.

Several witnesses claimed to see Barrett on the day of his disappearance.  A neighbor reportedly saw him a few blocks from home in the KirkwoodEast Lake area along Memorial.  He saw him getting into a two door white car with a black man carrying a purse.  An elementary school student claimed he was approached by someone offering him $3,000 to kill Barrett.  Barrett’s Aunt, Mary Harris and his cousin said that Wayne Williams had been at their house.

The Medical Examiner determined Barrett’s cause of death to be asphyxiation by ligature strangulation.  There were two post mortem stab wound to his right lower abdomen. Barrett was fully clothed but missing his faded blue jean jacket.  The state identified seven hair and fiber associations between Barrett and Williams, including white undercoat animal hairs.

Other items located on the body included an East Lake Meadows Boys Club Card, two Willie Johnson Paint Co. cards and Boy Scout pocket knife.   A phone number in his pocket was traced to a white man seen at the Omni and at the 5-Points MARTA station picking up boys.  A witness placed Barrett at this man’s house one week prior to his disappearance.  Alleged Atlanta Child Murder victim Lubie Geter was also seen at this man’s house. Geter went missing on January 3, 1981.  His body was found on February 5, 1981.  

Several witnesses placed Williams with Barrett in the year leading up to his disappearance and murder.  Barrett’s cousin, James Barrett, and his mother both testified to this at Williams’ trial.  

The state introduced Barrett’s murder as a pattern case in Williams’ trial for the murders of Nathaniel Cater and Jimmy Ray Payne.  The case was closed by Williams’ conviction.

Nathaniel Cater

     Nathaniel Cater was 28 years old.  He lived in the Falcon Hotel located at 180 Luckie Street NW. with his roommate, John Heley.  Cater had           recently moved out of his father’s apartment located at 2261 Verbena St NW on April 24.  Caters parents, Alonzo T. Cater, Sr., and Margaret         Cater, and two siblings lived in the apartment on Verbena St.  

Cater worked for Add-A-Man Labor pool and witnesses claimed that he solicited sex at the Silver Dollar Saloon and Cameo Lounge located at Spring St.

A prisoner in Suffolk County Jail in Massachusetts stated that he took photos of Cater and gave them to a “heavy-set guy” at a bookstore on Peachtree Street.  He also said that 11 year old Darron Glass, an alleged Atlana Child Murder victim that went missing on September 14, 1980 and was never found, was paid to have sex with men at the bookstore.

Cater was reportedly last seen on May 21, 1981.  Several witnesses claimed to see him on the day of his disappearance.  Robert I. Henry stated that he saw him holding hands with Wayne Williams at the entrance of the  Rialto Theatre  located at 84 Forsyth St. NW. Another witness stated that he saw Cater that morning, near the bus station at Woodruff park after he left the Cameo Lounge.  Falcon desk clerk Lyle Nichols said that he saw Cater at 3:00 pm that day. An associate of Cater’s said that he saw him on May 23, 1981. A Cameo Lounge customer, Howard Campbell, maintained that he saw Cater on that date around 2:30pm.  19 year old Jimmy “Tightrope” Anthony also said that he saw Cater Saturday morning, May 23, 1981, entering the Healy building or in Central City Park, now Woodruff Park.  These sightings by three people he knew were a full day after the alleged sighting of Cater on the bridge with Wayne Williams.  Cater’s mother and sister first claimed they saw Williams with Cater on May 25, 1981, the day after he was found dead.  They later recanted and claimed that they saw them together on May 18, 1981.

On May 24, 1981, Cater’s body was found by two boys fishing a half mile south of the I-285 bridge on the Atlanta side of Chattahoochee, near South Cobb Drive, between Jackson Parkway and Gordon Street.  This location is only a short distance from where victim Jimmy Ray Payne was found on April 27, 1981. Cater’s body was naked. The Medial Examiner determined his cause of death to be asphyxiation due to some form of chokehold with a “broad, soft surface such as a forearm”.   Also found at this location was a safe, clothing, and a Thompson-submachine gun. Law enforcement never released what was found in the safe or if it was connected to the case.  

After Cater was found dead, his roommate, John Henly, came to Labor Pool, where Cater worked.  Witnesses reported that he was crying and scared and that he’d be next victim.  He stated that the week prior to Cater’s death, a white man in a suit and a black man in expensive sports clothes came in several times asking for Cater.

Wayne Williams became the primary suspect in the Atlanta Child Murders investigation after he was stopped on a bridge near the area in which several victim’s bodies were found.  Williams was stopped after stopping on the bridge on May 23, 1981, the day that Cater went missing and one day before his body was found in the Chattahoochee. The Atlanta Child Murder’s Task Force was staking out local bridges when they heard a splash in the river at 3:00 am.  Williams claimed that he was locating the address for a meeting the following day. Neither the address nor the phone number that Williams gave law enforcement relating to the meeting the following day checked out. This event led to a break in the Atlanta Child Murders case. 

The state identified several fiber and hair associations between Williams and Cater.  On February 27, 1982, Wayne Williams was convicted of the murders of Nathaniel Cater and Jimmy Raye Payne.

John Harold Porter

     John Harold Porter was 28 years old and 5’10”.  Porter lived with grandmother, Selite Allen, until January or February of 1980.  It is alleged           that Porter’s grandmother put him out of  her home after he molested a 2-3 year old child in her home.  He moved in with his mother on             Capitol Avenue near Fulton County Stadium.

Porter was held in the Georgia state penitentiary in Reidsville, then transferred to Georgia Regional Hospital due to mental health challenges.  

When Porter got angry with mother, he would stay in an empty apartment building with James Charles “Old Man” Gates.  Gates was charged with killing 16 year old Angela Bacon.  He was later cleared of the murder. Bacon was murdered on August 24, 1980.  Witnesses saw her enter a green and blue station wagon with blue interior and wood panels.  The man driving the station wagon had handcuffs hanging from his car mirror and a butcher knife in the sun visor.  Bacon screamed, open the door of the vehicle and fell out of the car. The man backed over her intentionally. This occurred in close proximity to where other alleged Atlanta Child Murder victims lived, worked and were found murdered.

On April 12, 1981, Porter’s body was found in a vacant lot located at 796 NW Bender Street.  He appeared to have been stabbed on the sidewalk and propped up on the steps. His cause of death was listed as multiple stab wounds to the chest.  There were no signs of asphyxia.

Although Porter never made the official list of missing and murdered children compiled by the Atlanta Child Murder task force, the state introduced his murder as a pattern case in Williams’ trial.  The case was closed by Williams’ conviction.