Photos: 51 years later, memorial garden dedicated to slain Marietta 9-year-old

Metro Atlanta

Photos: 51 years later, memorial garden dedicated to slain Marietta 9-year-old

Debbie Lynn Randall's disappearance and killing stunned a metro Atlanta community in January 1972.

Melvin Randall, the brother of Debbie Lynn Randall releases a butterfly during a garden dedication in honor of his sister on Thursday, October 19, 2023. Investigators recently identified the killer of 9-year-old Randall, who was murdered in 1972. (Natrice Miller/ Natrice.miller@ajc.com)

Views of a memorial garden at Girls Inc. of Greater Atlanta dedicated to Debbie Lynn Randall shown on Thursday, October 19, 2023. Investigators recently identified the killer of 9-year-old Randall, who was murdered in 1972. (Natrice Miller/ Natrice.miller@ajc.com)

Joyce Dunaway Parker, who founded the Cobb-Marietta Girls Club after the 1972 murder of nine year old Debbie Lynn Randall, prepares to speak during the memorial garden dedication in honor of Randall on Thursday, October 19, 2023. Investigators recently identified the killer of 9-year-old Randall, who was murdered in 1972. (Natrice Miller/ Natrice.miller@ajc.com)

Detective Morris Nix (right) looks on as District Attorney Flynn Brady speaks during a garden dedication and butterfly release in honor of nine-year-old Debbie Lynn Randall on Thursday, October 19, 2023. Investigators recently identified the killer of 9-year-old Randall, who was murdered in 1972. (Natrice Miller/ Natrice.miller@ajc.com)

Views of pebbles painted by students at Marietta Center for Advanced Academics shown in the garden dedicated to nine-year-old Debbie Lynn Randall on Thursday, October 19, 2023. Investigators recently identified the killer of 9-year-old Randall, who was murdered in 1972. (Natrice Miller/ Natrice.miller@ajc.com)

Cobb County District Attorney Flynn Broady (right) comforts Melvin Randall, the brother of Debbie Lynn Randall during a garden dedication in honor of his sister on Thursday, October 19, 2023. Investigators recently identified the killer of 9-year-old Randall, who was murdered in 1972. (Natrice Miller/ Natrice.miller@ajc.com)

Melvin Randall, the brother of Debbie Lynn Randall releases a butterfly as Joyce Dunaway Parker, founder of Cobb-Marietta Girls Club looks on during a garden dedication in honor of his sister on Thursday, October 19, 2023. Investigators recently identified the killer of 9-year-old Randall, who was murdered in 1972. (Natrice Miller/ Natrice.miller@ajc.com)

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Credit: Natrice Miller/AJC

Melvin Randall, the brother of Debbie Lynn Randall releases a butterfly during a garden dedication in honor of his sister on Thursday, October 19, 2023. Investigators recently identified the killer of 9-year-old Randall, who was murdered in 1972. (Natrice Miller/ Natrice.miller@ajc.com)