Metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta

FROM OUR ARCHIVES: Atlanta’s Tragedy: An Update

A comprehensive study of the Atlanta Child Murders, and the arrest of Wayne Williams, from 1981
Atlanta Child Murders: Who were the victims?
Atlanta Child Murders Re-Opens: What’s the history?
Atlanta Child Murders: Who were the victims?
Atlanta Child Murders: Who were the victims?
Atlanta Child Murders: Who were the victims?
Atlanta Child Murders: Who were the victims?
Atlanta Child Murders: Who were the victims?
Atlanta Child Murders: Who were the victims?
Atlanta Child Murders: Who were the victims?
Atlanta Child Murders: Who were the victims?
Atlanta Child Murders: Who were the victims?
Atlanta Child Murders: Who were the victims?
Atlanta Child Murders: Who were the victims?
Atlanta Child Murders: Who were the victims?
Atlanta Child Murders: Who were the victims?
Atlanta Child Murders: Who were the victims?
Atlanta Child Murders: Who were the victims?
Atlanta Child Murders: Who were the victims?
Atlanta Child Murders: Who were the victims?
Atlanta Child Murders: Who were the victims?
Atlanta Child Murders: Who were the victims?
Atlanta Child Murders: Who were the victims?
Atlanta Child Murders: Who were the victims?
Atlanta Child Murders: Who were the victims?
Atlanta Child Murders: Who were the victims?
Atlanta Child Murders: Who were the victims?
Atlanta Child Murders: Who were the victims?
Atlanta Child Murders: Who were the victims?
Atlanta Child Murders: Who were the victims?
Atlanta Child Murders: Who were the victims?
Atlanta Child Murders: Who were the victims?
Atlanta Child Murders: Who were the victims?
1 / 32
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced March 21, 2019, that state and local authorities would take a fresh look at evidence in the cases of Atlanta’s Missing and Murdered Children. The AJC’s Joshua Sharpe reports that “police have made no commitment to actually reopen the decades-old investigation. Instead, the mayor and other officials said last week that the police department, the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation would gather evidence — such as DNA or fibers — still in their possession then determine if any of it can be retested with technologies that weren’t available in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when nearly 30 black children and young adults were killed.” HANDOUT
By Mandi Albright
June 18, 2021

Presented here, in full, is the special report “Atlanta’s Tragedy: An Update,” which ran in the combined June 28, 1981, Journal-Constitution Sunday edition. Included is the original front page story and the story package from the Perspective section.

READ THE ORIGINAL SPECIAL REPORT BELOW: To zoom in on the story, click the three bars at top right. Then click “Original Document (PDF).”

ONLINE EXCLUSIVES: Main story | Victim profiles | Case chronology | Interactive map | Complete coverage

About the Author

Mandi Albright writes the AJC's Deja News feature and is an online presentation specialist with the AJC's Digital Presentation team.

More Stories

Keep Reading

A member of a metro Atlanta Fire Department and his children place their hands on the casket of fallen DeKalb firefighter Preston Fant during a memorial service for Fant at Truist Park on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, in Atlanta. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com

‘You are my hero’: Hundreds mourn fallen DeKalb firefighter at Truist Park

Hundreds of firefighters from across the metro area gathered at Truist Park to remember Preston Fant's courage and selflessness.

34m ago
BREAKING

Atlanta officer accused of beating her dog to death, placed on leave

14m ago

Secoriea Turner’s mother testifies there were at least 2 shooters

Charmaine Turner’s voice cracked as she recalled the panic she felt the night of July 4, 2020, as she and her then-boyfriend rushed the little girl to the hospital.

The Latest

Zabria Bridges, an Atlanta police officer, was arrested Tuesday in Douglas County, authorities said.

Credit: Channel 2 Action News

BREAKING

Atlanta officer accused of beating her dog to death, placed on leave

14m ago

‘You are my hero’: Hundreds mourn fallen DeKalb firefighter at Truist Park

34m ago

Secoriea Turner’s mother testifies there were at least 2 shooters

Featured

Julian Conley listens during opening statements in his trial at Fulton County Superior Court in Atlanta on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. The 25-year-old is accused of fatally shooting 8-year-old Secoriea Turner in July 2020. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

Credit: abbey.cutrer@ajc.com

Police abandoned area where 8-year-old was shot, detective testifies

The testimony came as trial began for Julian Conley, the man accused of fatally shooting the child near the burned-down Wendy’s where Rayshard Brooks was killed weeks earlier.

Emory giving free tuition to students from families making under $200,000

Starting next academic year, Emory University will be tuition-free for undergraduates whose families earn less than $200,000, a move that could help hundreds of students.

Weekend Predictions: Another winning weekend for Falcons, Georgia Tech?

Weekend Predictions is off to a hot start. But will wins by the Atlanta Falcons, Georgia Tech and Georgia State keep this streak alive?