Read chilling details behind Ga. murder case in Netflix’s ‘Mindhunter’

The fictional Netflix show "Mindhunter" follows two FBI agents in the early days of their research into serial killers, interviewing them to find patterns to deter future crimes. The show premiered in October 2017.

Credit: NETFLIX

Credit: NETFLIX

The fictional Netflix show "Mindhunter" follows two FBI agents in the early days of their research into serial killers, interviewing them to find patterns to deter future crimes. The show premiered in October 2017.

(This story was written to not spoil the show, but some of the events mentioned are historical. For instance, Devier was executed in 1995.)

The Netflix show “Mindhunter” details two FBI agents in the late 1970s researching serial killers before the phrase existed.

In the show, brainy hotshot FBI agent Holden Ford (played by Jonathan Groff) and old-fogey Bill Tench (played by Holt McCallany) travel the country interviewing killers in order to understand them and hopefully stop them.

Mary Stoner's Adairsville High School yearbook photo (Provided photo)

Credit: Provided photo

icon to expand image

Credit: Provided photo

During this first season — it premiered in mid-October — the story of Gene Darrell Devier and Mary Frances Stoner comes to light.

In 1979, the tree-trimmer snatched up the 12-year-old girl as she got off the bus in Adairsville, raped her in the woods and smashed her head in with a rock.

State and national media covered Devier’s case as it wove through the judicial system, including the Journal and the Constitution. (As we all remember, it wasn’t until 2001 that the newspapers merged into The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.)

We have dug through our archives and republished the following stories and pictures about the case, one of which is from 20 years after the murder. First on the list is a first-person piece recently written by a veteran AJC reporter who covered the case.

• AJC reporter reflects on Devier murder case, Stoner family's kindness

• Archive: Devier sees mom on Mother's Day — the eve of his execution

• Archive: Days before execution, the Stoners remember their quiet poet

• Archive: Parole board, court nix Devier's last-minute appeals for life

• Archive: Darrell Devier is executed for murdering, raping preteen girl

• Archive: With Devier dead, Stoner's uncle says 'we can begin healing'

• Archive: Family talks 20 years after Darrell Devier killed Mary Stoner

The show's creator David Fincher has already said that the second season will discuss the Atlanta child murders. Read more from AJC archives on Atlanta child murders.

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