Atlanta Child Murders
Freddie Lee Granger Jr., 68, was arrested on March 31, 2026, in connection with the 1984 rape and murder of Sandra Kaye Davis, a case linked by DNA technology, with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation continuing its inquiry. As of February 14, 2026, Wayne Williams was again denied parole, while families of the Atlanta Child Murders victims await DNA results. In October 2021, the Atlanta Police Department sent over 40-year-old evidence to a private lab in Utah for DNA retesting, a process funded in June 2021 and announced by then-Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms in July 2021, with DNA identified and sampled in two cases. Relatives and advocates held a press conference in November 2025 seeking updates on DNA testing, with Catherine Leach, mother of victim Curtis Walker, expressing doubt about Williams' guilt. The city of Atlanta dedicated the 'Eternal Flame' memorial to the victims in June 2023, and by October 2023, the number of known dead had increased to 15.
Timeline
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March 2026 — 1 developments
Freddie Lee Granger Jr. arrested for 1984 rape and murder of Sandra Kaye Davis
Freddie Lee Granger Jr., 68, was arrested on March 31, 2026, in connection with the 1984 rape and murder of Sandra Kaye Davis. DNA technology linked Granger to the crime, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is continuing its investigation.
February 2026 — 1 developments
Wayne Williams Denied Parole Again by Georgia Board; Atlanta Child Murders DNA Results Pending
Wayne Williams has once again been denied parole by the Georgia parole board. Families of the victims are still awaiting DNA results in the Atlanta Child Murders case.
November 2025 — 1 developments
Atlanta Child Murders Victims' Relatives Seek DNA Testing Updates
Relatives and advocates of victims of the Atlanta Child Murders held a press conference to seek updates on DNA testing. Catherine Leach, mother of victim Curtis Walker, expressed doubt that Wayne Williams killed her child.
March 2024 — 1 developments
Atlanta Dedicates 'Eternal Flame' Memorial to Child Murders Victims
In June 2023, the city of Atlanta dedicated the 'Eternal Flame' memorial to the victims of the Atlanta Child Murders, featuring a 52-foot wall with victims' names and a shelf for tributes.
October 2023 — 1 developments
Search for victims discovers two more bodies, raising death toll to 15
The search for victims led to the discovery of two more bodies, increasing the number of known dead to 15.
December 2022 — 1 developments
Victim Families Demand Release of DNA Retesting Results From Utah Lab
As of November 2022, no report had been issued by the Utah lab a year after DNA samples were sent for retesting. In December 2022, families of victims publicly demanded the release of DNA testing results, expressing frustration over the lack of updates.
October 2022 — 1 developments
Wayne Williams' attorney seeks answers on DNA samples from reopened investigation
Wayne Williams' new attorney, Janis Mann, met with him in prison and is seeking answers regarding two DNA samples sent to a specialized testing facility in Utah in 2021 as part of the reopened investigation.
October 2021 — 1 developments
Atlanta Police sent child murders evidence to private lab for DNA retesting
The Atlanta Police Department sent over 40-year-old evidence from the Atlanta child murders to a private lab in Utah for DNA retesting in October 2021. This retesting utilizes new technology unavailable during Wayne Williams' 1982 trial.
July 2021 — 1 developments
Mayor Bottoms announces DNA identified in Atlanta Child Murders cases
In July 2021, then-Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced that DNA had been identified and sampled in two cases related to the Atlanta Child Murders and sent to a private lab for further analysis. Investigators had reviewed approximately 40% of the collected evidence at that time.
June 2021 — 1 developments
Atlanta Police Secure Funding to Retest DNA in Child Murders Cases
Atlanta police announced in June 2021 that they secured funding to retest DNA evidence in the Atlanta Child Murders cases. This development followed the 2019 reopening of the inquiry into the unsolved cases.
May 2020 — 1 developments
Documentary highlights unsolved murders of young people, suggests political involvement
The documentary highlights concerns that the cases of murdered young people were never solved and suggests the case involves politics, greed, racism, and murder. Critics argue the hasty resolution, pinning the crimes on one African American man, served to maintain the status quo and deny the impact of race and class.
December 2019 — 1 developments
Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles Denies Wayne Williams Parole
The Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles denied parole for Wayne Williams in November 2019, stating he had served an insufficient amount of time given the nature of his offenses.
November 2019 — 1 developments
Wayne Williams denied parole, next eligible in 2027
Wayne Williams was denied parole in November 2019 and is scheduled to be next eligible for parole in November 2027.
March 2019 — 1 developments
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms to reopen Atlanta Missing and Murdered Children cases
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced that the city would reopen the cases of the Atlanta Missing and Murdered Children to re-examine evidence with new DNA technology.
May 2005 — 1 developments
DeKalb County Police Chief Louis Graham reopened investigations into five deaths, expressing doubts about Williams' guilt.
DeKalb County Police Chief Louis Graham reopened investigations into the deaths of five victims from that county, expressing doubts about Williams' guilt in all attributed cases. The re-investigation was dropped in June 2006.
March 1982 — 1 developments
Williams linked to 20 additional Atlanta Child Murders cases, effectively closing them
Following Williams' conviction, law enforcement officials linked him to 20 additional Atlanta Child Murders cases, effectively closing them.
February 1982 — 1 developments
Jury finds Wayne Williams guilty of murders, sentenced to two life terms
After an 11-hour deliberation, a jury found Wayne Williams guilty of the murders of Nathaniel Cater and Jimmy Ray Payne. He was sentenced to two consecutive life terms.
June 1981 — 1 developments
Wayne Williams arrested for murders of Nathaniel Cater and Jimmy Ray Payne
Wayne Williams was arrested for the murders of Nathaniel Cater and Jimmy Ray Payne.
May 1981 — 1 developments
Wayne Williams stopped by police near Chattahoochee River before body found downstream
Wayne Williams first became a suspect after being stopped by police near a bridge over the Chattahoochee River where a splash was heard. The body of Nathaniel Cater was found downstream two days later.
November 1980 — 1 developments
FBI launches major investigation into Atlanta Child Murders, dedicating two dozen agents
The FBI launched a major case investigation, dedicating over two dozen agents to the Atlanta Child Murders task force.
April 1980 — 1 developments
Camille Bell forms Committee to Stop Children's Murders amid rising deaths
As the number of missing and slain children grew, parents like Camille Bell formed the Committee to Stop Children's Murders, suspecting a connection between the deaths.
July 1979 — 1 developments
Bodies of Edward Hope Smith and Alfred Evans Discovered, Marking Start of Atlanta Child Murders
The bodies of 14-year-old Edward Hope Smith and 13-year-old Alfred Evans, both African American, were discovered in a vacant lot, marking the beginning of the Atlanta Child Murders.