LEADING UP TO THE PREMIERE OF ID’S DOCUMENTARY “THE ATLANTA CHILD MURDERS,” ATLANTA POLICE REVISIT THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE MURDERS OF 22 ATLANTA CHILDREN

LEADING UP TO THE PREMIERE OF ID’S DOCUMENTARY

“THE ATLANTA CHILD MURDERS,”

ATLANTA POLICE REVISIT THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE MURDERS OF 22 ATLANTA CHILDREN

--THE ATLANTA CHILD MURDERS Premieres on Saturday, March 23^rd at 9/8ct--

(New York, NY) – Today, the Atlanta Police Department announced the re-testing of 22 murder cases, previously known as part of The Atlanta Child Murders, which have been deemed cold cases since 1981. These cases, part of 29 murders of black youths between 1979 and 1981, are the subject of the upcoming documentary THE ATLANTA CHILD MURDERS, premiering this Saturday, 3/23 on Investigation Discovery.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and Police Chief Erica Shields confirmed that technological advances in testing DNA evidence will be the main focus as the cases are reexamined. Police Chief Shields stated, “As law enforcement, we have an obligation to exhaust every conceivable avenue of investigation and make every effort to make sure these families receive closure.”

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said, “It would certainly be in order for us to look once again at evidence that the city of Atlanta has in its possession…to once again take a fresh look at these cases and to determine once and for all if there's additional evidence that may be tested that may give some peace - to the extent that peace can be had in a situation like this- to the victims' families. To let them know that we have done all that we can do...to make sure their memories are not forgotten, and in the truest sense of the word to let the world know that black lives do matter.” She later stated, “I want to acknowledge and thank my friend Will Packer who is doing a documentary on the missing and murdered children.”

Produced by famed executive producer Will Packer, Investigation Discovery’s THE ATLANTA CHILD MURDERS, delves into the many theories surrounding this decades-old case, sparking new attention on the city of Atlanta and the conviction of Wayne Williams. In 1981 Williams was convicted of the murders of two adults in the Atlanta area. The judge allowed the prosecution to attribute ten additional victims to him, essentially putting Williams on trial for the entire Atlanta Child Murders case. To date a killer has never been tried for all 29 murders.

“We are thrilled that the Atlanta Police Department has decided to reexamine these cases, and we hope this moves the city one step closer to finding the closure that these families so desperately need and deserve,” said Henry Schleiff, Group President of Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, American Heroes Channel, and Destination America.

Following the devastation of these 29 murders, the documentary  THE ATLANTA CHILD MURDERS showcases the theories surrounding this historic case. Tracing these tragedies from start to finish, THE ATLANTA CHILD MURDERS details the exhaustive investigations behind these killings, sharing how the impact of these cases still resonate in Atlanta, as well as across the nation. 

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THE ATLANTA CHILD MURDERS is produced for Investigation Discovery by Jupiter Entertainment and Will Packer Media. Harrison Land, Mike Sheridan and Allison Wallach are executive producersfor Jupiter with Will Packer and Kelly Smith for Will Packer Media. For Investigation DiscoveryPamela Deutsch is executive producer, Sara Kozak is senior vice president of production, Kevin Bennett is general manager and Henry Schleiff is Group President of Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, American Heroes Channel, and Destination America.

THE SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH CONTINUES IN INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY’S THREE-HOUR SPECIAL THE ATLANTA CHILD MURDERS

THE SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH CONTINUES IN INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY’S  THREE-HOUR SPECIAL THE ATLANTA CHILD MURDERS 

From Executive Producer Will Packer and Jupiter Entertainment, this Documentary Revisits an Emotional Chapter of National History, Finally Giving a Voice to Those it Once Silenced.  

-- Special Premieres on Saturday, March 23rd at 9/8ct, only on Investigation Discovery --

(New York, NY) – The year is 1979; the location, Atlanta. The city is enveloped in a time of change, but just when it feels like Atlanta is turning towards an era of peaceful prosperity, two 14-year-old boys go missing. A few days later a woman stumbles across their remains, with one boy fatally shot and the other strangled. This incident begins a horrifying 23 months, with a total of 29 African-American children being stolen from their families and killed. Multiple suspicions lead nowhere, and under intense pressure, local police rush to find the killer before he strikes again. The city is primed to blame someone, anyone, for these cold-blooded crimes against the community. Yet decades later, no person has been tried for these murders, and the killer has never been confirmed. THE ATLANTA CHILD MURDERS premieres on Saturday, March 23rd at 10/9PM CT only on Investigation Discovery. 

“This case remains one of our countries’ most perplexing mysteries, and at ID we are proud to shine a light on  every angle of this largely forgotten story,” says Henry Schleiff, Group President of Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, American Heroes Channel, and Destination America, “Will Packer’s vision to revisit this national tragedy through the never-before heard perspective of the victims’ families brings home the true devastation of these cases.”  

"Having lived in Atlanta for over 20 years, the story of this senseless tragedy is personally important to me, and the echoes of what happened 40 years ago still resonate in the city," says Will Packer, Executive Producer of The Atlanta Child Murders. “I am proud to give a voice to the victims' families, many of whom still seek closure to this day, and analyze how this story is more relevant than ever in today’s environment.”

For the city of Atlanta, the late 1970s was a trying time, but it was also a time for hope. An AfricanAmerican mayor had just been elected and the city was making meaningful strides towards healing the
wounds left from segregation and the conflict of the Civil Rights Movement. But this was all interrupted when 29 black children ages 9-14 were abducted, murdered, and found discarded near rivers, woods, and back alleys. At first, police believed there were multiple killers, a theory which was soon debunked. Then, after tracking consistencies among the victims, another theory developed claiming the boys were part of a high-profile sex ring for members of Atlanta society. But skepticism surrounded the police force and the investigation soon came to a dead end. Public pressure for answers mounted and the Atlanta Bureau of Public Services joined with other agencies to form the largest task force in the history of the United States. But with criticism at every corner, questions were raised about the task force’s missteps in the investigation. Police felt the pressure to find answers quickly, and as they continued to search, the question remained: has the killer been right in front of them the entire time?

In 1981 police narrow their sights on 23-year-old Wayne Williams, a black man who was suspected of killing two adults in the Atlanta area. After an exhaustive investigation, Wayne Williams was finally arrested. While he was initially charged with the murder of two adults, the judge allowed the prosecution to attribute ten additional victims to him, essentially putting Williams on trial for the entire Atlanta Child Murders case.  After the longest trial in Georgia’s history, Williams was convicted of the adult murders and sentenced to two consecutive life terms in Georgia Hancock State Prison. Although he was never tried for the murders of the children, the public jumped to place him as the culprit. But was he a scapegoat? Because he was never brought to trial, many mothers of victims do not believe Williams is the killer. Throughout the early 2000’s the facts surrounding Wayne Williams’ conviction were revisited, continuing the hunt for definitive answers. By exploring new shocking evidence and unearthing oncesecret investigations, THE ATLANTA CHILD MURDERS explores whether Wayne Williams is truly responsible for these crimes or if something far more sinister was at play in the heart of the South.

THE ATLANTA CHILD MURDERS is produced for Investigation Discovery by Jupiter Entertainment and Will Packer Media. Harrison Land, Mike Sheridan and Allison Wallach are executive producers for Jupiter with Will Packer and Kelly Smith for Will Packer Media. For Investigation Discovery Pamela Deutsch is executive producer, Sara Kozak is senior vice president of production, Kevin Bennett is general manager and Henry Schleiff is Group President of Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, American Heroes Channel, and Destination America.

ABOUT WILL PACKER MEDIA Led by Hollywood producer Will Packer, Will Packer Media is a first-of-its-kind production and branded content company focused on the New American Mainstream audience, with an urban millennial core. In partnership with Discovery, Inc. and Universal Pictures, the company produces episodic scripted and unscripted series across television and digital platforms, compelling content for brand clients, and shortform digital content for millennial audiences. Will Packer’s films have earned more than $1 billion, with ten opening at number one at the box office.

ABOUT INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY (ID) Investigation Discovery (ID) is the leading crime and justice network on television, delivering the highest-quality programming to approximately 85 million U.S. households. From harrowing crimes to indepth investigations and heart-breaking mysteries behind these “real people, real stories”, the always revealing network challenges our understanding of culture, society and the human condition. The #1 network for women in all of cable, ID’s programming is available in both high definition (HD) and standard definition (SD), as well as anytime and anywhere through the network’s TV Everywhere offering, IDGo. For exclusive web content and bonus material, fans can follow ID on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook or check out the network’s true crime blog, CrimeFeed. 

Investigation Discovery is part of Discovery, Inc. (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), a global leader in real life entertainment, serving a passionate audience of superfans around the world with content that inspires, informs and entertains. Available in 220 countries and territories and 50 languages, Discovery delivers over 8,000 hours of original programming each year and has category leadership across deeply loved content genres around the world. For additional information about ID, please visit InvestigationDiscovery.com