Atlanta's Missing and Murdered: The Lost Children

Normally, I hesitate at watching a true crime documentaries (we've all seen it) inside the mind of the killer type of deal where it's told from the perspective of the confirmed killer and then cut to the testimony of the people who grew up with him. Or the cliche reconstruction of the police investigation along with testimony from law enforcement personnel who worked those particular cases. Yes, the documentary minimally includes these elements mentioned above as a form of constructing context for the Child Murders that rocked the city of Atlanta in the late 70's to early 80's. But this documentary is far more compelling and bold in its storytelling than your typical standardized true crime 'crapola/junk'. The documentary does a magnificent job of not only depicting the horrifying nature of Atlanta's innocent children being murdered. But also manages to vividly illustrate to the viewer the historical and social factors (particularly the strong class divide that plagued the city especially it's African American communities) that caused the city of Atlanta to downplay the extent of the murders (as a manner of not scaring away economic investment) hence leading to more children being vulnerable to becoming a victim of targeted attacks. As seen in the documentary the city that was touted as being too busy to hate actually turned out to be the city that was too busy to properly investigate. Never forget the beautiful children that where taken way before their time in the city of Atlanta (1979-1981).

This documentary is about the murders of some of Atlanta's youth from 1979 to 1981, allegedly by Wayne Williams who was convicted of two adult murders unrelated to the kidnapping and murders of 29 children. Atlanta was the first major city in America to have an African American elected official, he hired an African American police commissioner during this time to ensure fairness to the African American community. Watching this mini-series you will learn all the other information that was withheld from the public for the last four decades. This miniseries is a must-watch, regardless of what some people may saying in their reviews, this documentary has nothing to do with racism or the African American community for blaming white people for the loses of the black children, but the opportunity for 29 cold cases to be solved.

"HBO" has once again done it with an eye opening real investigative doc that ask new questions and challenges old answers, as with this "Atlanta's Missing and Murdered: The Lost Children" it examines in blunt brash detail the murders and apparent serial killings of young black children from 1979 to 1981. The footage is gripping and tough seeing the crime scene photos and news footage of young bloody black boys in the woods and along riverbanks. Interviews are given with family members of the deceased like mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and grandparents, as you the viewer see their pain and emotion as they still search for answers over 40 years later. Plus interviews are given with the Atlanta police detectives, and F.B.I. investigators and both sides of the legal teams the prosecution and defense. As you get to hear both sides story and see the evidence for yourself. And these murder cases all tied into poverty, and race as clearly these murders put a stain on the rising city of the South. Also the theory and possibility of the Klan being involved in the murders is highlighted and spotlighted plus you ask the question was the federal government playing a game of race against Mr. Williams. Overall you call it and be the judge, was he guilty or not? Were their other serial killers who knows, overall well done in depth blunt eye opening brash investigative doc that still asks and searches for answers.

You know, it's really sad how some people have to turn everything into a race war without sensibly processing truth, reality and more importantly context. This is not a docu-series made to condemn or bash Whites. It is literally an actual account of what happened, and the effect it had on the Black community of Atlanta in the late 70s, early 80s. It is not some biased twisted narrative that the filmmakers are trying to use to pit one race against the other.

Sadly of course this will fall on (some) deaf ears but my experience was extremely positive. It really gave me a sense of the climate in ATL during that time. It's poignant, eye-opening and yes, at times angering because it presents to the viewer objectively what actually occurred and the fact that it took 9 murders before it was even taken seriously.

Very very well done ! The next episode can't come soon enough.

An important story and very detailed but the amount of crime scene and autopsy photos diminish rather than add to the storytelling. The victims were mainly children and that these photos were used and used so much it is as if it they were murdered again.