Wayne Williams artwork hand tracing

This auction is for a hand tracing from wrongfully convicted murderer and accused "Atlanta Child Murderer" Wayne Bertram Williams. Between 1979 and 1981, a series of murders took place in Atlanta, Georgia. In that time period some 28 victims turned up, ranging in age from children to young adults, with all the victims being African American. In the early morning hours, on 5/22/1981, Wayne Williams came to the attention of the task force investigating that series of murders when a police stake-out member claimed to have heard a splash in the water during the time Wayne Williams was driving in the vicinity of the James Jackson Parkway Bridge. Public and political pressures grew for the police to make an arrest. Wayne Williams would finally be arrested on 6/21/1981, following the intense media circus. Even with the lack of any concrete evidence Wayne Williams would be convicted of the murderers of two adults on 2/27/1982 and sentenced to life imprisonment. Although not being convicted of a single child murder, most of those cases would be closed. In the aftermath of the trial police coercion of witnesses, evidence tampering, and Brady violations became apparent. In more recent years the Atlanta murder cases have been reopened by police with the emergence of new evidence and renewed questions about William's guilt and convictions. Wayne Williams remains incarcerated having always maintained his innocence.

ITEM DESCRIPTION: The hand tracing is signed, "Wayne Williams." It was folded twice when it was originally mailed. The drawings inside the tracing tell the story of Wayne William's journey through the criminal justice system. Wayne Williams has become very reclusive in recent years, focusing on his appeals rather than pen pals. Artwork by Williams is even more exclusive. The original mailing envelope will accompany this piece. The hand tracing and envelope both come inside a protective magazine sleeve with an acid free board and have been stored flat. Message me with any questions you might have. Thanks for having a look-see.