1
Wayne Williams
Young black men found dead in
woodland over several months
2
Atlanta, July 1979
Were the murders linked?
3
Investigation
Identical yellow-green and violet fibres
Microscopic analysis
Same fibres found on several bodies
Unusual shape
In victims’ clothing
4
February, 1981
A newspaper reported the findings of the fibres
Further bodies found
Stripped naked
Dumped in the river
5
22 May, 1981
Police watching the bridge
at 2 a.m. heard a splash
Bridge above Chattahoochee River
6
22 May, 1981
Wayne Williams arrested
Wayne Williams
Body of Nathaniel Carter found downstream
7
Two days later
Yellow-green fibres found on him
Not clothed
In his hair
8
Investigation
Suspect
Fibre evidence
Searched Wayne
Williams’s house
9
Search found
Yellow-green bedroom carpet
Fibres matched those found on 10 victims
1 in 7792 homes in Atlanta
638 995 homes in Atlanta
12 victims
10
Search found
Violet fibres from bedspread
11 victims
Dog hairs
8 victims
Fibres from car carpet
Yellow-green bedroom carpet
10 victims