‘How It Really Happened with Hill Harper’ Season 5: Atlanta Murders and its homosexual or pedophile connection
“Do you know where your children are?” — the ominous question was repeated again and again in an ominous tone from 1979 to 1981 in Atlanta, Georgia when at least 28 children, adolescents and adults were killed. HLN's ‘How It Really Happened with Hill Harper’ stresses upon the infamous incident with an intro that reads: More than two dozen of Atlanta’s Black children — mostly boys and young men — disappeared without a trace. Who was killing the city’s most vulnerable... and why?
Titled 'The Atlanta Serial Killer, Part 1 - Do You Know Where Your Children Are?', the first part of the series delves deep into one of the darkest chapters in Atlanta's history. Children were found murdered, most of them strangled, their bodies left in woods, abandoned buildings and rivers. As panic swept the city, police were under intense pressure and launched a desperate search to find out who was the mastermind behind it.
Danny Agan, Retired Homicide Detective, Atlanta Police Department recalled the day when it first struck the city. It was July 28, 1979. Two 14-year-olds Edward Hope Smith (known as Teddy) and Alfred Evans (known as Q) disappeared four days apart and their bodies were found in a wooded area and Smith had been shot with a .22 caliber gun in his upper back.
With snippets of others involved in the case, the docuseries goes on to investigate what really happened and why it hasn't been solved yet. Reporter Ernie Suggs, Camille Bell, mother of Yusuf Bell, Willie Mae Mathis, mother of Jefferey Mathis, and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms are a few among the real-life personalities and experts featured in the documentary. By the middle of July 1980, eight children were found dead and three others missing.
In the docuseries, Bottoms said, "People didn't even realize that we had a problem on our hands," and continued, "A boogeyman was amongst us and he was taking children from us." She then added, "There were talks about whether it Klu Klux Klan." The docuseries then hints on all the problems with the case, especially the lack of crime scene, evidence and witnesses. At one point, the docuseries elucidates how some people thought there was sexual paraphernalia involved.
So, was there a sexual motive behind the crimes? It seems quite unlikely. "The bodies had been thoroughly examined and no sign of sexual assault at all. None. But that didn't stop us from examining bodies," Robert Michael, Special Intelligence Officer said in the docuseries. Moreover, a 1981 report by New York Times Magazine reads: "None had been mutilated and none, according to the results of oral, rectal and other examinations, had been sexually assaulted. But law-enforcement officials and forensic scientists have not ruled out sexual attraction as a possible motive in the 10 or more cases that, in the past six months, they have come to believe are the work of one killer, one whom they fear may be feeding upon the publicity surrounding the case."
However, the speculation became more controversial after the first female victim, 12-year-old Angel Lanier was found tied to a tree. Reports say an electrical cord was wrapped around her neck and white underwear stuffed in her mouth. As per a report in Noteworthy-The Journal Blog, "The coroner determined she died from ligature strangulation and said that while Angel’s hymen was broken and there was genital bruising, no sexual assault had occurred." That was not the only sexual connection in the case. Several missing children were connected to Tom Terrell, a 63-year-old pedophile who allegedly took sexual favors at his house on Gray Street.
Timothy Hill, 13, disappeared on March 11, 1981, after playing with his niece. As per the same report, his niece said he got into a taxi and a man threw “mud” on his face. Later, reports claimed Terrell’s next-door neighbor reported seeing Timmy on Gray Street on March 10 and revealed that Terrell and Timmy frequently had sex. According to the same report, Terrell himself confessed that he engaged in sexual acts with the boy and Timmy had allegedly spent the night at Terrell’s the day before his disappearance. Moreover, his body was dumped at a spot for victims from the 1970s who had been killed after being employed in homosexual entertainment venues.
Another victim, 23-year-old Michael McIntosh, knew Timmy and reportedly had spent time at Tom Terrell’s house on Gray Street. His body was found naked and the cause of death was undetermined asphyxiation. Nathaniel Cater, 27, was also reported to be a self-confessed homosexual, alcoholic and drug dealer and his body was found floating in the Chattahoochee on May 24, 1981.
Much later, Wayne Williams was connected to the case and he was reported to be a closeted homosexual. While no concrete proof was found, the reports which claimed the missing children sold themselves for sexual favors at the Gray Street house were brushed off under the carpet. While the HLN docuseries downplays the sexual motive, an HBO docuseries 'Atlanta's Missing and Murdered: The Lost Children' earlier stressed upon the fact that there were images of child sexual abuse, and the task force did investigate the pedophile ring.
At that time, the extensive investigation covered Terrell, who lived in the neighborhood surrounding the OMNI plaza; child pornographer John David Wilcoxen, in whose house the police found pictures of naked Black children and homosexual sex offender James 'Jamie' Brooks, whom a witness claimed to have seen murdering victim, Clifford Jones.
Catch the first part of the series on HLN as the first part airs from 9 to 10 pm.