Review and utilize the information you gathered for your Annotated Bibliography and Literature Review (Attached). In addition, review the assigned readings from the text. The Final Project is made up of two parts; both will be based on the Wayne Williams/Atlanta Child Murders case. The Final Project builds on the culmination of information you acquired in each of week of this course. The first part of the project consists of a written report where you will contrast the handling and processing of evidence at the time of the case with the accepted procedures in use today.
The second part of the project consists of a video presentation of evidence from the case. The purpose of the written report and the presentation is for you to utilize the learning achieved in the course by evaluating the scientific techniques used to process evidence found at crime scenes, examining ethical issues pertaining to the forensic evidence, as well as articulating legal issues related to the use of forensic testing of evidence.
For your Final Project, you will take on the role of the commander of the investigations division. You have been tasked to write a report for the chief’s office on the Wayne Williams’ case evidence. Additionally, you have been requested to create a video presentation for a citizens’ police academy class, which is currently reviewing the crime scene evidence analysis of the Wayne Williams’ case.
Wayne Williams Case Evidence Staff Study—Part I: The Written Report
The Written Report must include evidence from all of the different crime scenes of the Williams’ case. In your report, you must
- 1. Explain different techniques used to process non-biological trace, biological, and digital evidence in the field, as well as a laboratory setting relevant to this case.
- 2. Compare how major pieces of evidence were handled at the time of discovery and contrast that to how it would be handled today.
- 3. Examine legal and ethical issues related to judicial admissibility regarding collection and forensic testing of non-biological, biological, and digital evidence, including current challenges and emerging issues that are relevant to the case.
- 4. Analyze any legal or court issues that have emerged subsequent to the initial investigation.
- 5. Differentiate evidence admissibility standards between then and now.
- 6. Explain the differences in handling or processing procedures and the evolution in forensics that have occurred that would influence this case.
- 7. Evaluate the preferred methods and techniques used in the field and the laboratory as they pertain to this case.
The Written Report
- Must be a minimum of ten double-spaced pages in length, not including title and references pages) and formatted according to APA
- In Text Citing
- The written report must include a separate title page with the following:
- The written report must use at least eight scholarly and credible sources in addition to the course text.
- The written report must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA style
- The written report must document all sources in APA style
Wayne Williams Case Evidence Staff Study—Part II: The Presentation
In the role of commander of the investigations division, create a five-minute PowerPoint/Screencast-O-Matic presentation for a citizens’ police academy class which summarizes the evidence found in the Wayne Williams/Atlanta Child Murders case.
This brief presentation should highlight important aspects of forensics as seen in the Wayne Williams case as well as how forensics have evolved. Utilize your written report as a source for the presentation material; however, the presentation should not be a duplicate of the written staff report, but should be phrased in a way that the non-law enforcement members of the citizens’ academy can understand the processes and legal aspects involved in introducing the evidence at a trial. After creating the PowerPoint presentation, create a Screencast-O-Matic recording of the presentation, which is an online recording of you narrating the PowerPoint. For the recording portion, you may use any screen casting platform you wish. (Quick-start guides for Screencast-O-Matic (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site., and Jing (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. are provided for your convenience.)
Your presentation must be clear and provide the audience with an understanding of the purpose and meaning of the evidence analysis including the following elements.
Provide a high-level overview of the processing procedures.
Evaluate the probative value of the evidence and legal or ethical issues, in addition to why certain methods should or should not have been used.
This brief presentation should highlight important aspects of forensics as seen in the Wayne Williams case and how forensics have evolved. In addition, in your presentation, you must
- 1. Explain why each type of evidence is important to this case.
- 2. Explain different techniques that might be used to process non-biological trace, biological, and digital evidence in the field and in a laboratory setting.
- 3. Examine legal and ethical issues related to judicial admissibility regarding collection and forensic testing of non-biological, biological, and digital evidence, including current challenges and emerging issues that are relevant to the case.
- 4. Evaluate techniques used in the field and the laboratory, identifying which is the preferred method and why.
Include visual enhancements in your presentation. These may include appropriate images, a consistent font, appropriate animations, and transitions from content piece-to-content piece and slide-to-slide. Images should be cited in APA format
You may wish to use the Where to Get Free (and Legal) Images (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. guide for assistance with accessing freely available public domain and/or Creative Commons licensed images.
Access Simple Rules for Better PowerPoint Presentations (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site., which provides useful assistance with creating successful PowerPoint presentations.
As mentioned earlier, after you have created your PowerPoint, you will create a screencast of your presentation. Your screencast may not exceed 5 minutes. It is highly recommended that you create a script and/or speaker’s notes for your PowerPoint to ensure that your screencast will meet the time requirements. This will also allow you to practice your presentation prior to recording it. Once your screencast has been created, copy and paste the URL to your screencast into written document. There is no need to upload the PowerPoint presentation to the system. Save it in a safe place in case there are any issues in creating the screencast.
The Screencast/PowerPoint presentation
- Must be a minimum of 10 slides, excluding the cover and references slides.
- The presentation must contain a cover page and reference pages in APA
- In-Text Citing
The presentation must include a minimum of four scholarly or credible sources, in addition to any required readings from class used.
Please read and understand assignment. This is a 2 part assignment.
Here are some articles to assist:
http://www.schooltube.com/video/1263f634c20e41c0af86/CNN%20Atlanta%20Child%20Murders:%20Interview%20with%20Prosecutor%20in%20Wayne%20Williams%20Case
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2010/atlanta.child.murders/
http://law.jrank.org/pages/3349/Wayne-Williams-Trial-1981.html
Also attached that is required.
Running head: WAYNE WILLIAMS MURDER CASE ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 1
WAYNE WILLIAMS MURDER CASE ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 9
Wayne Williams Murder Case Annotated Bibliography
Janelle Dean
CRJ627: Advanced Forensic Science
Professor: Brett Bauman
January 19th, 2018
Wayne Williams Murder Case Annotated Bibliography
BACM Research. 1989. Atlanta Child Murders. FBI Files. Retrieved From: https://vault.fbi.gov/Atlanta%20Child%20Murders
The different files shared in this source shows a collection of evidence which is explained by different of conspiracy theories. It was not until one of the surveillance teams heard a loud splash in one of the rivers that the investigators had their first contact with the suspect Wayne Bertram Williams. Due to lack of probable cause, he was left to go free. Two days later the body of Nathaniel Carter, 27-year-old African-American was found in the river. Wayne Williams was taken through a polygraph test which he failed. The fibers and dog hair which was found in William’s house matched those found in one of the victim’s body. Further tests also showed that many other victims matched 19 other sources of fibers which were either from William’s car or house.
FBI, (2014). Serial Killers Part 5: Wayne Williams and the Atlanta Child Murders. FBI NEWS. Retrieved from https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/-serial-killers-part-5-wayne-williams-and-the-atlanta-child-murders
The article by the FBI reporting mentions the participation of the various agencies which were involved and analyses how the information and evidence which were collected suggested that the series of murders were carried out by one person. The nature of the murder crimes appeared not to fall under the specific federal law. However, on November 17th, 1980, the FBI agents together with the local and state law officers embarked on intensive investigations which identified various shared traits in the murder crimes. For example; all of the murder victims were young African-American males who disappeared in public locations in broad daylight. The capture of Wayne Williams came after he was investigated for the murder of Nathaniel Cater whose body was found downstream Chattahoochee River. Earlier, Wayne Williams was apprehended by one of the surveillance team after they heard a loud splash in the river.
Gentry, M. (October 31, 2017). The Atlanta Child Murders: The man in prison. The Atlanta Journal. Retrieved January 19, 2018, from http://www.myajc.com/news/crime–law/the-atlanta-child-murders- the-man-prison/Mx918z122WFLvqKaaoag8J/
The life profile of Wayne Bertram Williams has been shared as one that feels out of glory due to the recent murder cases he was linked to. He allegedly started his acts of terror after he ventured into the entertainment industry as a record producer. Even though he was never accused of killing any children, the prosecutor named him as a stressed individual who resulted in crude ways after he could no longer bare his depression. Being in the entertainment industry introduced William to many young people as he would scout for young people who wanted to be part of the music industry. Later he would lure them to their death whereby most of them would go missing for days never to be found. This report shows how William’s life transformed from being a lovable boy to being a feared convict in Atlanta.
Gilligan, M. (March 07, 2017). Wayne Williams and the Atlanta Child Murders. Did You Know? Retrieved January 19, 2018, from http://didyouknowfacts.com/wayne-williams-atlanta-child-murders/
Between 1979 and 1981 the increasing number of disappearing young African-American children in Atlanta was at alarming rate bringing fear among the citizens. This attracted the attention of the leaders, and immediate precautionary action had to be taken to put a stop to this menace. Investigations indicated that the victims were being snatched in broad daylight from the streets of the city. One of these victims was a seven-year-old girl, Latonya Wilson who went missing on June 22nd, 1980. According to this report, the FBI in partnership with the city’s law enforces started their investigation one year after the murders began. Upon stumbling into Wayne Williams’s murder case, most of the evidence of the murders of two adults were almost similar to those which were found in the murder cases of the African-American children.
Headley, B. (1998). The Atlanta youth murders and the politics of race. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press.
Most of the 29 killings reported in Atlanta between 1979 and 1981 involved young African-American boys who were believed to be kidnapped and murdered. This could easily be suspected as a racial conflict in Atlanta which would result in a racial war. The idea of the intensive investigation was to erase the thought that the Ku Klux Klan might have done these deaths. Therefore, the state’s law enforcers teamed up with the FBI to place surveillance teams in some of the areas where bodies of the victims were dumped in order to bust the murder(s). Would it be possible that the Atlanta Police Department covered up any pieces of evidence linking the murders of the African-American children with the KKK?
Mallard, J. (2010). The Atlanta child murders: the night stalker. Charleston, SC: Booksurge Llc.
Having served as a prosecutor in Georgia, Jack Mallard analyses the case of serial killer Wayne Bertram Williams as the most controversial, and publicized case in the country. Williams caused terror in the city of Atlanta, Georgia as being the orchestrator of the mission and murdered children. There were a total of 28 victims who were found murdered within two years. The killings in Atlanta ended after the arrest of Williams whereby there has never been such cases ever since. Besides the evidence produced against Williams, he was suspected of suffering from some mental illness due to the turn of events in his life. This book suggests that there are some reasons which led Williams to commit the murder crimes which he is serving punishment in life imprisonment.
Nickell, J. (2011). The Atlanta Child Murders: Evidence vs. Psychics. CSICOP Retrieved January 19, 2018, from: https://www.csicop.org/sb/show/the_atlanta_child_murders_evidence_vs._psychics
The reports in this article seek to question the validity of the evidence which was provided for the murder cases alleged to be carried out by Wayne Williams. One of these arguments includes the claims by Williams’s defense attorneys who sought to discredit the fiber evidence. The attorney argues that the particular fiber linked to William could have been found in any other person’s home or car. However, this argument was challenged by the prosecution which conveyed that there was limited number of people who had the carpet which had that exact fiber. This article also seeks to question whether William was the only one owning a Chevrolet vehicle. Other assumptions are that he could have borrowed the vehicle. However, it was not a coincidence that the family’s dog hair was found in most of the victim’s body. Therefore this overrules most of these arguments.
NoAuthorFound, (2015, December 21). Wayne Williams Biography. Retrieved January 19, 2018, from https://www.biography.com/people/wayne-williams-14424594
The life of Wayne Williams has been partially discussed in this article which shows his conspiracy in carrying out various murders which in each he tried to hide any trace that would lead to his capture. According to the synopsis of the case, everything about the different murders leads to Wayne Williams. The first site which was identified as Williams’s dumping site was in isolated wooded areas. But after realizing that he would be identified he changed his MO to the Chattahoochee River. This made it easier for the investigators to carry out surveillance operations and they narrowed their focus to the 14 bridges of this river. Upon bumping into Williams on one of the bridges, two days before the body of another victim was found in the river opened a series of connection which led to the arrest and trial of Williams.
Polk, J. (September 6, 2010). DNA test strengthens Atlanta child killings case. CNN. Retrieved January 19, 2018, from http://edition.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/06/09/williams.dna.test/index.html
When William went on trial for the Atlanta child murders investigation, the courtroom science did not consider DNA testing as an important tool of the investigation. But since it was incorporated in courtroom science there have been clarifications on the sources of the scalp of hairs which were found on bodies of most of the 27 murder-victims. Even though the retired FBI scientist, Harold Deadman testified about the hair belonging to William, he continued to deny most of the charges. However, the dog hairs on the body of a victim, Baltazar showed the same DNA sequence as that of “Sheba” which was a German Shepherd belonging to William’s family. According to the DNA report the same DNA chain.
Rowson, K. (April 30, 2015). Atlanta Child Murders: Wayne Williams hopes for appeal. USA TODAY. Retrieved January 19, 2018, from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/local/2015/04/30/wayne-williams-hair-evidence-fbi/26678019/
William was convicted of the murder of two adults in 1982, where he was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. However, the prosecutors still believe that he is responsible for the murders of 23 children out of the 29 reported child murders that happened in Atlanta. William still stood with his claim that he was innocent of the murder cases and hoped that new evidence and information would surface to give him a lease on life. According to the report, 96 percent of the evidence provided by the FBI hair analysis might have been faulty. This leaves us to question the integrity of the law enforces and the investigation systems. Does this mean that a serial killer is roaming freely instead of being behind bars?
References
BACM Research. 1989. Atlanta Child Murders. FBI Files. Retrieved From: https://vault.fbi.gov/Atlanta%20Child%20Murders
FBI, (2014). Serial Killers Part 5: Wayne Williams and the Atlanta Child Murders. FBI NEWS. Retrieved from https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/-serial-killers-part-5-wayne-williams-and-the-atlanta-child-murders
Gentry, M. (October 31, 2017). The Atlanta Child Murders: The man in prison. The Atlanta Journal. Retrieved January 19, 2018, from http://www.myajc.com/news/crime–law/the-atlanta-child-murders- the-man-prison/Mx918z122WFLvqKaaoag8J/
Gilligan, M. (March 07, 2017). Wayne Williams and the Atlanta Child Murders. Did You Know? Retrieved January 19, 2018, from http://didyouknowfacts.com/wayne-williams-atlanta-child-murders/
Headley, B. (1998). The Atlanta youth murders and the politics of race. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press.
Mallard, J. (2010). The Atlanta child murders: the night stalker. Charleston, SC: Booksurge Llc.
Nickell, J. (2011). The Atlanta Child Murders: Evidence vs. Psychics. CSICOP Retrieved January 19, 2018, from: https://www.csicop.org/sb/show/the_atlanta_child_murders_evidence_vs._psychics
NoAuthorFound, (2015, December 21). Wayne Williams Biography. Retrieved January 19, 2018, from https://www.biography.com/people/wayne-williams-14424594
Polk, J. (September 6, 2010). DNA test strengthens Atlanta child killings case. CNN. Retrieved 19 January 2018, from http://edition.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/06/09/williams.dna.test/index.html
Rowson, K. (April 30, 2015). Atlanta Child Murders: Wayne Williams hopes for appeal. USA TODAY. Retrieved January 19, 2018, from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/local/2015/04/30/wayne-williams-hair-evidence-fbi/26678019/
