Have The Atlanta Child Murders Been Solved? Inside The Cases Featured On Investigation Discovery Special

From 1979 to 1981, a series of murders, mostly of adolescents, were committed in Atlanta, Georgia. A total of 28 black children were killed, and a handful of the cases continue to be frustrating for those left mourning their lost loved ones. While some of the murder cases were closed, five remain open, unanswered and unexplained. Investigation Discovery's The Atlanta Child Murders, which will premiere Saturday, will shine a light on those solved and unsolved cases that plagued a city.

The divide in solved and unsolved cases come with county lines. The murders that occurred in Fulton County have long been closed. Wayne Williams was convicted of two adult murders in 1982 and is currently serving two life sentences, according to All Things Interesting. While a number of the child murders have also been linked to Williams, he was never tried for them. He also claims he's innocent.

Today, there are a handful of questions surrounding William's guilt or involvement. The podcast, Atlanta Monster, took listeners inside the murders, William's alleged guilt and a seeming lack of evidence to convict him, or even tie him to the crimes.

Now, with the spotlight back on the 28 murders, it begs the question: will the cases be reopened? With new, advancing technology in DNA analysis, could there be hope for justice in each murder? Atlanta Mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms said it's time to reexamine the murders, CNN reported Thursday.

Bottoms revealed unexamined evidence in the cases will be looked at now, 40 years later. She gave no promises of discovered answers, or of a future conviction. "There may not be any evidence available that can be re-examined," Bottoms said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. "But we are taking the necessary steps to formally say that we are going to open up every box and look in every corner and see what we have left."

She also noted the controversy surrounding Williams, and admitted it's worth examining. "I don't think it's any secret that, for many people, there've been questions as to whether or not Wayne Williams was responsible for all of the murders."

While The Atlanta Child Murders may not give answers to the 40-year-old killing spree, it has the power to reopen the conversation on the stale cases, while educating the public on what happened when the black community was targeted in a series of heinous crimes that were never forgotten.