◆ SpookStack

The Attorney Ceneral As of 11/6/80, fifteen black child iren from the metropolitan Atlanta area had been included in the Task Force's murdered? and aiss- ing children list; however, eleven of the children had already been discovered murdered within the Atlanta area. : On 11/6/80, former Attorney General Benjanin R. Civiletti authorized and requested the FBI to initiate an imnediate preliminary investigation to determine whether the missing black children in the Atlanta, Georgia, area were being held in violation of the Federal Kidnaping Statute, Title 18, United States Code, Section 1201. In ction with the investigation, the PBI, of necessity, was required connection with nvestigation, the PBI, of necessity, was required to examine the disappearance of the black children whose bodies had been recovered. Prior to 11/6/80, it was the opinion of our Atlanta Division and former United States Attorney William Harper, Northern District of Georgia, that the F3I lacked a jurisdictional basis for active investigation, On 11/7/80 at the direction of the Attorney General, the FBI began to set up the framework for conducting a major case investi-~ gation and to establish guidelines for the inyeatia aqatio gation an establish guideline westigation. A review of the Task Force investigation was conducte2 during the week of 11/10- 714/89, with all investigative plans formulated by 11/14/80. On 11/17/89, the Atlanta FBI Office commenced a major case investigation into the murdered and missing children, with twenty-five Agents being assigned on a full-time basis at Atlanta, Georgia. At one poi 1 one poir 2 basis, this being during the period of the James Jackson Parkway bridge surveillance in the spring of 1981. Throughout the investi- gation, the Atlanta FBI Office Agent complement dedicated to the investigation would fluctuate; however, never below the initial complement of twenty-five Agents until the arrest of Wayne Williams on 6/21/81. The expertise of the Laboratory Division, Technical Services Division, Training Division and Identification Division was utilized throughout the investigation, FBI investigation was conducted in all states excent Alaska and Hawaii. On 5/22/81, Wayne Williams was stopped on the James Jackson Parkway bridge, Atlanta, Georgia, and subsequently interviewed by the FBI. On 6/3/81, FBI representatives assisted in the execution of the Fulton County Superior Court search warrants for the person of Wayne Williams, the Williaas’ residence and the Williaas' vehicle. On the same date, Williams was interviewed by the FBI and afforded a polygraph examination, : _ jie ve