◆ SpookStack

Memorandum - yes jo = The Attorney senerailff2 Date May 27, 1981 Fron: <= Director, FBI WH / Val Subject: MURDERS AND/OR DISAPPEARANCE OF BLACK RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA, SINCE JULY 20, 1979. ACTION MEMORANDUM The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was authorized and requested by former Attorney General Benjamin R. Civiletti, on November 6, 1980, to initiate an immediate preliminary investigation to determine whether ‘the missing black children in the Atlanta, Georgia, area were being held in violation of the Federal Kidnaping Law, Title 18, United States Code (USC), Section 1201. On November 17, 1980, the Atlanta Office of the FBI commenced a Major Case investigation into the murdered/missing children, One recent investigative technique utilized by the Atlanta Office of the FBI has been instituting a surveillance of various bridges which cross both the Chattahoochee River and the South River. As a result of these surveillances, on May 22, 1981, an individual was observed crossing over the Chattahoochee kKiver at 2:52 a.m. At the time this vehicle was crossing the bridge, a loud splash was heard in the river by the bridge surveillance teams, Based on a reasonable suspicion, the suspect's vehicle was stopped and identifying data obtained. The suspect, Wayne Bertram Williams, denied stopping on the bridge or discarding any debris into the river. On May 26, 1981, the body of victim Nathaniel Cater was found approximately one-half mile downstream from the bridge upon which the suspect Williams was traveling. Based on background information Geveloped, to include the reason provided by suspect Williams for being at the particular bridge on May 22, 1981, which did not check out, the fact that suspect Williams has a previous arrest in Atlanta for impersonating a police officer with a blue light on his automobile, and the fact that Williams is employed as Vice-President, NOVA