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Atlanta Child Murders | Four cases may not be linked to same serial killer

We’re finding out new information about the search for answers

ATLANTA —

Three months after the announcement that investigators would start re-examining the Atlanta Child Murders case, we’re finding out new details about the 40-year-old case.

A spokesperson for the Atlanta police department said there are some cases that don’t appear to be the work of the same serial killer.

Two investigators assigned to the case have been digging through the homicide files and searching for any new evidence in these cases.

In the 30 cases being re-examined, 11Alive’s Neima Abdulahi was told that reviewing the case with fresh eyes has already yielded some results.

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APD said they believe at least four cases could possibly not be linked to the murders.

“Specifically, the two female victims on the list do not appear to be the work of the same serial killer and do not fit the pattern of the cases involving male victims,” spokesperson Carlos Campos said.

Based on the case files, there were two female victims by the name of Angel Lenair and Latonya Wilson.

We also learned that patterns in two other cases don’t appear to match the rest of the Atlanta Child Murders cases.

RELATED: Exclusive: Rep. John Lewis responds to 11Alive’s reports on Atlanta Child Murders

In one case, it appears the child may have died accidentally; in another case, it appears the child may have been killed by a family member,” Campos said.

Atlanta police is not disclosing the names of the victims in these cases.

“[We] need to emphasize that these developments do not mean there are suspects or arrests imminent in any of the cases. We are simply making the point that these four cases do not appear to fit the overall pattern of the missing and murdered cases," officials said. 

In the evidence room, investigators are looking over boxes of evidence, reviewing new case files, the homicide log books, and they’re also organizing cases in order of when the murders happened.

RELATED: 'The public thought one way and we witnessed another' | Juror from Wayne Williams trial opens up about the Atlanta child murders

APD said the investigative team’s work is far from done. It could take up to two years before they wrap up the investigation.

In a recent interview, mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms explains that the police department is tasked with going far beyond 1979 for any new leads that may pop up.

“As we are looking at the evidence in this case, the Atlanta police department has gone back to 1970 all the way to 1985, mayor Bottoms said. “To make sure even the list that we come to know as the missing and murdered children list is a comprehensive list."

The longtime suspect Wayne Williams has been accused of killing the children but was never convicted for the murders. He is currently serving a life sentence for the murder of two adult men. He maintains his innocence in the Atlanta Child Murders.

READ: Wayne Williams proclaims his innocence in Atlanta Child Murders

MORE EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE ON THE ATLANTA CHILD MURDERS:

Secret investigation into KKK during Atlanta child murders uncovers fear of race riots

How investigators hope to solve the Atlanta child murders

Wayne Williams calls into community forum about the Atlanta Child Murders

When her teen was killed in 1979 she was heartbroken, but didn't know he would be the first of dozens

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