WSB's Veronica Waters reports Graham says he has certain beliefs about the old investigation's course based on "inside information" he garnered as a member of the task force probing the Atlanta Child Murders. The Chief contends this isn't solely about Wayne Williams' guilt or innocence.

"I'll be frank with you," Graham said at Wednesday's news conference. "It has nagged at me for 22 years and I guess I do take it personally but that's not the reason I opened the cases. I opened the cases because they were open and unsolved."

Williams was convicted of killing two men, ages 21 and 27, and police essentially considered most of the remaining murder cases "administratively solved" though Williams was not tried for those murders. Williams, who received two life sentences, has always maintained his innocence.

Survivors of some of the slain boys said they had never been convinced of Williams' guilt-but are grateful the cases are being reopened because they want to know who the murderer is, even if it is Williams.

"Maybe you could call it a mother's intuition, or just a gut feeling," said Sirlena Cobb, mother of Chris Richardson, the DeKalb County boy whose body was found in East Point. "I just don't feel like he did it."

"I haven't been convinced because the one who did it...either/or, if he did it or not...there's no one been brought to justice pertaining to this," said Jesse Griffin, whose 10-year-old son Aaron Wyche died of asphyxiation from a fall.

Cold Case investigators begin work in earnest Wednesday, as tips have already started flooding in to their hotline. The head of the squad, Sgt. Dave Fonseca, was growing up in New Jersey during the time of the child murders. He says the probe will focus heavily on new tips and technology to re-examine some old evidence, and those could be the difference this time around.

"People's conscience makes a big difference-you know, they've had time to think about it," says Fonseca. "Hopefully, some evidence that you couldn't apply back then...you know we have the technology nowadays to apply it--if it even exists now. I hope it does, but we'll have to look and see."

Williams' defense attorney, Lynn Whatley, says his client is ready and willing to talk to investigators and has "nothing to hide." He says there is potential DNA evidence from blood and hair evidence used in the trial.

Whatley tells WSB Williams is responding positively to news the Atlanta Child Murders are being re-investigated.

"He's very encouraged, very encouraged by this," says Whatley. "It's about justice now. He's served his time. It's about justice."

5.10.2005