Convicted killer Wayne Williams, implicated in the Atlanta child murder cases, has lost his only chance for parole until 1996, authorities revealed Friday.
The five-member Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles voted Wednesday to deny Williams early release from prison. The board did not make its decision public until Friday so that Williams could receive a letter saying why he would remain in prison.
"Two reasons were cited - the circumstances and nature of the offenses and the fact that there were multiple cases," said Silas Moore, deputy director of central operations for the parole board. Williams received two life sentences for his conviction in February 1982 of the murders of Nathaniel Cater, 27, and Jimmy Payne, 21. He was implicated in 22 other slayings of young blacks in Atlanta from 1979-1981 - a series of murders that terrorized the black community and drew national attention.