Atlanta Monster Podcast

The Lowdown on the Atlanta Monster Podcast

From the producers of Up and Vanished, Tenderfoot TV and HowStuffWorks present, ‘Atlanta Monster.’ This true crime podcast tells the story of one of the city’s darkest secrets, The Atlanta Child Murders. Nearly 40 years after these horrific crimes, many questions still remain. Host Payne Lindsey aims to find truth and provide closure, reexamining the disappearance and murder of over 25 African American children and young adults.

The Atlanta Child Murders

Sarah: Initially, I was not interested in listening to this podcast. While I love me some true crime, crimes made against children are often too difficult for me to listen to.

Jessica: The subject matter is definitely not for the lighthearted, especially if you have children.  I couldn’t imagine what it would feel like to be a parent at a time when kids were disappearing.

Sarah: There are definitely pieces of the first few episodes that made my stomach flip. These crimes occurred & it turned the city of Atlanta upside down. The podcast gave me some The Town That Dreaded Sundown type of vibe. I’m sure parents were giving strict curfews & trying to rein their kids in due to fear.

Jessica:  I had no idea about the Atlanta Child Murders when I started listening to this podcast.  Both Sarah and I were born in 1983, so it was a little before our time.  I asked my mom about it and she vividly remembered.  She may have even made a joke about serial killers named Wayne….

Sarah: Oh my god, your mom is too funny. It’s a real thing though. There are several serial killers with the middle name, Wayne.

Jessica:  The first three episodes of this podcast are the things that most people already know, the majority of which could be found on a Wikipedia page.  Of course, this is necessary and interesting, but the real meat of the podcast is after you hear the original story and details.  This is where the investigation starts.

Sarah: There’s so much that happens. The police chief poses with a stack of cash offering a reward for info. Police officers are working 7 days a week trying to catch the killer. There’s a stakeout on a bridge & kids are still going missing. It’s terrifying. Then there’s a suspect. He doesn’t match the profile & he seems more a Maurice Starr than a shady killer lurking in the woods.

Jessica:  Listening to this, I think about all of the other stories that are out there. How many guilty people could possibly be living amongst us?  How easy is it to get away with murder?

Sarah: It makes me think did they catch the right guy? Are we 100% sure? This case is so complicated, but I’m glad Payne & Donald are looking further into it to get answers once and for all.

THE VERDICT

We are Really Into the Atlanta Monster podcast.  Sarah is a little more into True Crime than I am, but I am fascinated by this case.  The sheer number of killings, the prejudice, the fear – I cannot imagine living during that time.  You still have time to catch up before the last few episodes air!

If you’re looking for more True Crime Podcasts check out Up & Vanished, Dirty John & Someone Knows Something.

Read more about the Atlanta Monster Podcast here!

About the Atlanta Monster Podcast Creators

Founded in 1998, HowStuffWorks is the leading for-profit publisher of entertaining and informative podcast content. The parent company of 22 leading brands including Stuff You Should Know, Stuff You Missed in History Class and Stuff Mom Never Told You, the HowStuffWorks team reaches a highly engaged fan base across multiple platforms and distribution partners and has amassed a library of more than 6,000 podcasts and 1 billion downloads. With this expansive and award-winning collection of audio podcasts, HowStuffWorks is ranked #2 in global downloads and streams. The company is headquartered in Atlanta and also operates studios out of Los Angeles.
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