No Serial Killer In Atlanta, But Homicides Are Increasing

Rebecca Bowen

News

8th August 2021

No Serial Killer In Atlanta, But Homicides Are Increasing

The killings are not related (Getty Images).

The Claim

There is an active serial killer in the Atlanta area who is targeting women.

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Emerging story

On July 31, social media users began claiming a serial killer was active in the Atlanta area. People claimed that one victim, who was murdered in Piedmont Park, was dismembered and mutilated. This came shortly after another woman was murdered in another Atlanta area park. Both women were walking their dogs and both dogs were also killed. Warnings for women to avoid walking or jogging in Atlanta area parks accompany the claims.

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Misbar’s Analysis

While the evidence may seem compelling at first, these two murders do not prove there is an active serial killer in Atlanta. The Atlanta Police Department issued a press release on July 30th lambasting those spreading misinformation about the cases.

On August 3rd, Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms made a public statement that there is no evidence the murder in Piedmont Park was a serial killer or was committed as a hate crime, as the victim was part of the LGBTQ community.

The Piedmont Park murder of Katherine Janess, and the murder of Tori Lang in Yellow River Park, 20 miles away, are not considered to be connected. Though both women were walking their dogs, and both dogs were also killed, that is where the similarities end. Authorities are understandably offering little information at this time as they continue to investigate both murders.

While speculation may offer loose connections in the two murders, perspective shows how tenuous the connection is. Homicides in Atlanta surged in 2020 by 58%, to 157 cases. This is the highest amount in over 20 years for the city. 2021 is proving to be just as dangerous with the same percentage of increase in cases. There have already been 64 homicide cases, which puts Atlanta on track for another record-setting year of homicides.