Michael Terry (Serial Killer)
Atlanta Serial Killer
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Atlanta, Georgia
TIME PERIOD
1985-1986
VICTIMS
6 confirmed
Michael Devern Terry, an American serial killer, was active in Atlanta, Georgia, from December 6, 1985, to October 21, 1986, during which he murdered six gay men following sexual encounters. He was apprehended on November 28, 1986, and subsequently convicted of the murders, receiving three life sentences, which he is currently serving. The case is considered solved.
Michael Terry's case has sparked speculation regarding the motivations behind his choice of victims, primarily young black men involved in sex work. Some theorists suggest that his actions were influenced by a combination of personal trauma and societal stigma against the LGBTQ+ community, which may have contributed to his perception of these encounters as threatening. Additionally, there is discussion about whether his claims of self-defense were genuine or a fabricated justification for his violent behavior.
Michael Terry: The Atlanta Serial Killer
Michael Devern Terry (born 1960) is a notorious American serial killer whose chilling crime spree unfolded between 1985 and 1986 in Atlanta, Georgia. He was responsible for the brutal murders of six gay men, primarily targeting individuals he encountered after sexual encounters. While Terry contended that his actions were committed in self-defense, the evidence painted a far grimmer picture. Ultimately, he was convicted and sentenced to three consecutive life terms in prison, which he continues to serve today.
Quick Facts
- Born: 1960 (age 64-65)
- Place of Birth: Tallassee, Alabama, U.S.
- Other Names: Michael James Potts
- Conviction: Murder x6
- Criminal Penalty: Life imprisonment x6
- Victims: 6
- Span of Crimes: December 6, 1985 – October 21, 1986
- Country: United States
- State: Georgia
- Date Apprehended: November 28, 1986
Early Life
Michael Terry's story begins in Tallassee, Alabama, in 1960. The details of his upbringing are sparse, but what is known is that after dropping out of school in the 10th grade, he began a troubling trajectory marked by small crimes. His criminal history included convictions for burglary, robbery, simple battery, aggravated assault, and carrying an unlicensed firearm. By 1983, seeking a fresh start, Terry moved to Atlanta. Initially, he took up residence in a rooming house near Morris Brown College, but he later enlisted the help of a co-worker, Gus Jones, to help him find another living situation.
Jones located a new rooming house at 664 Kennesaw Avenue, where Terry moved in. Neighbors described him as a peculiar loner, often seen carrying a firearm, even inside his own home. About a year before he embarked on his murder spree, Terry lost his job but quickly found employment again at a tire recapping shop in Lithonia.
Murders
Terry's victims were predominantly young black men, often referred to as "street hustlers," who frequented the vicinity of the Georgia Baptist Hospital and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Intriguingly, Terry did not approach his victims directly; instead, he would lean against walls or sit casually until someone approached him, offering their services. If he found the individual appealing, they would head to a secluded area to engage in sexual activity. But what happened next was horrific: immediately following the encounter, Terry would either stab or shoot his victims. Disturbingly, in five out of the six cases, the victims were discovered nude from the waist down.
Here’s a deeper look at Terry’s victims:
Richard Williams (24): Discovered on December 6, 1985, in a vacant building behind a house at 867 Mayson Turner Road. He had been shot in the back of the head and stabbed twice.
Curtis Lee Brown (21): Found on December 14, 1985, in a secluded part of Dean Rusk Park at 433 Peeples Street. He had been shot twice, one bullet striking him in the back of the head.
Alvin George (31): Located on March 20, 1986, in an alleyway near Terry's residence on Kennesaw Avenue. He had sustained multiple stab wounds to the neck.
Jason B. McColley (18): Also discovered on April 6, 1986, in the same alley as George, he too suffered multiple stab wounds to the neck.
George Willingham (30): Found on September 13, 1986, in a field near a freeway leading to Stone Mountain. Willingham had been shot three times in the back of the head and stabbed twice, making him the only victim to be significantly mutilated.
Daryl O. Williams (20): Discovered on October 20, 1986, in an abandoned apartment building on 849 Harwell Street, not far from the crime scene of Richard Williams. He had a single gunshot wound to the back of the head.
Investigation and Arrest
Initially, the murders were treated as unrelated incidents, each assigned to different investigators. However, a breakthrough occurred when Detectives Sheila Cumberworth and Marcellus Head began to notice a disturbing pattern in several cold cases across Atlanta. They proposed to Lt. Horace Walker, the commander of the local police unit, that a serial killer might be at work.
Taking their theory seriously, Walker ordered a re-examination of the crime scenes and interviews with potential witnesses. Strikingly, many witnesses reported seeing an overweight, stocky black male, known only as "Mike," as the last person seen with each victim. As the investigation deepened, detectives uncovered the name Michael Terry, who lived alarmingly close to where the bodies of George and McColley were found.
On November 26, 1986, Terry was apprehended without incident at his workplace in Lithonia. He was charged with the six murders, marking the beginning of a long and harrowing legal battle.
Trials and Imprisonment
After his arrest, Terry made a shocking admission: he confessed to having sexual encounters with all six victims but maintained that he acted in self-defense during arguments over payment. However, as the trial approached, he retracted his confession, claiming that the police had coerced him into admitting guilt. This claim, however, fell on deaf ears.
The trial featured a jury of three men and nine women. Ultimately, Terry was found guilty and convicted of the murders of Richard Williams and Curtis Brown, earning himself two consecutive life sentences.
In the following year, he faced trial for the murder of George Willingham. Prosecutors sought the death penalty, citing the particularly brutal nature of this crime. However, presiding Justice John Langford imposed a third life sentence instead. To avoid further trials, Terry later pled guilty to the remaining murders, leading to three additional consecutive life terms. As of October 2021, he remains incarcerated, a chilling reminder of the horrors he inflicted.
See Also
- List of serial killers in the United States
Sources
- Duane Riner (June 11, 1988). "Serial killer pleads guilty to last 3 of 6 murders". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
- John Brady and Nathan McCall (November 29, 1986). "Atlantan held in slayings of 6 male 'street hustlers'". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
- "Atlantan indicted in slayings of six male street hustlers". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. December 6, 1986.
- Gary Hendricks (November 29, 1986). "Slaying case involved hours of teamwork".
- John Brady (February 17, 1987). "Jury selected for trial in 'hustler' slayings". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
- Prestice Palmer (February 20, 1987). "Terry gets 2 life terms in slayings of 'hustlers'".
- Duane Riner (April 16, 1988). "Fulton jury gives Terry 3rd life term in 'hustler' slayings".
For further reading, you can access the original Wikipedia article here.
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First Murder
Richard Williams is found murdered, marking the start of Terry's killing spree.
Second Murder
Curtis Lee Brown is found murdered, shot in the head.
Third Murder
Alvin George is found stabbed to death in an alley near Terry's residence.
Fourth Murder
Jason B. McColley is found murdered in the same alley as Alvin George.
Fifth Murder
George Willingham is found shot and mutilated in a field.
Sixth Murder
Daryl O. Williams is found shot in an abandoned apartment.
Arrest
Michael Terry is arrested at his job, charged with six murders.
First Trial
Terry is convicted of the murders of Richard Williams and Curtis Brown, receiving two life terms.
Final Plea
Terry pleads guilty to remaining murders, receiving three additional life terms.
Third Life Term
Terry receives a third life term for the murder of George Willingham.
Michael Devern Terry, an American serial killer, was active in Atlanta, Georgia, from December 6, 1985, to October 21, 1986, during which he murdered six gay men following sexual encounters. He was apprehended on November 28, 1986, and subsequently convicted of the murders, receiving three life sentences, which he is currently serving. The case is considered solved.
Michael Terry's case has sparked speculation regarding the motivations behind his choice of victims, primarily young black men involved in sex work. Some theorists suggest that his actions were influenced by a combination of personal trauma and societal stigma against the LGBTQ+ community, which may have contributed to his perception of these encounters as threatening. Additionally, there is discussion about whether his claims of self-defense were genuine or a fabricated justification for his violent behavior.
Michael Terry: The Atlanta Serial Killer
Michael Devern Terry (born 1960) is a notorious American serial killer whose chilling crime spree unfolded between 1985 and 1986 in Atlanta, Georgia. He was responsible for the brutal murders of six gay men, primarily targeting individuals he encountered after sexual encounters. While Terry contended that his actions were committed in self-defense, the evidence painted a far grimmer picture. Ultimately, he was convicted and sentenced to three consecutive life terms in prison, which he continues to serve today.
Quick Facts
- Born: 1960 (age 64-65)
- Place of Birth: Tallassee, Alabama, U.S.
- Other Names: Michael James Potts
- Conviction: Murder x6
- Criminal Penalty: Life imprisonment x6
- Victims: 6
- Span of Crimes: December 6, 1985 – October 21, 1986
- Country: United States
- State: Georgia
- Date Apprehended: November 28, 1986
Early Life
Michael Terry's story begins in Tallassee, Alabama, in 1960. The details of his upbringing are sparse, but what is known is that after dropping out of school in the 10th grade, he began a troubling trajectory marked by small crimes. His criminal history included convictions for burglary, robbery, simple battery, aggravated assault, and carrying an unlicensed firearm. By 1983, seeking a fresh start, Terry moved to Atlanta. Initially, he took up residence in a rooming house near Morris Brown College, but he later enlisted the help of a co-worker, Gus Jones, to help him find another living situation.
Jones located a new rooming house at 664 Kennesaw Avenue, where Terry moved in. Neighbors described him as a peculiar loner, often seen carrying a firearm, even inside his own home. About a year before he embarked on his murder spree, Terry lost his job but quickly found employment again at a tire recapping shop in Lithonia.
Murders
Terry's victims were predominantly young black men, often referred to as "street hustlers," who frequented the vicinity of the Georgia Baptist Hospital and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Intriguingly, Terry did not approach his victims directly; instead, he would lean against walls or sit casually until someone approached him, offering their services. If he found the individual appealing, they would head to a secluded area to engage in sexual activity. But what happened next was horrific: immediately following the encounter, Terry would either stab or shoot his victims. Disturbingly, in five out of the six cases, the victims were discovered nude from the waist down.
Here’s a deeper look at Terry’s victims:
Richard Williams (24): Discovered on December 6, 1985, in a vacant building behind a house at 867 Mayson Turner Road. He had been shot in the back of the head and stabbed twice.
Curtis Lee Brown (21): Found on December 14, 1985, in a secluded part of Dean Rusk Park at 433 Peeples Street. He had been shot twice, one bullet striking him in the back of the head.
Alvin George (31): Located on March 20, 1986, in an alleyway near Terry's residence on Kennesaw Avenue. He had sustained multiple stab wounds to the neck.
Jason B. McColley (18): Also discovered on April 6, 1986, in the same alley as George, he too suffered multiple stab wounds to the neck.
George Willingham (30): Found on September 13, 1986, in a field near a freeway leading to Stone Mountain. Willingham had been shot three times in the back of the head and stabbed twice, making him the only victim to be significantly mutilated.
Daryl O. Williams (20): Discovered on October 20, 1986, in an abandoned apartment building on 849 Harwell Street, not far from the crime scene of Richard Williams. He had a single gunshot wound to the back of the head.
Investigation and Arrest
Initially, the murders were treated as unrelated incidents, each assigned to different investigators. However, a breakthrough occurred when Detectives Sheila Cumberworth and Marcellus Head began to notice a disturbing pattern in several cold cases across Atlanta. They proposed to Lt. Horace Walker, the commander of the local police unit, that a serial killer might be at work.
Taking their theory seriously, Walker ordered a re-examination of the crime scenes and interviews with potential witnesses. Strikingly, many witnesses reported seeing an overweight, stocky black male, known only as "Mike," as the last person seen with each victim. As the investigation deepened, detectives uncovered the name Michael Terry, who lived alarmingly close to where the bodies of George and McColley were found.
On November 26, 1986, Terry was apprehended without incident at his workplace in Lithonia. He was charged with the six murders, marking the beginning of a long and harrowing legal battle.
Trials and Imprisonment
After his arrest, Terry made a shocking admission: he confessed to having sexual encounters with all six victims but maintained that he acted in self-defense during arguments over payment. However, as the trial approached, he retracted his confession, claiming that the police had coerced him into admitting guilt. This claim, however, fell on deaf ears.
The trial featured a jury of three men and nine women. Ultimately, Terry was found guilty and convicted of the murders of Richard Williams and Curtis Brown, earning himself two consecutive life sentences.
In the following year, he faced trial for the murder of George Willingham. Prosecutors sought the death penalty, citing the particularly brutal nature of this crime. However, presiding Justice John Langford imposed a third life sentence instead. To avoid further trials, Terry later pled guilty to the remaining murders, leading to three additional consecutive life terms. As of October 2021, he remains incarcerated, a chilling reminder of the horrors he inflicted.
See Also
- List of serial killers in the United States
Sources
- Duane Riner (June 11, 1988). "Serial killer pleads guilty to last 3 of 6 murders". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
- John Brady and Nathan McCall (November 29, 1986). "Atlantan held in slayings of 6 male 'street hustlers'". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
- "Atlantan indicted in slayings of six male street hustlers". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. December 6, 1986.
- Gary Hendricks (November 29, 1986). "Slaying case involved hours of teamwork".
- John Brady (February 17, 1987). "Jury selected for trial in 'hustler' slayings". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
- Prestice Palmer (February 20, 1987). "Terry gets 2 life terms in slayings of 'hustlers'".
- Duane Riner (April 16, 1988). "Fulton jury gives Terry 3rd life term in 'hustler' slayings".
For further reading, you can access the original Wikipedia article here.
No Recent News
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No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
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First Murder
Richard Williams is found murdered, marking the start of Terry's killing spree.
Second Murder
Curtis Lee Brown is found murdered, shot in the head.
Third Murder
Alvin George is found stabbed to death in an alley near Terry's residence.
Fourth Murder
Jason B. McColley is found murdered in the same alley as Alvin George.
Fifth Murder
George Willingham is found shot and mutilated in a field.
Sixth Murder
Daryl O. Williams is found shot in an abandoned apartment.
Arrest
Michael Terry is arrested at his job, charged with six murders.
First Trial
Terry is convicted of the murders of Richard Williams and Curtis Brown, receiving two life terms.
Final Plea
Terry pleads guilty to remaining murders, receiving three additional life terms.
Third Life Term
Terry receives a third life term for the murder of George Willingham.