US authorities are set to meet with two Australian journalists investigating serial killer Christopher Wilder after they unearthed fresh, critical evidence – including ghastly photos of a crime scene he left behind in a hotel room.
The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office Unsolved Crimes Unit in New York will meet with Catching Evil creators Mark Lewellyn and Andrew Byrne after several witnesses have come forward about dealings with Wilder, the man believed to be responsible for the 1965 Wanda Beach murders in Sydney before fleeing to the US and committing at least a dozen more killings.
One of the most compelling new accounts comes from Nicole, a Sydney woman who, in 1983, met Wilder in New York City.
Then a 20-year-old model working with Ford Models, Nicole was approached by Wilder at a McDonald’s near Bloomingdale’s, Byrne told news.com.au.
Posing as a photographer for the Brabazon modelling agency – a claim now known to be false – Wilder, described by Nicole as “Dadsy and unthreatening” despite his expensive Porsche Carrera sunglasses and tan leather jacket, attempted to lure her into a test shoot outside the city.
Nicole, who instantly recognised Wilder years later from a photograph, recalls his unusual behaviour, including his disinterest in her own portfolio and his insistence on driving her to an out-of-town location.
He promised to pick her up in his “standout car” – later identified as his white Porsche Carrera with elk leather seats. Fortunately, Wilder never showed for the appointment.
Tragically, just 48 hours after Nicole’s encounter, the body of an unidentified woman, now known as Ellery Jane Doe, was discovered on a highway near Ellery, New York.
She was wearing expensive European clothing, and her case remains unsolved 43 years later.
“Nicole’s testimony places Wilder in New York, hundreds of kilometres from his Florida home, hours before the body was found,” Byrne said.
“This critical information, shared by the podcast makers, is now being actively pursued by detectives.”
The Daytona Connection: A Glimpse into Wilder’s Darkest Secrets
Further revelations point to Daytona Beach, Florida, as a critical location in understanding the true extent of Wilder’s crimes. In early February 1984, just weeks before he abducted Colleen Orsborn, Wilder was competing in the SunBank 24-hour endurance race at Daytona International Speedway in his black Porsche 911.
During this time, he targeted a young waitress named Linda at a local steakhouse, employing his characteristic charm and offering her a VIP pit lane pass.
Linda, a 20-year-old with long dark hair, watched Wilder practise and later returned to his motel room at the Golden Eagle Motor Inn.
The next morning, Wilder made a bizarre marriage proposal, begging her to return to Boynton Beach with him as his “princess” – a tactic he had previously used with Beth Kenyon, a beauty queen who has been missing for 42 years.
Linda, unnerved by his behaviour, fled and never contacted him again.
“Catching Evil” investigators have since tracked down a photograph of Wilder at Daytona Speedway and are keen to locate Linda, believing she may be the woman with her back to the camera in the image.
The most disturbing discovery from Daytona, however, came after Wilder checked out of his motel.
A subsequent guest found 17 photographs left behind in his room. Twelve depicted a young woman posing in a bikini and various outfits, consistent with the bait Wilder used to lure victims. Two other photos showed a small group, including a teenage girl, in a public car park.
The remaining images were horrific: a female victim in a bathtub, clearly deceased, bearing the hallmarks of Wilder’s brutal torture methods, including cigarette burns and razor cuts.
A male hand was visible, forcing open the victim’s eyelid.
“These photographs suggest Wilder may have documented his crimes, creating a chilling trophy collection,” Byrne said.
“The smiling woman in the bikini photos was never identified, and police forty years ago were unable to find answers.”
The timeline is deeply troubling: Wilder raced in Daytona in early February 1984, the photos were found shortly after, and by March, he had commenced his cross-country killing spree.
“The questions remain: How many victims lie between these Daytona photographs and his later confirmed murders? How long had he been documenting his crimes? And most importantly, who was the woman who smiled for his camera, and did she become one of his victims?”
Podcast Driving New Leads and Cold Case Progress
The Catching Evil podcast, amplified by recent coverage in the New York Post and news.com in Australia and America, is proving instrumental in generating new leads and assisting active investigations.
“The information provided by Nicole is a direct result of this renewed public interest, demonstrating how journalism can actively contribute to open investigations,” Byrne said.
Beyond the Wilder cases, the podcast has also received astonishing new leads regarding the Wanda Beach murders in 1965, suggesting Wilder’s links not only to the horrific killing of two 15-year-old girls but potentially six more victims in northern NSW. A special follow-up episode is currently in production.
The “Catching Evil” team is urging anyone with information about Linda, the unidentified woman in the Daytona photographs, or Christopher Wilder’s activities in Daytona Beach in February 1984, to come forward. The truth is still out there, and after more than forty years, it’s time all Wilder’s victims had names, and their families had answers.
Contact investigators at: [email protected]
