The Australian-American serial killer Christopher Wilder abducted, tortured, raped, and murdered at least eight young women and girls between the 1960s and 1980s. With his well-calculated skills as a hunter, he could evade capture for several weeks, even though the police were closing in on him.
Here are 10 Shocking Facts About Christopher Wilder
1. The Sydney-native Had a Troubled Childhood
Christopher Bernard Wilder was born on March 13, 1945, to his father, Coley Chapman Wilder, an American naval officer, and an Australian mother, June Wilder. He was raised alongside his three younger siblings in Sydney, Australia. According to reports, he almost died in infancy, and by the age of two, he almost drowned in a pool.
Growing up didn’t get any better for him as his father was physically and emotionally abusive, while his mother reportedly abused him sexually.
There is little information about his siblings, as they remained out of the spotlight. Wilder lived as a loner and didn’t have any close friends.
2. Christopher Wilder Involved in a Gang Rape at the age of 17
Wilder’s first sexual crime dates back to the early 60s when he and two other young men gang rape a 13-year-old on a Sydney beach. He was later convicted of participating in the gang rape and was only sentenced to one year of probation and mandatory counseling. However, the counseling was probably ineffective as he continued criminal activity.
3. He Was Once Subjected to an Electro-Shock Therapy
Wilder revealed during one of his sessions that he had gone through an electro-shock therapy. This happened when he was undergoing counseling following his involvement in a gang rape. The electroshock therapy was done to induce a grand mal seizure by briefly subjecting the brain to 75 to 470 volts.
It was believed that this therapy could repair a damaged mind and people dealing with depression.
4. Christopher Wilder Built a Successful Career From construction projects and Real Estate Investments
Wilder’s wealthy status was one of the things that attracted his victims. He worked on several construction and electrical projects and later invested in real estate, earning him several fortunes. Following his career success, he bought several expensive things, including a Porsche, a speedboat, and a luxurious house where he frequently hosted lavish parties to support his standards.
5. He Went into Professional Photography to Lure More Women
Wilder had a thing for photography and possessed many expensive cameras. He later decided to pursue this hobby professionally to lure more women.
His modus operandi was to lure his victims in by promising to take their pictures or offer them a job. He would then subdue them and take them to a remote location, where he would torture, rape, and murder them. Two or more of his victims were electrocuted using a makeshift electrical cord, a method that has been linked to his electroshock experience during counseling.
His skills as a hunter helped him gain the trust of his victims quickly, and he was able to track them down and kill them with ease.
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6. Christopher Wilder Raped, Tortured, and Killed at Least 8 Women During His Killing Spree
Wilder began his killing spree in February 1984 while on a cross-country trip. Most victims ranged in age from 16 to 28, and they were all attractive young women or girls who were abducted while hitchhiking or walking alone. He ended the name “The Beauty Queen Killer” at this time.
His first victim was Rosario Gonzalez, a 20-year-old former Miss Florida contestant who disappeared on February 26, 1984. She was last seen where she worked at the Miami Grand Prix. Her parents became alert when she did not return home and called the authorities. According to the eyewitnesses, she had been spotted leaving the place with a man described as Wilder in his Porsche 911. Rosario has never returned home since then, and many believe the beauty queen’s killer killed her.
His next victim was Theresa Wait Ferguson, a 21-year-old woman from Merritt Island, Florida. She was abducted while shopping at a mall on the island, and that was the last time she was seen alive. After missing for 2 days, her body was later found in a shallow stream near the town of Lake Alfred. Even though there was no sign of sexual assault, now could tell that she was beaten several times.
He continued his killing spree across the country. He murdered victims in Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Nevada, and California. He also attempted to abduct victims in Washington and New York.
Throughout this time, he never served any prison time for either of the crimes. He always had a route of escape.
7. His Marriage Lasted For Just a Week
Wilder was married to Christine Paluch, a lady he met on Sydney’s Palm Beach sometime in 1967. They were together for a year before exchanging vows in 1968.
Unsurprisingly, their marriage only lasted a week, which saw Wilder attempt to murder her after she discovered some disturbing pictures and lingerie in his car. This was also the same period he was taken in for questioning over a series of sexual assaults at Manly Beach. His ex-wife later added that he had attempted to seduce both his mother-in-law and sister-in-law.
8. Christopher Wilder Was Diagnosed with several psychological issues
Wilder was considered a very complex and disturbed individual. In 1977, a psychologist deemed Wilder a “mentally disordered sex offender” and noted his need to dominate women and turn them into slaves for his pleasure. He was diagnosed with several mental disorders, including antisocial personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, and sadistic personality disorder.
9. Many Believe He Was a Saddist
Wilder’s motive for his crimes is still unknown. However, some experts believe that he was motivated by a deep-seated hatred of women, while others believe that he was simply a sadist who enjoyed inflicting pain on others.
Nonetheless, some factors make others believe that he was motivated by a combination of factors, including his childhood abuse, his mental health issues, and his substance abuse problems.
10. Wilder Was Killed in a Shootout 1984
Wilder was on the FBI’s ten most wanted fugitives list when he was finally stopped in New Hampshire on April 13, 1984. During a scuffle with two New Hampshire state policemen, Leo Jellison and Wayne Fortier, he was shot in his back and chest and died on the spot.
Following investigations, a copy of the novel “The Collector” by John Fowles was found among his possessions. The book follows the story of a lonely young man who kidnaps a female art student in London and holds her captive in his cellar against her will until she dies. These investigations further linked him to more deaths that were recorded at the time. It is also possible that he killed more people than he was convicted of.
Among several things he possessed was his estate, worth over $7 million, which was divided among the families of his victims.
