Christopher Wilder's Victims Were Targeted for Their Beauty

"The Beauty Queen Killer" Earned His Moniker — Let's Take a Look at Christopher Wilder's Victims

In a span of two months, Christopher Wilder criss-crossed the United States leaving a large number of victims in his wake.

May 10 2024, Published 2:37 p.m. ET

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According to A&E, Christopher Wilder was once victimizing women long sooner than he become a serial killer. Born in the Australia, Wilder used to be sentenced to 1 year of probation along side psychiatric counseling when he was once handiest 17 after being convicted of raping a 13-year-old lady in the back of a car.

When Wilder moved to Florida in the early Nineteen Seventies, "he faced several charges related to sexual misconduct, and eventually raped a vacationing teen he had drawn to his truck with the promise of shooting her for a modeling contract." He would later use the pictures contract misinform lure other girls into his trap. His killing spree began in February 1984 and ended with his suicide two months later. He would later be referred to as "The Beauty Queen Killer." Here's what we know about Christopher Wilder's victims.

Most of Christopher Wilder's victims were killed in a span of two months.

On Feb. 26, 1984, Rosario Theresa Gonzales was reported missing after a stint at the "Miami Grand Prix racetrack, where she was working at a temporary job distributing samples of aspirin for a pharmaceutical company," consistent with The Charley Project. Lauth Investigations, a private company that regarded into Wilder's crimes, famous that the 20-year-old lady used to be last seen with a person becoming the killer's description. Gonzales used to be by no means found.

Slightly over per week afterward March 8, 23-year-old Elizabeth Kenyon disappeared. Her connection to Wilder used to be more forged as they reportedly dated. Kenyon used to be a former type type and received the 1982 Orange Bowl Princess festival sooner than going on to turn out to be a finalist within the Miss Florida competition. Incidentally, Gonzales additionally competed in that competition. She used to be remaining noticed with Wilder at a gasoline station sooner than her deserted automobile was discovered on March 11. Like Gonzales, Kenyon was never noticed again.

Per week after Kenyon's automobile was located, 21-year-old aspiring model Theresa Ferguson disappeared. After telling her circle of relatives she used to be going to the Merritt Square Mall, no one heard from her. Her automobile used to be deserted on the mall where witnesses saw her leaving with a man who matched Wilder's description. Five days in a while March 23, Ferguson's battered body was found out.

On March 20, an unidentified girl identified simplest as Jane Doe escaped a night of torture by means of Wilder. He forced the 19-year-old girl into his automotive from the Governor’s Square Mall parking zone near Florida State University, the place she was once a scholar. Doe was delivered to a motel out of doors of Bainbridge, Ga. where Wilder raped her then hooked up "copper wires to her feet, then used a blow-dryer to apply super glue to her eyes," by means of Lauth Investigations. She was once able to flee after locking herself in the motel toilet and screaming until Wilder fled.

Three days later Wilder was once in Beaumont, Texas, where he abducted Terry Walden, a nursing pupil and mom of two. She used to be later found stabbed to loss of life. In April 1986, United Press International reported that Walden's husband "won a $3 million wrongful death suit against the killer's estate." On March 25, two days after killing Walden, Wilder kidnapped 20-year-old Suzanne Logan from an Oklahoma City shopping middle, via Time. Similar to Walden, Logan died from multiple stab wounds.

Shopping shops were Wilder's favourite looking flooring because that is where young girls within the Eighties would hang out. Per United Press International, the nude body of 18-year-old Sheryl Lynn Bonaventura was once discovered on March 30 in Grand Junction, Colo. She used to be reported lacking on March 29 after her automobile was discovered at a neighborhood mall. According to the autopsy, she died of stab wounds to the chest. Her mom instructed the outlet, "I'm happy to know where she is. I have some contentment, she is with the Lord."

A few days later on April 1, Wilder used to be seen posing as a manner photographer at a Seventeen Magazine beauty contest in Boulder City, Nev. It's there that he abducted 17-year-old Michelle Lyn Korfman. Her frame was once found on May Eleven within the Angeles National Forest, according to United Press International. The clinical examiner decided her explanation for death was once asphyxiation "caused by aspiration of foreign matter (soil) into her larnyx and trachea." To put it more bluntly, Wilder shoved Korfman's face into the bottom till she died.

In a ordinary departure, Wilder picked up 17-year-old Tina Marie Risico outdoor of a shopping mall in Torrance, Calif. on April Four and forced her to accompany him on his spree, by the use of United Press International. She would later say he raped and abused her whilst she was once helping him in luring victims into his automobile. Wilder let her move mere hours before taking his personal life.

One of the victims Risico helped Wilder kidnap was 15-year-old Dawnette Wilt. On April 10, Wilder compelled Wilt into the back of his car which was once being driven by Risico. She was once taken from the automobile parking space of a mall in Indiana and "then left for dead in the woods in Penn Yan, New York," by the use of NBC News. After dragging herself to safety, Wilt used to be ready to identify Wilder as the man who attacked her.

On April 12, 1984, the day ahead of he would take his personal existence, Wilder killed his remaining sufferer. Risico used to be nonetheless riding when the duo pulled into Eastview Mall in Victor, N.Y. It used to be there that 33-year-old Beth Dodge was taken and later shot to death. His reason for this closing homicide was once to procure a different car which is almost certainly why Dodge was once older than the opposite victims.

If you or someone you recognize are experiencing suicidal thoughts, name, textual content, or message the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Dial or text 988, call 1-800-273-8255, or chat via their website.

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